With a tiny groan at the back of his throat, he pulls back to study me. Swiping his thumb across my lower lip, he releases a pained exhale. He doesn’t ask how the kiss was, or tease me to see if he passed the test. We both know that kiss was utterly perfect. Intense. It was the real thing. So real, it’s a little scary. Some people just click—their chemistry or pheromones or something. I know I could easily fall for him, and given the direction his life’s headed, I can’t let that happen.
“We should stop before we do something we can’t take back,” he says.
“Or something we’ll regret in the morning.”
I rise from the couch while Sterling does the same. The obvious strain at the front of his jeans is impossible not to notice. Holy erection!
He clears his throat and leads me toward the door.
We stand there, our breathing ragged as though we’ve just run an Olympic race, not quite ready to say good night.
Feeling brazen, this time I’m the one lifting up on my toes to press my lips against his. It’s meant to be a chaste kiss good-bye, but that’s all it takes for Sterling’s control to snap. His hands thread through the hair at the back of my neck as he tilts my mouth to his. He explores my mouth with deep, drugging kisses as I writhe against him, desperate for more.
The connection we shared tonight was more than physical. But nothing could have prepared me for this. The grinding of his hips against mine, the rigid length of his massive erection pressing right there. I want more.
Growing need outweighs all common sense. Hooking one leg around his waist, I pull us closer. He drags his hands up my sides, his touches changing from innocent to seductive as he palms my breasts, massaging them, grazing my pebbled nipples with his thumbs.
I suck in a breath at the sudden wash of heat rushing through me.
Overcome with lust, I reach down to grip the firm bulge of his erection. Even covered in denim, it’s impressive, warm and solid in my palm.
With a grunt, he swears under his breath, pressing us even closer so that his hands are now on my ass and his thigh is pressed between my legs.
Ripping my mouth from his, I suck in a deep breath. I feel as though I’ve been underwater, deprived of oxygen for too long. My heart is hammering, and I’m dizzy and flushed.
“I’d better go.” My voice comes out so soft, and I realize it’s because I haven’t spoken a single word since that kiss that tipped my world upside down.
He opens the door for me and leans against the frame while I slip my purse over one shoulder. “Thank you for coming over.”
“I had fun,” I whisper, my lips damp and swollen from his onslaught of hungry kisses.
“We should hang out again.” He smiles.
I nod, unsure how in the world I’ll be able to hang out with him again without things between us turning heated.
His expression changes, and I see something dark pass through his gaze. “Are you sure about this?”
I shrug. “Someone’s going to have to keep an eye this shit show.”
He chuckles and gives me a brief hug before releasing me. “Night, Camryn,” he murmurs.
When I make it downstairs, the friendly doorman has a cab waiting for me.
“Good evening, miss,” he calls as I slip inside.
Miss.
The word only serves to remind me that some other girl is soon going to be Mrs. Sterling Quinn. The thought is sobering.
Chapter Sixteen
Sterling
As I stand here cleaning the dishes, I’m in shock at how well tonight went. I went out on a limb, given that I never plan dates, and Camryn isn’t even someone I’m supposed to be dating, but that was incredible. That kiss. The conversation. How much she affected me. Her soft, tempting curves, the way she shivered when I fondled her gorgeous breasts.
I wanted more with her, to explore her body and make her cry out in pleasure. I wanted to watch her come on my tongue, my fingers, my cock. I get half-hard again just picturing it. Her head thrown back in ecstasy, her honey-colored hair spread across my pillow, those perfect pink lips crying out my name.
But I settled for her sweet, tender kisses because there’s one thing I’m certain of. When we make love, it will damn sure be on a bed where I can take my time with her. Camryn deserves intimacy and someone who’ll look after her needs properly.
I wonder if she’d like it slow and tender—leisurely lovemaking with plenty of soft kisses. Or hard and fast, my hips driving my cock deep inside her over and over again. Maybe she likes a bit of both . . .
Fuck. Many more erotic daydreams like that and I’ll be tossing off to thoughts of her for the third time this week.
That shit about her finding her lobster—I smile when I think of it. Behind her tough persona, she’s actually quite a softy. A romantic. The basic human need for closeness has never felt so real. I’ve spent the past years pushing all of it from my brain, but now, confronted with someone who challenges all my preconceived notions, I’m awestruck.
My hands pause in the dishwater.
Fuck.
That was my one rule. I promised myself that under no circumstances would I fall for her.
But I can already feel it happening.
This won’t end well if real feelings get involved. Camryn will end up hurt, and I’ll be the arsehole who broke her heart. My uncle’s words from earlier tonight ring in my ears.
Pissed off at myself for possibly fucking up the one positive thing in my life right now, my friendship with Camryn, I throw the dishtowel onto the counter. I need to stay focused. And tonight with her, I’ve been anything but. I was ready to call off the entire wedding charade, just for a chance to sink into her warm body.