Page 14 of Edging Desire

“You happened. Every minute I’ve spent with you tonight has been surreal. I thought we could joke around and be friends and that I could walk away with no regrets. I was wrong.” Brad doesn’t wait for my response. He stands up and jumps down from the carriage, then holds out his hand. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your door.”

I take his hand and allow him to help me down. Lust and a hint of anger fuel my next words. Hand on my hips, I gather all of the courage I have in me. “Tell the driver to leave.”

Brad’s eyes widen as he realizes what I’m telling him. “Winny, you know what’ll happen if I go in there with you.”

His words come out sounding almost like a threat, and instead of extinguishing the flame inside me, it has me growing hotter and hotter.

“Tell the driver to leave,” I repeat.

With a growl from deep in his throat, Brad wraps his arms around me and brings his lips down onto mine. It’s as though a storm has been unleashed inside of him. Whatever was holding him back has now let loose. His tongue slides into my mouth, and he cups his hand to the back of my head to pull me closer, tighter. I try to gasp for air, but he consumes me until I feel like my lungs might explode.

Panting, he parted his lips from mine. The desire in his darkened eyes matches the desire growing inside of me. He touches his forehead to mine. “You’re sure about this?”

“I’m sure.”

He tugs my hand and starts leading towards my front door, only pausing to tell the driver we won’t be needing him anymore for the night.

Before I realize what’s happening, we’re inside my apartment. Except, instead of the blast of warmth I expected, my apartment is so, so cold.

“Yikes, Winny. Do you think we could turn up the heat?”

“Ugh, my heater must be broken again. They fixed it yesterday, and it was working fine all day. I guess it’s out for good this time.” It’s hard to hide the disappointment in my voice. “I guess we’ll call it a night. You can go back to your mom’s house where it’s warm.”

Brad takes my hands in his and leans forward to peck the tip of my nose with a chaste kiss. “Not a chance, sweetheart.” He looks over his shoulder into my living room and then smiles back at me. “I’ll make us a fire, and you pour us some wine. Deal?”

A cozy fire, Brad, and wine? Um, yes, please.

“Deal.”

I busy myself getting glasses down and pouring my favorite Cabernet Sauvignon, all the while listening to the sounds coming from my living room.

Hours ago, I lectured myself on how we’re nothing but friends, and now I want him naked and inside of me. Oh, who am I kidding? I wanted him from the moment I saw him again. So what if he’s leaving soon? I’ll deal with that later. Knowing that he’s leaving soon will allow me to keep my heart protected.

But my body? Tonight, that’s all his…

Chapter 6

Brad

What the hell am I doing? She wants this, but what if she regrets it tomorrow? It was all fun and games when I was joking about this being a date. But now? There’s nothing funny about what’s happening now.

Oh, but I want her so badly. I should leave before it’s too late but know that I won’t. The thought of holding onto her firm thighs and slowly pushing my way into her has me so hard it’s almost painful. I‘ve never wanted a woman as badly as I want the beautiful Winny Cramer.

She’s not the same girl she once was. She’s even more amazing, more gorgeous, more perfect. I want to lie to myself and say that one more time with her will be enough to get her out of my system. But I know that’s untrue. Hell, a lifetime of nights with Winny wouldn’t be enough. This is the woman who’s haunted my dreams for four long years.

And tonight, she’s going to be mine one more time. I can’t talk myself out of it.

“It feels warmer in here already,” says a husky voice next to my ear. I was so busy thinking about her I didn’t hear her come up behind me. She’s already removed her coat, so I take mine off as well.

She hands me the glass of red wine and takes a long sip of hers. I also take a sip, but all I really want to do is suck the droplet of wine off of her lower, lusciously full lip. Not yet, though. I’m not going to jump on her like a rabid animal. I want her to see me as the man I am now, not the boy I used to be. And I’m a man who has control over himself.

“Sit down. I’ll get us a blanket,” I tell her.

Once she’s seated on the couch, I sit beside her and carefully drape the blanket over our legs. My arm settles comfortably behind her neck, and she lays her head on my shoulder.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Winny blurts unexpectedly.

“A girlfriend? No. I haven’t dated anyone for several months now. I wouldn’t be here if I did.”