“Yes. I want to take it slow. That’s exactly what I want.” She made a right at the next intersection. “I just broke up with my fiancé, remember? I don’t want to just dive right into another relationship, thing, whatever.”
“I don’t blame you. Your fiancé is a major asshole for what he did to you.”
“Almost as much an asshole as you, hmm?” She shot him an amused smile, a wicked gleam in her pretty eyes and he felt a little dazzled by the sight of her.
“Absolutely, though I’m going to work my hardest at redeeming myself.” And that was the damn truth.
“I must warn you. You’re going to be working on it for a long time.”
Eric rubbed his hands together. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Stacy really didn’t care anymore about Eric redeeming himself. Having him so close, sitting right next to her on the couch while they watched some horrible comedy on one of the movie channels she had, she was ready to toss everything she said to him earlier right out the window.
God, she was weak. Who knew she was so damn weak? All because of a guy—a guy who was so horrendously wrong for her it wasn’t even funny.
But he was gorgeous. And sweet. He’d been sweet since the moment he slipped inside her car. Oh yes, and sexy. Incredibly sexy and she wanted him with an intensity that was growing harder and harder to ignore.
Especially when he just stretched himself out on her couch and settled his head in her lap like he belonged there.
“I’m tired,” he murmured, closing his eyes.
She glared down at him. The temptation to touch him was strong but she didn’t. Yet. “What do you think you’re doing?”
He cracked his eyes open for a quick moment. “Making myself comfortable?”
“I’ll say,” she muttered and he chuckled.
“Isn’t this what friends do? Hang out together?”
“In each other’s laps?” The incredulity in her voice rang through.
“Yeah, probably not, but I must admit I’m not good at this friendship thing.” His lids lifted again, revealing glittering golden brown eyes. “The friendship thing when I want it to be more than a friendship thing, I should say.”
Sighing, she reached out and drew a straight line across his forehead. “You’re driving me crazy.”
He settled himself more deeply into her lap, almost snuggling against her thighs. Arousal coursed through her, as strong and swift as a river current. “You’re driving me crazy.”
“I told you I’m not ready for this.” She sounded a little desperate, a lot freaked out but she didn’t care anymore. This was too much to deal with. He was too much to deal with.
“Haven’t you ever done something just to do it, Stace? And not worry about the repercussions?”
“No,” she whispered. She never, ever had.
He reached up, trailed his fingers across her jaw. “You’ve never done something just because you know it’ll feel good?”
“Not really.” She swallowed hard. His fingers on her face felt good. Just hearing him say the words “feel good” made her want him. Made her want to tug her clothes off, tear his clothes off and roll around naked on the floor with him.
When was the last time she had sex? Unfortunately with the trouble between her and Keith’s also came a complete lack of sex. They’d rarely done it the last few months they’d been together.
She was primed. Okay, she could admit it, she was desperately horny and eager for a man’s touch. This man’s touch.
Consequences be damned.
“You should try it sometime.” He closed his eyes. “You might find out you like it.”
Stacy studied him, the sound of the crappy movie growing distant until all she could focus on was his even breathing, the rise and fall of his broad chest. He wore a plain navy blue T-shirt that stretched tight across his firm muscles. Noticed the hem rose away from his jeans, revealing a sliver of skin. Perfectly flat, perfectly delicious skin with a smattering of golden hair right at the center, which most likely ran from below his navel down.
Her mouth went dry at thinking of where that hair ended. What would he do if she slipped her hand beneath his slightly loose waistband and touched him? Probably encourage her to go further, be bolder.