Ruger had my head screwed on back to front.
But only Honey seemed to notice.
I told myself to stop staring, but it was impossible. And when our eyes met across the room, I felt my heart damn near fly out my chest. He gave me a wink and turned away to talk to Bull and Maverick, like we hadn’t kissed and I had almost made myself come by grinding against his lap the night before. But a couple of times his beautiful green eyes glanced over in my direction, and every time they did, excitement zipped through me from my head to my toes.
I couldn’t wait to get home. I wanted to talk to him about what happened. About the kiss and what it meant. That it wasn’t a mistake, that it was everything, and how I wanted more. Heat pooled between my thighs as I thought about kissing him and how it would feel to lie beneath him as he kissed me hard and pressed that strong, muscular body into mine. And then I thought about his cock. I already knew it was big. Thick and long. And if there was one thing I was certain of, his was the cock I wanted to take my virginity with mind-blowing orgasms.
I watched him disappear outside with my uncle, and a few minutes later their bikes roared out of the parking lot.
After another round of conversations about dresses, the cake, and Cassidy’s update about the guest list and who had RSVP’d, I decided to head home.
But as I made my way to my car, Honey caught up with me.
“Okay, what’s going on with you and Ruger?” she asked.
Despite wanting to confide in her, I wasn’t quite ready to admit anything yet, not before I’d spoken to Ruger. Was the kiss a one-off? Or was something starting between us?
“What do you mean?” I asked, rummaging through my bag for my keys.
She dangled them in front of me, a knowing look on her face. “You left them on the table.”
I took them from her. “Thank you.”
“You’re crushing on him, aren’t you?” It was more of a statement than a question. “You want to tell me about it?”
I licked my lips.
“I already know the answer, Chassy. When he walked into the room, your energy changed and you couldn’t keep your eyes off him. He distracts you. And if I’m as smart as I think I am, you distract him.”
“Really?”
I couldn’t hide my surprise. Or how happy her observation made me. Which was exactly what she was going for. She raised an eyebrow at me and then smiled.
“So, it’s true, you have a thing for Ruger?”
The jig was up. There was no point in denying it.
“Just don’t say anything to anyone,” I pleaded. “I don’t even know if it’s anything or—”
“You mean something has already happened?”
Again, there was no point denying it. I was sure it was written all over my face.
“We kissed.”
Her eyes widened. “You kissed—when?”
I glanced around the parking lot to make sure no one could hear.
“Last night, when he came home… things got intense.” I thought about the moment before our lips met. How the air had crackled with electricity and how I had desperately wanted him to kiss me. And then I thought about that moment when it was too late to turn back, the kiss was going to happen, and the look of pure desire on his face right before our lips brushed together. “I’m in love with him.”
Honey’s eyebrows disappeared beneath her dark fringe. “In love?”
“I know it’s crazy. But something’s changed between us, and just the idea of him lights me up inside. I see him, and all I want to do is kiss him and touch him, and be around him.”
Honey’s surprise softened to understanding and she gave me a gentle smile. “Sounds like love, alright. So, what are you going to do about it?”
“We haven’t spoken since he broke off the kiss. But I’m going to talk to him tonight when he comes home.”
“What are you going to say?”
“What else can I say? I’m going to tell him I’m in love with him.”
RUGER
I lied to myself. Said it meant nothing. That holding her in my arms didn’t feel like heaven. That the feel of her body on mine wasn’t exhilarating and desirable. That kissing her hadn’t brought me back to life after months of solitude. That resisting the urge to make love to her wasn’t damn well killing me.
But it was bullshit. Because it meant everything whether I wanted to admit it or not.
I was at war with myself. I wanted her. I ached for her. But it was wrong. So fucking wrong. I’d known her since she was a kid. She was my friend. My close friend. Wanting her like this was not just wrong, it threatened to destroy our friendship.