I put my plate down and shift onto my knees and hug him hard. It only takes a second for him to shed his own plate and wrap his arms around me.
“I missed you too, Lauren,” he murmurs against my hair, and finally I can hear his feelings in his voice. The sincerity, the warmth I need so much right now. “I’m so glad to be home.”
Cole
My eyes are closed and Lauren’s in my arms, and she’s all I can think about. The soft press of her body right against me. I’m so hard I could hammer a nail with my dick. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted another person as badly as I want her right now.
That kiss blew. Me. Away. It was so much more than I expected to happen when I dared her. I wondered if she’d give me a little peck and that would be it. I am thrilled I was wrong about that.
I breathe in the scent of her thick hair. She used to get teased in school about it being so red. And all I wanted to do was touch it. All the damn time.
It’s fucking difficult as hell to stop myself from kissing her again right now, but any idiot could see the panic she felt afterward. So I gave her a moment to collect herself, all the while fighting my urge to rip the bathroom door open and demand she stop running from me and this chemistry between us.
This woman has been here for me, and I’ve been there for her, and why can’t she just see that what we have could be even better if we jump off the ledge together? If we take a risk and see what happens? No one knows her better than I do. No one could make her happier than I can. No man will ever love her with the depth and passion I feel.
I rub a small strand of her hair between my finger and thumb. Lauren’s hand is making soothing circles on my back as she whispers sweet little words of comfort. My heart kicks in reaction to her simple affection. I love this woman so much, and it’s going to end me.
I know Lauren felt something in that kiss. I could taste it. Smell it. Her breathing changed, and she was clinging to me, opening to me, and I wanted to stick my face between her thighs and lick that sweet pussy so badly until she creamed all over my face. Never has my control been more tested than it was then.
Yes, she felt something, and it scared her…but that’s just because she never thought of the possibility of us, I’m sure. Her hard nipples and her breathy sighs and the way she kept rubbing against me tells me there’s something here. An attraction she can’t deny.
How can I get her to face this without making her run for the hills? How honest should I be right now?
I’ve been given a huge gift today, in this odd situation. Time. And I intend to make use of it. And first step, I need to make Lauren face that she wants me too. Not let her run and hide the way she usually does when faced with an uncomfortable situation. I know my friend far too well.
“Do you know what I missed about you when I was overseas?” I say, shifting her until she’s sitting sideways on my lap.
Her arms wrap around my shoulders and she cuddles into the crook of my neck. “What?” Her voice is soft, warm, and her body feels so right against mine.
I rest one hand on the base of her spine and the other on top of her thigh, tugging her side as close to my chest as she can get. She tenses a bit, but I don’t move my hand, and give her time to adjust. I can feel the heat pouring off her skin; I swallow. “I miss the way you smelled on hot summer nights, like when we’d break into the neighborhood pool and go swimming.”
She gives a soft chuckle. “I forgot about that. We got in so much trouble that one time we were busted.”
“And I missed the sound of your voice, in person,” I continue. “How you laugh so hard you snort.”
She shakes her head against my shoulder. “Oh God, my stupid laugh.” Her voice is tinged with embarrassment.
I tilt her chin up with my fingers. I need to make sure she understands me. Her eyes fix on mine and we stare at each other. I stroke the curve of her chin and spread my other hand out wider on her back. “Your laugh is warm and real, and every time you chuckled at one of my jokes, I felt like I could do anything.”
Her breath hitches and she draws her lower lip between her teeth.
The blood’s roaring so hard in my veins I can hear it in my ears. I feel like I’m putting it on the line right now, but I can’t stop. “You always made me feel worthwhile, valued.” I inch closer to her face, her shallow breaths panting out against my lips. Her body is solid against mine, and the weight of her on my lap is comforting and arousing. I’m sure she can feel my dick stirring, but she doesn’t acknowledge it.