Hot as Puck(50)

Oh, this man is a good man. A good, sweet, kind man who would do anything for a friend, including kiss her senseless in front of a big, mean jerk.

By the time we finally come up for air, I’m dizzy, and my body is humming with the need to get out of here, get Justin alone, and show him how thankful I am for the wonder that he is.

“I’m ready to go, how about you?” he asks.

“Very ready,” I glance over his shoulder at the now empty kitchen. “I guess Priscilla decided to give us a few minutes alone.”

“Good. I didn’t want to call her a fucking bitch to her face, but I might not have been able to restrain myself.” His muscles flex as he pulls my hips closer to his, making my breath catch as I feel the evidence of his need pulsing against my stomach. “If anyone’s out of their league here, it’s me, Libs.”

“Not true, but thank you.” I press a hand to his scruffy cheek as a wave of emotion swells in my chest, different from anything I’ve felt for Jus before. “For that, and for coming to my rescue.”

“Always,” he promises, with a sincerity that makes the emotion swell a little bigger. “Let’s get out of here. I need to be naked with you.”

I nod, not trusting my voice. I need to be naked with him, too, and not because I want to learn more about sex, or because I want to build up my confidence for the man who will come into my life when Justin and I are through. I need it because I need to show Justin how much he means to me, how much I treasure him and love giving him pleasure. I need it because my life is a darker place without him in it and because I have never felt more at home than I do when I’m in his arms.

Pretty sure that’s the definition of making love, Libs, not hot, no-strings-attached sex, my inner voice helpfully points out.

The voice is right, but I can’t bring myself to worry about the implications of that right now. As I take Justin’s hand, holding tight as we collect our things and say our good-byes, all I can think about is how lucky I am to get to be with him, even if it’s only for a little while.





Chapter Twenty





Justin




We don’t talk in the car, and when we get back to Libby’s place we don’t bother turning on the lights. We slam the door, drop our shit on the floor, and come together—swift and urgent—in the dark. Her lips crash into mine and her warm curves mold against my chest as I draw her up and guide her legs around my waist, my entire body catching fire.

“Bedroom,” she murmurs against my lips as her arms lock around my neck, making it clear she’s not letting go until we both get what we need. “Now.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I squeeze her ass tight with one hand as I drive the other into her hair, fisting the silky strands as I kiss her hard and deep. She’s so petite I have no trouble holding her with one arm, a fact that reminds me how tight she was on my finger last night, even after she had already come on my tongue.

I’m going to have to go slow, or I’m going to hurt her, and the last thing I want to do is hurt Libby. All I want to do is make her feel good, to show her that she is sexy and beautiful and, even more importantly, fun and silly and thoughtful and classy and a hundred other things that make her the kind of woman any man would be lucky to call his.

Including this man…

As I move swiftly through Libby’s darkened apartment, devouring her mouth as I carry her to the bedroom, I realize there’s no use trying to deny it anymore. I don’t want to be friends with benefits or to keep this a secret or to help Libby grow confident enough to start a relationship with someone else. I want her to be mine. I want her to think of me the way she thinks of Roger, as someone who might be good enough to go all the way with a woman like her.

And I don’t just mean sex. I mean her time and attention and maybe someday her heart.

That’s not our agreement, not anywhere close, but I can’t help myself. I don’t plan on fucking Libby tonight. I’m going to make love to her, to show her with every touch, every kiss, every stroke of my body inside hers that I can be good for her and that this thing growing between us is worth giving a real shot.

“No lessons tonight.” I lay her down on the bed and cover her with my body, loving the way she keeps her arms and legs wrapped around me, pulling me closer. “I just want to be with you. Just you and me and whatever feels right.”

“Sounds perfect.” She slips her hands beneath my shirt, her fingers cool on my stomach. “Can we get naked now? I think naked will feel very right.”

“Agreed.” My lips curve as I pull back, stripping off my sweater and undershirt and then moving to help Libby tug her dress and the tight white shirt beneath over her head. Our socks, shoes, and pants do a similar vanishing act and then I’m back in Libby’s arms, with nothing separating us except my boxer briefs and her panties.