As I stand, he scowls at me. “What are you doing?”
When I pull my shirt over my head and toss it aside, his eyes widen, then drop to my cleavage. He licks his lips as I blush heavily.
It’s no different than a bikini top. It’s no different than a bikini top.
Willing myself to continue, I slowly undo the button on my shorts, and Corbin’s eyes dart down to follow the motion of my hands.
“Ruby,” he says hoarsely, his entire body tensing.
“I want more than just heavy kissing,” I whisper, hoping he doesn’t notice the tremble in my voice.
His eyes come back up, meeting mine. He looks a little uncertain and very fearful. Which is odd. Corbin is always calm and confident.
“You’re sure?” he asks, giving me a chance to back out even as he pulls his shirt off.
If I wasn’t sure before, I would be now. Even if I didn’t love him, just staring at his chest and abs would make me a hormonal puddle at his feet.
My dad and stepmom won’t be back until tomorrow because of some business deal. We have the night all to ourselves. Nothing could be more perfect.
I nod as I drop my shorts to the floor and step out of them. His eyes rake over me from head to toe, settling on my ruby red panties. Yes—I did that on purpose.
Very slowly, I make my way back to him, hoping I don’t do something embarrassing like trip or say something stupid. Corbin looks up, reaching for me, and I settle back down on his lap in my matching underwear.
His hands slide up my sides as my lips go back to his, and he works my bra off, struggling a little. I grin when he curses and has to look around me to finally figure it out. But when it drops off, I suddenly feel so self-conscious.
His eyes are on my bare breasts, and he’s staring very intently. Like a bad habit, I start comparing myself to all the girls who are constantly vying for his attention.
He swallows hard before spinning us, and suddenly my back is on the bed and Corbin is between my legs. Heat swarms me, and my heart pounds uncontrollably.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispers softly, running his lips from my jaw to my chest.
No words form when his lips trail lower, finding uncharted territory. The second his tongue flicks against my nipple, I make some ridiculous sound and my body jerks.
“Shit. Did I do something wrong?” he asks, which has me blushing harder.
“No. No. It was… um… I liked it,” I ramble, feeling all the more stupid.
He grins before his face lowers, and this time when his tongue connects and my body jerks, he doesn’t stop. My hands go to his longer hair, tugging him closer reflexively, as more heat pools between my thighs.
I hope it’s normal to feel a throb down there. I’ve felt it before, but never as intensely as I feel it right now.
Corbin continues kissing and sucking my nipples, and I continue arching into him, ignoring the rough texture of his jeans when my legs slide around his waist.
Suddenly, he goes completely still, freezing as though something is wrong.
“Corbin?” I prompt.
“Fuck,” he growls. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask, suddenly very aware of how insecure I feel in this moment. Especially when he leans back and turns away, putting distance between us as he turns his back to me. “I can’t do this. We’re best friends,” he says quickly, as though he’s rushing the words out.
“Um… I think we’ve bypassed the friends’ barrier.”
He groans, gripping his hair as he leans forward and stares down at the floor.
“I can’t. I don’t want to ruin our friendship, and once we do this, there’s no going back.”
He stands and walks out of my room, leaving me scrambling to pull a sheet over me and cover my broken dignity. Tears prick my eyes, but I’m more confused than anything. He was just as into it as I was, or so I thought.
What happens now?
***
RUBY
Age 19
Sophomore year of college…
I moan his name as Corbin flicks his tongue across my collarbone. My panties are all I’m wearing, and I want him inside me so bad that it physically hurts. The fact he’s naked makes it even worse.
I never would have thought I’d say that after what happened when we were sixteen. I still can’t believe we managed to move forward and stay friends, but I didn’t want to lose him from my life.
This time… Nothing is stopping us this time.
Alcohol tinges his breath as he finds my mouth again, and I smile while arching closer. College party plus Corbin Sterling on a visit equals a night to finally remember.
He curses and stops for some reason, and I look down to see he has no erection. How the hell is that possible?