“Oh, yeah? Well, your butt is cute when you bend over and lean on the counter like that.”
“Really?” he says innocently, eyes going wide. “Well, I was going to stand up straight, but since you said that, I'd better stay bent over for the rest of my life.”
“Might want to pick your crowd,” I giggle. “This look isn’t appealing to everyone.”
“You’re right,” he says with deadly seriousness. “I’ll have to figure this out very carefully. I’m just extremely conscious now of how my butt needs to be shown off.”
“Like I said, it’s cute. But when you’re bent over like that, it’s hard to see the rest of you.”
“Oh?” he says, standing up. He flexes his pecs, then curls a bicep, showing off the rock-hard muscle.
“Like this?” he asks, with a maddeningly cute smile.
“Uh-huh,” I mutter, my voice getting caught in my throat.
Jesus Christ, I always forget how hot he is!
Brad continues posing, even doing a little twirl, and my eyes travel over his body, the view robbing me of speech and good sense.
“Alisha,” Brad says, coming closer so he can put his hand under my chin. “You’ve faded out.”
“No, I have not,” I answer. “I am exceedingly focused right now, just not on your eyes.”
He chuckles, tilting my chin up. “Did you have a good day?” he asks.
I nod. “I went to the garden. Grace offered me a job.”
“That’s wonderful!” Brad exclaims. “I’m so happy for you.”
I can see he is really, genuinely happy for me, and it melts the last of my resistance. I want to tell him everything—that Grace is a shiftless wolf, too, and I truly bonded with her and made a best friend for life. I also have questions about the council and the state of the town, but none of it matters as much as the touch of his skin on mine.
I reach up and run my hands down his arms, tilting my head just a little and blinking coyly.
He smiles, but pulls back a bit. “Alisha, I—”
“Brad,” I say, reaching for him. “Please, just hold me.”
“Okay,” he answers, wrapping his arms around me.
I snuggle against his chest, enjoying the feel of his strong body through the soft fabric of his shirt, and the faint, clean smell of his aftershave. Brad is holding me so gently, as if he’s afraid I’ll break. Keeping my hands wrapped around his waist, I lean back, looking into his eyes and stretching up until our lips are almost touching.
I feel him bend, as if he’s drawn to my lips by a magnet. The moment our lips touch seems to crackle, as if an electric shock snapped between the two of us. Instead of being painful, it sends waves of luscious heat through my body, lingering in my thighs, nipples, and deep between my legs.
With a soft moan, I tip my head back and feel Brad kissing me even more deeply. His arms wrap tightly around my waist and lift me up a little, so I have to grab his shoulders for balance.
The feel of his hot, slick lips against mine is so intense, I’m almost dizzy. The thumping of my heart drowns out all else except for the rush of lust that floods my body, destroying the last lingering shred of my control.
Doubt, mistrust, confusion…I’d already challenged those feelings today, and almost defeated them when I accepted that Grace really wants to be my friend. They rise in me again now, as I try to cling to the last shreds of good sense before my desire blows them away.
Fuck it. I’m tired of this—I’m tired of wanting, suffering, and fighting! All I want is this!
I give in to Brad’s kiss, throwing myself into our passion with an abandon like never before.
Chapter 11 - Brad
Thrills run through me as Alisha kisses me back, reaching for my lips with hers and gripping my waist. I keep my touch gentle and light, ready to let her pull away any time she wants.
She wriggles closer to me and writhes against me, and even though excitement is surging through my blood, I hold myself back.
