“As calm as I can be.”
“Crew, I didn’t mean to hurt you. Shit, that’s thelastthing I’d want.”
“Well, you did. Whether you intended to or not, you did. We’ve hooked up three times now, Anderson.Three. And stupid me thought—never mind.”
“Don’t do that. Tell me, please. You thought, what?”
“Thought you fucking cared about me. The way you kiss me… the way you hold me like you never want to let me go. You made me think you fucking cared, in a different way, only to find out you’re still datingher.” His voice cracks, eyes filled with unshed tears, and it fucking kills me.
“Crew.” It physically pains me to hear him say this. Closing the distance between us, I back him up until he hits the wall, my left hand going to rest on the wall beside his head. I lean in, mouth by his ear, breathing him in. “You’ve got it all wrong, man. Idocare,” I whisper. “I care more than I probably should. You’re my best friend, and developing feelings for you is probably a recipe for disaster, but I can’t help it. I care about you so much, it fucking hurts.”
I press my lips on his neck, and I can feel his pulse racing, his skin blazing hot. He shudders, inhaling sharply, dropping his head back.
A groan rumbles in his chest. “Then why haven’t you broken up with her?”
“I’m not purposely an asshole, Crew. You know this about me. Breaking up with her over the phone sounded like a shitty thing to do. But I was going to do it anyway when I got back from Texas… Then she surprised me with this visit.”
His dark gaze finds mine as his hand comes to my hip, grounding me. “Then when?”
“Sunday.” I continue to place kisses along his neck. “Before she flies out.” He shivers when I nip his ear.
Using my thumb and index finger, I grip his chin, turning his face toward mine. When our lips meet, a sense of calm washes over me. It doesn’t make any sense. Never did I think we’d end up here. But why fight it? If it feels right, then why?
His lips are warm and soft, parting slightly, and he tastes sweet when my tongue slips inside. Our bodies press together heatedly, and I can feel the harsh thud of his heartbeat against my palm.
Warmth explodes in my chest, sparks igniting as he lets me devour him. The spiciness of his aftershave, mixed with the masculine scent of his shampoo, is dizzying. How can something that could go so wrong feelthisright?
His fingers slip under my waistband, pulling me as close to him as possible, nipping my bottom lip, and swallowing my moans.
I don’t know how long we stay there like that, soaking up comfort and warmth from each other, but no part of me has any desire to move.
Until someone clears their throat behind me.
Our lips freeze against one another, and my heart lodges in my throat, knowing what I’m going to find before I even turn my head. Crew goes stiff in front of me, like he knows too. Our eyes lock for a split second before we both turn, and sure enough, Calina is standing in the entryway to the living room.
Fuck.
“What thefuckis this, Anderson?” The fury in her voice is evident. Not that I blame her. This isreallybad.
“Crew stopped by to, uh, talk about some shit.”
“Hi, Calina. Nice to see you.” His smugness seeps out through his words, and if I had to guess, I’d say he wasn’t upset at all about her catching us like this.
“Fuck off, Crew,” she seethes. “You were literally just making out withmyboyfriend, and we both know you don’t like me, and let’s not pretend I like you either.”
“Calina!” I growl at the same time Crew says, “Well, fuck you, too.”
“What, Anderson? I wake upalone, only to come downstairs and find you kissing someone else. If I came down not even five minutes later, you’d probably be fucking. Don’t fuckingCaliname. What the fuck is going on?”
“Calina, can you please calm down and we can talk about this.”
She folds her arms over her chest, disgust painting her features. “You want me tocalm down? Of course, let me calm right on down. It’s not like I just caught my fucking boyfriend cheating on me or anything. Fuck off, Anderson.”
I drag a hand over my face, blowing out an exasperated sigh. I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I deny her the right to talk, she’s going to explode on Crew, and I need to talk to her. I’ve put this off long enough, and I need to buck up and deal with this like I already should’ve done weeks ago before any of this shit went too far.
The weight of his stare burns into the back of my head, and I know what I need to do, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Looking back at him with my stomach in knots, I say quietly, “Can you go home, so I can talk to her about this, please? And I’ll call you tomorrow?”
His eyes go wide. “You’re serious? You’re makingmeleave after everything you just said?”