This is Reckless (Checkmate Duet 3)

“Courtney, I was worried you’d think it was a mistake, and I needed time to process it all. It consumed my mind all fucking week long. Between telling you the truth and wondering what you’d say about it all, I figured either option meant I’d lose you.”

Our eyes lock, her soft features studying mine. “You forgot the third option.”

The corner of my lips tilts up, feeling hopeful. “What’s that?”

“You could kiss me.”

I smile, so fucking happy over the way she’s looking at me right now. My heart beats harder because kissing Courtney is something I’ve thought of nonstop all week.

“I like that option.” I cup her cheek and bring our bodies closer. “I like that option a lot, actually,” I say against her lips. She smiles, and my whole world tilts.

Kissing Courtney feels like the most natural thing in my life. My tongue glides with hers as our lips connect and arms wrap around each other. She lets out a small whimper of a moan, and I feel my dick hardening in my jeans. I won’t lie and say I’ve always felt this way for her, but something buried inside me came alive the moment our bodies connected while dancing with her at the wedding. Once one thing led to another, feelings for her flooded my mind I hadn’t realized were there.

She twists her body, allowing my hands to wrap around her waist and pull her closer. The awkward position of sitting in the front seat is becoming uncomfortable, but I can’t find the willpower to release her.

Her hands explore my body and chest, wrapping a palm around my bicep and holding on tight. She moans deeper, pushing her body closer to mine and gripping her fingers into my hair. I want to do much more than kiss her, but right now, her lips are the source of my oxygen, and I want to breathe all of her in.

“Drew…” she releases on a moan.

“Mm?”

“Your wand is stabbing my groin,” she says against my lips.

Our lips part as I burst out in surprise laughter. “Excuse me?”

She leans back and grabs something on the seat. “Your police wand.” She holds it up.

“Shit. Sorry.” I take it from her and throw it in the back.

“Any other police equipment hiding in here?” she asks, biting her lower lip.

“No, which I’m highly regretting right now.”

She chuckles, and I see a faint blush rise on her cheeks.

“I could never forget something like that, but let’s say I did. Would you refresh my memory?”

“Well, Deputy,” she drawls in her Southern accent. “I think I could do that for you.”

Arriving back to the house, it’s pitch black inside, and neither of us reaches for the lights. My hands and lips are back on her before the door slams shut. She reaches for my shirt and pulls it up, tossing it to the floor. We collide once again, and she stumbles over her heels, and before she can throw them off, I lift her up and wrap her legs around my waist.

I blindly walk through the house, careful to avoid the kitchen table and bookshelves. She giggles as I trip over one of her boots she left out.

“This is exactly why I tell you to put your damn shoes away,” I mutter, kicking them away.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize they’d be a sex hazard.” She chuckles, arching her hips and feeling the hard growth between us. She’s fucking killing me.

“Tripping and falling on our asses hazard,” I correct.

She tightens her grip, and I can feel my cock pressing against her leg. Walking into Courtney’s room, I set her down on the bed when I feel the side of the mattress against my knees. She scoots back, allowing me to lean over her as our lips meet. Her hands explore my body, and as much as I want to do the same, I can’t let this go too far.

We lie on her bed, our legs tangled together when she reaches for the button on my jeans.

“Court, wait,” I say, grabbing her hand in mine. I press my forehead against hers and inhale. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but we can’t have sex tonight.”

Her hand drops. “What?”

I’m so kicking myself in the balls for this.

“We can’t rush this,” I say, hoping she’ll understand. “I just got out of a relationship, and I don’t want this to be a rebound or mean any less because of it.”

“Drew, we’ve been friends for years. Roommates for almost two. I don’t think you can really suggest that we rushed it.”

“This—whatever this is between us—is brand new. We were drunk when we first jumped into bed together, and believe me, it was fucking amazing, but if we’re going to try and make it work between us, I want it to be based on something other than sex.”