Sweet Torment(14)

"I'm not worried about my abilities in the kitchen." River does some kind of bump and grind movement. "The bedroom is where my expertise counts."

"Again, with the ew." Claudia holds out the covered dish. "I put enough in there for both of you if you get hungry."

"Thanks, sis." Owen comes to her and kisses her forehead. "Appreciate it."

Owen and River leave and we're alone again. I'm not sure where we go from here but I'm certain about one thing.

I'm locking the front door.





6





Bram Windsor








       
         
       
        
Damn. That was almost one horrendous clusterfuck.

I twist the deadbolt on the door, wishing I had done it before River walked in and ruined the moment I was having with Claudia. "I can't believe he opened my front door and walked into my place without ringing the doorbell or at least calling out to let me know he was here."

"You lived together for five years. I guess he thinks he doesn't have to do those kinds of things."

"That was Chattanooga. This isn't." My life is different now. No more drinking halfway through the night and showing up buzzed for class. No more sneaking out of bed at five in the morning to go home because the girl next to you might wake and ask if you plan on calling her later. No more wondering what I want out of life.

"Do you miss living with them?"

The three of us stayed drunk and hungover for the better part of the last few years. "No doubt about it. We had some great times but partying every night gets old. I'm ready for the next chapter in my life."

"Does the next chapter of your life include me?" She toys with the necklace hanging around her neck. One of her nervous tics. Is she really worried I plan to cut her out of my life?

"Has there ever been a chapter that didn't include you?"

"I've barely seen you the last eight months, so yeah, it feels like I'm missing from the last chapter."

"We may not have seen each other but you weren't out of my life. You'll never be out of my life. And as far as the last chapter goes, you can't possibly imagine how much you were a part of it."

"I want to know, Duke. Tell me."

My heart begs my mouth to set the words free. But my head knows that once they're said, there'll be no taking them back. And there'll be no telling Claudia to pretend she never heard them.

We've admitted to sharing a special bond. There's no harm in that. No wrong. We recognize and accept that our hearts and souls will forever be entwined. But taking it further, admitting how much I physically want her, is something entirely different.

This is a pivotal moment in our relationship. Nothing will ever be the same if I say those words.

"Stop being so afraid."

"You saw River's reaction. We barely had physical contact and he totally flipped out. Owen …  River …  your parents. Shit, Claud. All of them will kill me if I touch you."

She comes to me and places her palms on my chest. "And I might go crazy if you don't."

I press my forehead to hers. "I want to. God, I want to so much it hurts."

She laces her fingers through the back of my hair. "Then do." 

I pull her closer so our chests are pressed together. My lips hover over hers and I hesitate so I can savor sharing the breath before our first kiss. "My little dove."

She smiles and nods. "Yes. I'm your little dove. Your girl. Yours, period."

I cup my hand around her soft cheek and rub my thumb back and forth over her lips. "Sometimes my thoughts are consumed by what it would be like to kiss you. To touch you anywhere I want. To have you beneath me."

She licks her lips and swallows hard. "I think about it too. All the time."

My hands embrace the sides of her face as our mouths meet. Closed lips upon closed lips. The start of our kiss is slow and sweet, but not for long. It's increasingly seductive-just like my little dove is.

Every motion our mouths share brings me closer to tasting her for the first time. And then it happens. Her wet, velvety tongue touches mine and all self-control ends. The slow and sweet exchange of closed-mouth pecks instantly transforms into heated grappling between our mouths.

I advance, pushing her backward until she's pressed firmly against the wall with nowhere to go. My hands leave her face and glide down her sides until they find the bottom of her shorts. My fingers creep up the openings and find the outer edge of her panties.

"Ohh …  Duuuke." The words leaving her lips are soft and delicate. They're barely more than a breathy whisper but hearing my special nickname said with such desire ignites the explosion of lust I've been suppressing.