He didn’t want them to be the way they were before. That wasn’t enough any more. But she was touching him, and he couldn’t resist curling his fingers through hers and holding onto her. “Yeah, of course,” he muttered.
The corners of her lips edged up. “So, no more secrets?”
He tightened his fingers around hers. Heat thudded beneath his skin so hot he was surprised she didn’t notice. The dimness of the beer garden and the humid night air pulled them closer. He’d stopped noticing what was going on around them. All he could focus on was this woman, this childhood friend who should have been as familiar to him as his old teddy bear but was instead an alluring enigma who scrambled all his senses.
“No more secrets,” he replied, his voice husky as he lied to her.
“Good.”
A moment’s pause. Then, it seemed the most natural thing in the world to embrace her, and as he did so he felt her arms wrap around his waist. Immediately his senses were flooded – her scent, her ink-silk hair, her thigh rubbing against his, her breasts pressed up on his chest, her moist breath feathering his jaw. All his pent up fantasies boiled over in an explosion of sensory overload. Her breath grew warmer. When her lips skated over his cheek, fire streaked from his face straight to his groin. Twisting his neck, he angled his mouth down squarely onto hers.
He heard her swift intake of breath. She froze but didn’t pull away as he’d half-feared. He deepened the kiss, and a second later she began to respond. Astonishment shattered through him, quickly chased away by need as he kissed her hungrily. How long had he imagined this kiss? Now it was happening, and it was hotter and juicier than anything he could have made up. He folded one arm tight around her waist. With his other hand he threaded his fingers through her smooth hair, revelling in its fineness before cupping the side of her cheek, his thumb caressing her jaw. She was satin and fire in his arms, and he never wanted to let go of her. But just as her lips began to part and he was ready to explore her mouth with his tongue, she broke off the kiss, and it felt like someone had yanked out his power cord.
Dumb-struck, he stared at her, aware of his panting and the uncomfortable bulge in his trousers. Her hair stuck to her cheeks, and she was huffing just as hard as he, her lips parted and rosy from their kissing.
“Dion–” She gulped and shuffled away from him. “Uh, what just happened?”
He sucked in some oxygen. Should he tell her that he’d been fantasising about her for years and that since she’d arrived he couldn’t stop thinking about getting her naked every time she got near him? No, that would be guaranteed to make her run a mile. Better to keep it cool and not creep her out.
“Last time I checked we’re two single, consenting adults,” he said, forcing himself to keep still. “We’re allowed to kiss.”
“Yes, but that–” She pressed her fingertips against her lips as if she could still feel the kiss. “That felt wrong.”
“Oh? How can I improve the next time?”
“The next time?”
“It didn’t feel wrong to me. It felt pretty damn good.” He reached for her and pushed his fingers through her hair, lifting the heavy mass off her shoulders. How fantastic she’d look naked with all that black shiny hair spilling over her breasts. Cradling the back of her head in his palm, he kissed her again, this time making sure it was light and teasing. When she didn’t resist, he flicked the tip of his tongue over the seam of her lips and was rewarded by a small tremor running through her body. “Was that better?” he asked as he lifted his head.
For a while she seemed too dazed to speak. Eventually she swallowed and said, “This is crazy. You and I, we’re friends.”
“Friends can’t make out?”
“You make it sound so – so natural.”
“It is natural.”
“No, it’s not. Not for me. I don’t go round pashing my male friends.” She jumped to her feet and turned away to stare out blindly at the trees, all the while rubbing her upper arms as if it was freezing, despite the muggy night.
Slowly he rose and stood close behind her. Every muscle in his body ached with the strain of reining in his emotions and denying his need to touch her, but instinct told him not to push her too far so he made himself remain silent.
“Dion, you’re a very attractive man,” she began, her face still averted.
Uh-oh, that didn’t sound too promising.
“You’ve had heaps of girlfriends,” she continued.
None of them were serious, he wanted to say.
“I don’t want to be another of your ex-girlfriends.” She turned to face him. “I don’t want to lose what we have just for the sake of – of a few kisses. You’re too important to me.”
And she had no idea just how important she was to him. “Toni, you’re not going to lose me.”
“You say that now because you’re thinking with your penis and not your brain.”
“I’ve always been told I’m a clever dick.”
She folded her arms and glared at him. “It’s wonderful that you can just live in the moment and not bother about the future, but I can’t.”
“Well, gee, thanks for pointing out my faults for me.”
“I didn’t mean it that way!” Her face crumpled a little. “Dion, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to criticise you, but you’ve really taken me by surprise here. I never thought you, uh, wanted to kiss me.”
His irritation melted away. If she only knew how long he’d wanted to kiss her. “You’re a beautiful person and gorgeous as well. Of course I want to kiss you.” He paused then added, “And you would’ve kissed me last night if your mum hadn’t interrupted.”
Her blush gave her away before she groaned. “Oh God, my parents. Your parents. They mustn’t find out we kissed.”
“We’re not even cousins. What’s the big deal?”
“You can’t guess?” Looking sick, she pressed her fingers against her temples. “I couldn’t face the third degree from my mum. Promise me you won’t tell anyone.”
“I guess you’ve got a point,” he conceded. “I mean, given how close our families are, it’s kind of surprising how they’ve never hinted you and I should get together.” He paused as an awkward thought struck him. “Er, that’s to say my parents have never hinted. I don’t know about yours.”
“Not mine. They’ve never tried to meddle in my relationships, but I’m sure they’d have something to say about us.”
Maybe she was worried her parents would be all for it and she didn’t need the extra pressure. Neither did he. Things between him and Toni were finely balanced here, and the last thing he needed was for their parents to start interfering.
“I won’t tell anyone,” he said, placing his hands on her shoulders. “It’ll be our little secret.”
He leaned in, hoping to kiss her again, but she stepped back with a sigh. “It won’t be a secret for long if we stay out here any longer. Let’s get back to the others before they come looking for us.”
“Okay,” he sighed as well.
He couldn’t resist pressing his palm in the small of her back as he ushered her back inside but dropped his hand as they approached the table. Melissa’s head sagged against Gary’s shoulder, her mouth slack, while Gary looked resigned at having her drool on his shirt. Ronan had deserted them and was chatting up a young woman at the bar.
Gary brightened at the sight of them. “Thank God you’re back.” Carefully tipping Melissa back onto her chair, he heaved to his feet, already fishing for his car keys. “Can I leave you with her?” he asked Dion. “I’m heading home.”
“Sure, I’ll get her home.” As Gary ducked out the bar at top speed, Dion grimaced at the sight of Melissa’s slumped form. She must have had a few vodkas. She never could handle them.
“Come on,” Toni said. “I’ll help you.”
Together they got Melissa to his SUV where she collapsed on the back seat. “She lives over in Medowie,” he said to Toni as they drove off.
“That’s a fair distance away. You’d best drop me off first.”
He’d been looking forward to having her alone with him in the car. It would have been the perfect opportunity to kiss her a few more times, but he realised that wasn’t going to happen. Not only would he have to drive Melissa all the way back, but he’d also have to carry her up to her apartment and put her to bed. Looking after his sozzled ex-girlfriend was hardly the right lead up to a romantic kiss.
“I’m going kayaking tomorrow,” he said as they pulled up outside her parents’ house. “Come with me. I’ve got a double kayak.”
She eyed him doubtfully. “I’m not sure of my plans tomorrow.”
“I won’t take no for an answer. I’ll pick you up at nine-thirty. Wear your bikini.”
“You’re being very bossy.”
“It’s the new me.”
From the back seat came a groan followed by a noxious burp.
“Fine then.” Toni scrambled out of the car. “I won’t argue with you.”