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Gen pushed herself up on tiptoe, dug her nails into his shoulders, and met his tongue halfway. They drank, twisting their bodies against each other in a desperate, vicious craving for contact, for skin and lips and teeth, for his dick thrusting between her thighs again and again and again.
Feasting, drowning, he cupped her ass and lifted her high up, grinding against her while his tongue never stopped diving in and out of her mouth. Gen burned up in his arms, shaking with a desperation and need to have him completely, and she moaned low and needy while he captured the sound and drank deeper, until . . .
The doorbell rang.
They stumbled back from each other like they were caught in a White House sex scandal. A knock followed the bell.
"Gen? It's Arilyn. Kate's running late so she'll meet us at the dog park. You ready?"
Their gazes caught and locked. Her lips throbbed and she wanted to press her fingers to her mouth and confirm that the kiss had really happened. The floor seemed unstable under her feet. The clean scent of his soap and lemon lingered. Her body pulsed with need to finally put an end to the torture, but she pummeled it back at the sight of his expression.
Reserved. All emotion was wiped away and there was only . . . distance. A polite distance. A friendly distance.
Her gut clenched. Fighting off the sickness, she turned and opened the door to Arilyn.
Her friend floated in with two leashes in hand and squirming, happy puppies. "Hi, Wolfe. Hope I didn't interrupt breakfast." She must've caught the odd aura in the air because she trailed off, glancing back and forth. "Or something."
Gen forced a smile. "Nope, we just finished. Didn't we?"
Wolfe gave her a moody look. She held her breath, but he slowly nodded. "Yeah. We did."
Gen dropped to her knees and buried her face in comforting fur. She refused to let him see how much he'd hurt her. "I'm ready for the park," she said brightly. The black-and-white mottled puppies jumped up and down, swiping her cheeks with wet tongues and nibbling on her fingers with sharp baby teeth. Maybe she'd get a dog. They always made her feel happy. "Are you going to the office, Wolfe?"
"Not today."
His curt words made Arilyn stare at him. Gen stood up, grabbed her purse, and headed for the door. "See ya later."
She felt his gaze boring into her back as she stumbled in the need for escape. Gen grabbed one of the leashes and ignored Arilyn's raised brow. Screw it. She'd have a nice day with her friends and dogs and eat ice cream, and then she'd go home early and get ready for her date. Much better if he didn't return until tomorrow. Tomorrow, the balance might be back in order.
Maybe.
Hopefully.
"Gonna tell me what's going on?" Arilyn asked.
"No."
Her friend gave a soft laugh. "Didn't think so. I'm here if you need me though."
"I know. And I'm here if you ever want to talk about Yoga Man."
They shared a knowing look, then burst into laughter.
nineteen
HE WAS LOSING his mind.
Wolfe paced the small kitchen and waited for Gen to come out of the bedroom. He'd already texted her this afternoon to apologize for being an asshole. She quickly forgave him via a smiley face on the phone, but he sensed there was something much bigger and more complicated seething under the surface.
He'd kissed her.
Again.
A groan spilled from his lips, and he pulled a beer from the fridge. Her taste would haunt him forever. So sweet. Better than juicy fruit and sticky honey. The way her body molded to his, responding as if she had no choice, swept up in a hurricane or tornado or some type of God-driven event. Silky skin and wild hair.
He'd been two seconds from taking her against the wall. Or the floor. Or the counter. If Arilyn hadn't walked in, who knows what would've happened. The possibility haunted him all day until he felt halfway insane.
He shouldn't be here. Most of the morning was spent at the gym. Her announcement shattered any rational thought and splintered his brain with two of the sexiest words on the planet.
Tattoo.
Brazilian.
He wouldn't be seeing either of them. Maybe her date would. Hell, Wolfe knew he should stay put in his apartment and ride out the storm. Tomorrow, things might be better between them. Back to good old friendship.
Wolfe cracked open the top and guzzled. The icy liquid soothed his throat but did nothing to quench the thirst in his soul. Odds were good nothing physical would happen tonight. Gen might talk a good game, and her body might want sex, but her head and heart usually got in the way. She wasn't built for one-night stands. Not like him.
He figured he owed her an apology in person. He'd square things up, then leave her alone.
The bedroom door burst open.
Wolfe sucked in his breath. She was gorgeous. Her hair fell in neat ringlets that his fingers itched to mess up. She'd lined her eyes with some type of black that made the navy blue depths jump right out and grip tight. The smattering of freckles across her nose made his lips want to follow the trail, ending at her plump pink mouth.
But the dress killed him.
He knew about the little black dress. This one was little, all right. With her curves, the hemline rode up a bit higher than normal, showcasing her muscled calves and generous hips. The material was some weblike lace substance or crochet, knit together in a delicate pattern that stretched over her breasts and plunged dangerously to a V like a thrill-seeking ride plummeting down a dangerous hill.
Glittery, jangly silver jewelry draped her body. Chains around her ankles and wrists, with earrings swishing in her hair. The shoes crisscrossed in the front, zippered in the back, and screamed edgy sex.
His spit dried up. Under the little black dress, she sported a Brazilian wax that left her completely bare, open, and accessible. Her usual fresh scent had been replaced by a musky sandalwood perfume, exotic and slutty at the same time. He fucking loved it.
He fucking hated it.
"Can you finish zipping me up?"
His ears registered the request but his feet were frozen to the floor. He probably looked like Forrest Gump, looking confused and spouting about chocolate.
"Wolfe?"
"Yeah, sure," he muttered. He dropped the beer onto the counter and forced himself closer. She fisted her hair in one hand and lifted the strands off her neck to give him easy access. The dress gaped open and flashed the vulnerable line of her spine, the silky soft skin at her nape. His hands shook as he grasped the tab and pulled up.
The hiss cut through the sudden, explosive silence. He caught her quick, indrawn breath. Awareness crackled between them.
"Thanks."
He kept his hands on her back for a brief moment
. Fought the urge to zip it back down, strip her naked, and take her right there, no more questions or asinine excuses or polite conversation.
Instead, he stepped back.
"Sure."
She glanced at her silver watch and clicked over to the coffee table. "What are you still doing here? I told you everything's forgiven." Her smile flashed in the dim light. Her breasts rose and fell with each breath. Was she wearing one of those tight corset things to make everything look smooth and even beneath the black fabric? She didn't need it. He imagined how his hand would sweep over the familiar curves. Funny, he didn't know what color her nipples were. Ruby red and tart like cherries? Or like her mouth, a soft blush of pink that turned dusky with arousal?
The room tipped drunkenly and flames engulfed his blood, churning thick and sluggish in his veins. Maybe he had the flu. Or he was having a heart attack. He'd never experienced arousal this intense before. He didn't even think it was possible.
"Wolfe? Are you listening?"
He shook his head and fought for clarity. "Just wanted to see you off. Make sure you're safe. Does Kate have this guy's number?"
An amused smile touched her lips. "Of course. He's a client. I have money, too, Dad."
"Let me stay." Her eyes widened but he rushed on. "I swear, if I hear a guy's voice outside I'll jump out the window. I want to be sure David doesn't come poking around."
She straightened her spine and grabbed her ridiculously small beaded purse. "No. You promised and I'm holding you to it. David hasn't bothered me in weeks and I think he's gotten the message. I need my privacy for tonight. It's important to me."
"Don't sleep with him, Gen."
The plea spit from his lips before he could wrestle the words back. She gasped and teetered on her high heels. For one minute, he swore she'd agree. She'd walk over, put her arms around his shoulders, and tell him she didn't want to sleep with anyone but him.
"I can't promise anything." Her gaze challenged him to stop her or try to change her mind. "I want what you have."
Emotion drained from him in a rush that left him empty. If it was up to him, he'd fight the demons of hell to make sure she didn't have a life like his. Sex that ended with emptiness. A heart that was numb at the center. The last month of being around her had changed him. Brought a steady peace and vibrancy he had only experienced in spurts before. But it couldn't last, and eventually if he took her to bed he'd lose the last great woman who made all the pain worth it.
