More Than Possess You

Echo’s lips part. Her breathing picks up pace. Color rushes to her cheeks. “Hayes…”

The way she half moans my name, like she’s on the edge of pleasure, kicks my desire up another notch. “Yeah, shortcake. Come here.”

I’m dying to kiss you.

Finally, I close the distance between us and crush her soft lips under my own. She welcomes me with a gasp and curls her arms around my neck, pressing her body to mine.

Fuck, she’s like candy. The first time she kissed me, she took me by surprise. Now? There’s no mistaking her flavor. Her sweetness lingers on my tongue, addicting. I sink deeper to get more of it. Her scent fills my nostrils, flaring lust through my body.

I need to get closer.

Echo has been my best friend, but right now she’s an offering of silky skin, sugary lips, and eager need. I’m a guy, stupid for a pretty face and a banging body. But she’s…more.

I’m naturally guarded, but from the day I met her, she’s been dedicated to her friends and her causes with open-hearted zeal. I’d prefer to stay home and alone. But she’s enthusiastic about new adventures and good times—and determined to bring me along, making sure I enjoy both. I can be a pushy, caustic, suspicious-as-fuck asshole. But Echo is kind. She always believes the best about others, at least unless they prove her wrong.

But I’m not thinking about her sparkling personality as she wriggles her fingers under my T-shirt, trails them up my abs, and palms my hair-roughened chest. Then she brushes a curious thumb across one of my nipples, making me jolt and hiss.

Fuck, I’m on fire.

Desire forces me deeper into her kiss. I lash her tongue with my own, prowling through her mouth like I own it. Her moan becomes a whimper when I fill my hands with her ass and flatten her against my aching cock.

I half expect her to push me away, tell me I’m taking too much, too fast. But no, she stands on her tiptoes, clawing at me to get closer, then lifts her leg over my hip.

Holy shit. If I’m not careful, my fake promise to take her virginity will turn all too real. Hell, thinking I wasn’t getting any action this week, I didn’t bring condoms…except one emergency prophylactic stashed in my wallet.

Nope. I’m not using it on her. Impulse isn’t dictating what happens between us. I need to keep my head and stay the course.

If I don’t, my plan will end in disaster, and our friendship will be toast.

It takes all my willpower to tear my mouth away.

“You okay?” I pant.

“Really good.”

Her lips look rosy and slightly swollen. I can’t stop staring at them. We should talk—about anything—until I get control of myself.

My brain is on board with that plan, but my cock has other ideas.

Before I can stop myself, I skim my lips over her bare shoulder. “Is this weird?”

“Us?” Echo breathes hard, too. “No. Is it weird to you?”

Not as much as I wish it was. I shake my head. “Tell me things you want from a lover.”

“Sex.”

“More specific.”

She hesitates. “What do you like?”

“It’s not about what I like. This is about you.”

“But…” She frowns. “Shouldn’t it be about us together?”

I nearly disagree before I dial it back. Maybe she’s right. Being with her won’t be like getting naked with Jayci, Lindsay, or any other woman. Coming at Echo with my knowledge of them won’t help. Using my familiarity of her will.

“If you’re here to learn, I can safely say you’ve got kissing down.”

“Yeah?” She smiles, flashing me that adorable dimple like she’s proud of herself.

“Not that we won’t do a lot more of it,” I add hastily, because if we abandon that and move on…I’m not sure where I’ll stop.

To prove my point, I brush my mouth over hers again. Then again. Then once more, lingering even longer. I taste that something tempting on her lips that lures me into taking more of her. I can’t resist parting them and drinking her in once more. Her flavor surrounds me, pulls me deeper, and drowns me.

Echo’s breath catches, then she groans into my kiss, leaning closer and gripping my shoulders like she’s unsteady without me. I’m hungry to pull her tighter, until there’s no space or air between us. I wrap her long braid around my hand and tug until I have her mouth exactly where I want it.

I devour her again.

Jesus, I want our clothes off.

Back down. Or the minute we’re naked, you’ll be inside her.

Exactly! the devil in me points out.

He needs to shut the hell up.

Ending this kiss is harder than stopping the last one. I’m breathing even choppier.

“Yeah, you’re definitely good on the kissing part. Who taught you?”

“Mostly Jimmy Corelli.”

The swim team captain? “He had a girlfriend. What was her name?”

Her rosy cheeks turn downright red. “Simone. They’re married now. But they split up for a while. He wanted her back, though, and asked me if I’d help make her jealous. He seemed so miserable that I did. We made out in the parking lot after school once or twice.”