My stomach twisted in knots. “You can just make that distinction and you’re ok with it?”
“Yeah, I am. Doesn’t mean I don’t care. But I have to live my life, and I think you know you have to live yours too.”
“I do know that. It’s why I moved. Part of the reason.”
My hand rested on top of his. I needed more of his reassurance. More of his touch.
“I wanted to get away from him and the problems that came along with the decisions he and my mom made. That and Greer said she desperately needed a roommate.” I smiled.
“The roommate who is never home?”
“Yes, that one. I think she really just needed someone to act as an apartment sitter. It was just a ploy to get me here.”
“Not a bad plan.” He winked and my insides melted.
Our glasses were empty. The baseball game was in the ninth inning. I hadn’t seen anyone walk through the door in a while.
“Thanks for listening. And for not judging me.”
“I already made my judgments about you and they have nothing to do with the brother I’ve never met.”
His free hand slid to my chin. It moved along my cheek until he had drawn my lips to within inches of his face.
“You have?” I whispered.
“Mmmhmm.” He brushed his lips over mine and I sighed before he took my mouth with the kind of kiss that made me forget we were sitting in a bar.
Our tongues tangled and I inhaled the sweet liquor from his breath. I gasped when his hand moved from my thigh to the sliver of space between my legs. It was reactionary as I jutted forward so his fingers could run along my silk panties.
I wanted to crawl into his lap. I wanted to shred his clothes and climb on the table for him to take me. I couldn’t kiss him enough.
Our breathing became rapid. He dragged his hands through my hair.
“We’re going back to your place.” He breathed into my ear.
I nodded quickly, tearing myself away from him so I could grab my purse.
Vaughn hailed the first taxi he saw on the street. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other in the backseat. The driver cleared his throat when we reached the curb in front of the apartment.
We stumbled out of the car, Vaughn pulling me into his arms as he walked backward to the entry. I’d never hated the three flights of stairs as much as I did at this moment. My bed was so far away.
By the time we got to the top step, his mouth was on my neck. His hands shoved my dress to my hips. I pressed my palms into the door. The keys fell to the floor.
“Oh God,” I moaned.
His fingers raked over my sex, still swollen and sore from last night.
“Do you think your neighbors would care if I fucked you right here?” he growled.
I nodded. “Yes.”
I stepped obediently out of my panties as he guided them down my legs. His hand palmed my ass.
“I don’t know if I care what they think right now.”
Granted, we were the only apartment on the top floor, but I didn’t know what the people below would think if they walked out looking for the source of the sounds of passion and saw us on the upstairs landing.
“Keys are on the floor.” I gulped the words between breaths.