“Don’t want you? Fuck, Ash, I’ve wanted you from the first moment I laid eyes on you.” His lips brushed hers in a light kiss, determined to convince her.
“But you said you were worried about the fact you’re older than me. And it’ll be complicated because you’re my boss.”
He stroked her hair back. “Maybe I’ve just been an idiot. Maybe none of that matters.”
“It doesn’t matter to me.”
He cupped her head then drew her face to his and took her lips with passion. When he released them, she was breathless.
She smiled.
“I can’t believe it. I’ve wanted you for such a long time.” She stroked his cheek, her hand soft against his whisker-roughened skin. Her big, blue eyes were filled with joy and she leaned closer. Her sweet mouth beckoned and he brushed his lips to hers. She opened, then glided her tongue into his mouth. He sucked it lightly at first, then harder, pulling it deeper. His hands wandered down her back, then he pulled her tight to him as their tongues tangled.
Her breasts heaved against him and his cock swelled thicker.
“God, I want you, sweetheart. I want to drag you into the bedroom and overwhelm your senses until you surrender to me completely.”
He could feel her shiver in his arms.
“Oh, yes, Adam. I want that, too.”
He couldn’t believe this was really happening. He was about to have his dream come true.
He grabbed her hand and led her to the bedroom.
“Wait! What about Dare?”
“What about him?”
She tugged his hand back and he stopped and turned to her.
“Adam, as much as I want this, you’ve got to understand … I’m not willing to walk away from Dare.”
His jaw clenched and he coiled his hand in her hair and tugged her head back, exposing her neck. He pressed his lips to her throat and nuzzled, delighted at her gasp of pleasure, then he nipped her skin.
“But you’re willing to walk away from me?” His hand stroked down her spine and he pressed it flat to the small of her back and he pulled her tightly to him. His hard, swollen cock dug into her belly. “I can leave you a melting puddle on the floor.”
She gazed up at him with wide eyes, desire heating the blue depths.
“I believe you.”
“So it’s settled.”
She pressed against his chest, forcing distance between them. “No, it’s not. It’s only fair for me to be honest with you, Adam. Dare’s here for another month and I’m going to keep seeing him as long as I can.” She bit her lip as she gazed up at him. “After that, then we could—”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Are you really asking me if I’ll wait?”
She didn’t answer, but the hope in those wide blue eyes told him that’s exactly what she was asking.
He gritted his teeth, staring deep into her eyes as if he could convince her to change her mind by sheer force of will, but it became clear she wasn’t going to. Finally, he released her and stepped back.
“I’m sorry, Adam. I don’t want to risk losing your friendship, or the chance for us to explore a relationship between us.”
He glared at her. “But that’s exactly what you’re doing.”
Ashley knocked on Dare’s door. A moment later, he opened it.
“What are you doing here, Ashley? Our session isn’t until Friday.”
“I know, I…” She sucked in a breath. “I had a fight with … my friend.”
He held the door wide. “Come in.”
She scooted into his elegant foyer. He closed the door behind her, then when he turned to her, she stepped into his arms.
“Would you like to stay here tonight?”
She nodded, her head resting against his chest, hearing his heart beating. And hating herself for hoping he’d sweep her into his bed and show her the same passionate loving he had the last time they were together.
She wanted to feel his hard, naked body against her. To be consumed by his overwhelming masculinity.
He led her to his room and ordered her out of her clothes, but when he took her in his arms again, he kissed her with tenderness. When they joined it was a passionate, joyful union , sending her heart soaring.
But when she lay in his arms afterward, his warm body wrapped around her, she wondered if she’d made a mistake. Not that she wanted to give up Dare. The mere thought sent her cascading to depression. But she’d had an opportunity to start a relationship with Adam, a man she’d been longing for for a long time. A man she believed she could forge a long-term relationship with. And she’d blown him off, insisting she wouldn’t give up Dare.
But Dare only wanted her for now. They had no future.