Rushed (Adventures in Love 1)

“Neither would I,” I say, and he pushes my hair back away from my face, tucking it behind my ear.

“I’m sure, given time, we’ll find shit to fight about and piss each other off. So right now, let’s just appreciate how uncomplicated this is.”

I bite my bottom lip, then let it go and nod. “I think that’s smart.”

“Good.” He smiles as he drags me forward for a kiss, and I sink into him, getting lost in the moment of his tongue touching mine. Needing to be closer, I climb onto his lap with his help. “Keep your hand here,” he orders, capturing my wrist and placing my wrapped palm against his hard chest. “Move it and we stop.” He leans up, nipping my bottom lip.

“I won’t move it,” I vow; then I feel his hand on my ass as he drags me forward, which means his hard-on that’s barely restrained by his thin shorts hits me right between my legs. My breath catches, my core clenches, and wetness spreads right . . . there.

“You okay?” His hand moves up over the curve of my ass.

“Yeah.” I rock against him without thought, and his eyes darken.

“Come here.” He lifts his head enough to nip my bottom lip.

“I’m right here,” I pant against his mouth before nipping his bottom lip like he did mine. Then his fingers thread through the hair at the back of my head, and he urges my mouth down to his as I rock against him again.

“I can see you’re going to be a test of my willpower.”

“Why do you say that?” I ask, but instead of answering, he thrusts his tongue into my mouth before biting and licking my lips while his hand on my ass travels around to cup my breast. Out of pure instinct, I press closer and rub myself against him. I have never been this turned on, and I’m pretty sure I might cry when he slows the kiss and pulls back.

“Your hand.”

“Sorry.” I wince when I find that my hand has moved up to his hair and is gripping it tight enough to cause me pain.

“I might have to tie your wrist to the bed for your own good,” he says, and a shiver of excitement travels down my spine while a smile that can only be described as devilish curves his lips. “But not tonight.” He leans up to kiss me swiftly, then carefully helps me off his lap. As he rewinds the movie and I settle into his side, I try my best not to pout, but I know I don’t succeed when he glances at me and laughs.

“It’s not funny.”

“Sunshine, trust me when I say this hurts me more than it hurts you.” He adjusts the bulge in his pants, making me feel somewhat better. “That said, I’m not going to risk you opening your wound back up.”

Knowing he’s right, I sigh, ignoring the feel of him shaking in silent laughter while hiding my own smile by tucking my face against his chest.

Chapter 16

CYBIL

Standing in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in hand and still half-asleep, even after my shower, I watch in a daze as a shirtless Tanner does burpees on the back patio. As his muscles bunch and move under his tan skin, all I can think is it really should be illegal for a man as hot as him to work out half-naked, especially when he has a sexually frustrated woman staying in his house.

Hearing my cell phone that’s plugged in on the counter ring, I force my eyes off the man who’s captured my attention and pick it up, frowning when I see that Galvin is calling me. Part of me wants to let the call go to voice mail, but curiosity has me sliding my thumb across the screen and putting it on speaker, since I can’t hold my phone and coffee at the same time.

“Yes?”

“Cybil,” he says, sounding unsure, like he’s forgotten the sound of my voice.

“Yes?” I repeat as my eyes drift out the window to Tanner, who’s now hanging upside down from a bar, doing sit-ups.

“Umm . . . how are you?”

“I’m fantastic.” I wait for him to say more, because honestly I have no desire to ask him how he is, or any other niceties. Not after finding out that he lied to me.

“Jade said you’re in Montana and that you met someone there.”

“I am, and I did,” I agree, dropping my eyes to my feet as annoyance with my best friend makes my hand tighten around my coffee cup.

“Fuck, Cybil, I know you’re pissed about everything that happened between you and me, but do you really think that’s smart?”

“The only thing me being here has to do with you is that I booked this trip because you wanted us to go on a couples retreat to work on our relationship. When, in reality, there was nothing I could do to make you happy, because I don’t have a penis. Besides that, you do not factor into me staying in Montana with Tanner.”