***
LIZZIE WAS TRYING, really trying, to resist pressing her lips to Blue’s, but the powers that be must have had it out for her. Maybe it was for keeping a secret from her family or living a double life, but she was sure this was some sort of test of strength. Blue smelled musky and earthy, and his hand was hot on her neck. He was thick and powerful, but his touch was gentle and somehow possessive at once. The feel of his calloused hand made her want to experience his rough hands all over her naked skin. She wanted to know how his mouth tasted and if his kisses would be hard or soft, if he explored with his tongue or claimed and demanded. She wanted to go through every item on her Lick-It list and maybe even delve into her Fuck-It list. She’d never met a man who made her want to be wholesome and dirty at once, but she could see it in Blue’s eyes, the gentleman and the bad boy. It was a tempting combination, one she wasn’t sure she could resist for long. But she owed it to him to try.
He’d asked her out for a year. A year. What kind of guy pursues a woman for a year?
What kind of woman turns down someone as wonderful as Blue?
“Blue—”
Before she could say another word, he pressed his lips to hers. Her mind went numb, and her legs followed. She clutched at his shirt for support as he slicked his tongue over her lower lip, teasing her there before dipping inside and stroking over her tongue. Blue didn’t hurry the kiss. He deepened it, lingering over every surface of her mouth as if he were savoring every second of the hottest, most passionate kiss he’d ever experienced, the same way she was. It had been a long time since she’d kissed a man, but she couldn’t remember ever feeling like this. Her entire body was aflame, and what the heck was her leg doing? Sliding up his thigh? Her hips pressed into his, and—holy Moses—he groaned. Groaned! Like, Give. Me. More. She clutched at his shoulders, but that wasn’t nearly enough. As her chest tried to become one with his, her greedy fingers fisted in his hair and took the kiss deeper, but it still wasn’t enough.
Her cell phone vibrated, and her fuzzy brain reluctantly began to come back into focus. He had one hand splayed across her back, the other tangled in her hair, and his talented mouth was doing everything it could to deaden her brain cells one by one.
Yes. Please!
Her phone vibrated again, and then the world spun away. She heard a moan and realized it came from her own lungs. She had no business leading him on. Lizzie tried to force herself to pull away, but it proved too difficult. His kisses were all consuming. She wanted to stay right there in his arms, with his mouth crushed to hers and his heart pounding so hard against her that it felt like it had climbed into her body.
They shouldn’t do this. It couldn’t go anywhere. He would never want a girlfriend who was the Naked Baker, and she couldn’t give that up until Maddy had her degree. Reality refused to be shoved aside. Reality sucked. She pressed her hand firmly to his chest, forcibly pushing him away as she gulped in air. He blinked several times without saying a word, and she gripped his shirt in fisted hands.
“Say something,” she pleaded. Oh God, what have we done? Their friendship was at stake, and the longer he remained silent, the worse she felt. “Blue!” She didn’t mean to raise her voice, but she was mad at herself for giving in to her desires—and equally as angry at herself for pulling away and making them stop.
He shook his head and narrowed his eyes, as if she were just coming back into focus.
“Sorry. I’m sorry. I thought...” He scrubbed a hand down his face and took a step back, but she was still clutching his shirt. He covered her hands with one of his and smiled.
“We can’t do this,” she managed in a thin voice she didn’t recognize.
“Why?” He stepped closer again, and she pressed back against the counter, afraid if she didn’t, she’d kiss him again.
“Because.”
“That’s not an answer,” he whispered as he slid a hand down her side to her waist, leaving a trail of renewed heat.
“I can’t,” she said, despite the voice in her head telling her to shut up. “My life is crazy.”
“So is mine.”
“It’s complicated.” It was a lame excuse, but the best she could muster while still reeling from their kiss.
“We’ll figure it out.” His face was serious, his voice earnest, and his hand on her waist was sending little shock waves of desire zinging through her. “Lizzie, I’ve wanted to go out with you for a year. How can you say no after that kiss? I know you felt the same fury of emotions that I did. I could feel it in the way you kissed me.”