I added bacon to another skillet before popping four slices of bread in the toaster.
“Here I am sitting on my lazy ass,” she said. “I haven’t even offered to help.”
“Not enough room in this kitchen for two, but thanks.” I wouldn’t mind crowding in behind her while she manned the stove though. Feeling that firm little ass pressed against me while I kissed her neck and let my hands explore…
“Jesus Knox, be careful! You’re not even wearing a shirt.”
The bacon grease was spitting out of the pan, landing on my chest and I’d been too caught up in my fantasy to even notice.
She jumped up and turned the burners down before wetting a paper towel with water and dabbing my chest.
Damn. I closed my hands around her wrist, looking down into her eyes. I was dying to kiss her, but knew if I did that would provoke a bunch of questions I wasn’t ready to answer. My friendship with Cece meant everything to me. And before I thought about putting it at risk I had to think it through, weigh the pros and cons, just like I knew she would.
She turned quickly, a blush creeping up her cheeks. “You’re right, there’s not enough room for both of us in here. I’ve got this.”
I tried to tear myself away, but couldn’t. I closed my hands around her waist instead, inhaling deeply. As long as I could keep it light I wouldn’t have to stop touching her. “Damn, girl. You smell good. What is that?”
She giggled when I brushed my stubble over her collarbone. “Vanilla sugar.”
“Hmm, perfect for my sweet tooth,” I growled, skimming my teeth over her shoulder. “No calories and my dentist wouldn’t even object.”
She leaned into me, her breath stalling as she turned the burners off. “Damn, Knox. Don’t do that. Every girl has a spot… and you just found mine.”
“Oh yeah?” I wanted to lick every inch of her. My hands moved up, grazing the bare skin under her tank. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” My tongue was exploring now, tracing her neck, grazing her soft skin with my teeth. I was hurtling towards the point of no return and with a bed just a few feet away I wasn’t sure I could stop myself.
“Knox…” She gasped, closing her hands over mine. “I know we’ve, uh, fooled around before, but I thought we agreed it was a bad idea.”
“Bad idea.” I sucked her earlobe into my mouth before nibbling it. “Why again?”
“Because of…” She sighed, curling her arms behind her, around my neck, giving my hands free rein. “Our friendship.”
“Right.” I flattened my hand against her taut stomach, teasing the button on her shorts. I was barreling full steam ahead, thinking about how long it would take to get her naked, but I had to slow the hell down and think this shit through.
This wasn’t just any woman. This was Cece. And I’d only been having these obsessive thoughts about her for like, a day. What if I felt differently next week and this stupid stunt ruined everything?
I took a step back, drawing a shaky breath. “You’re right.” I covered my face with my hands. “Shit, I’m sorry, Ce. I don’t know what the hell I was thinkin’.”Yes, I do. I was thinking I may be falling for you. Hard.
“It’s okay.” She smiled, touching my hand. “It’s no big deal. Honest. Why don’t you go grab a quick shower while I plate this up?”
A shower. Right. An ice cold shower. That’s what I needed.
* * *
Cece
By the time Knox returned to the table, I was feeling better. More grounded. It scared me how ready I’d been to jump into bed with him. I was literally two seconds away from begging him… or dropping to my knees and offering to pleasure him right there in his kitchen. What the hell was wrong with me? This was Knox! We didn’t do shit like that. Okay, maybe we did. But we hadn’t in a hell of a long time.
“Hey.” He brushed a kiss over my cheek. “I’m sorry, babe. Forgive me?”
“Nothing to forgive.” I forced a smile as I pushed his juice glass toward him when he sat down across from me. “You woke up and wanted a little action. I get it.” I had to chock it up to morning wood or we could both be in trouble. More importantly, our relationship could be in trouble and I couldn’t have that.
He dug into his breakfast, looking as awkward as I felt. “You were tellin’ me about your problem with Auden?” he said, topping his toast with an egg.
Ugh. I didn’t want to talk about Auden now. But maybe it would help to get Knox and I back on the right track. The platonic friends track. Because I was not considering a friends-with-bennies relationship with this man. Anyone but him. I knew one roll in the sack with Knox would leave me wanting more. Like every day more.
“Right. Auden.” I bit into a slice of crisp bacon. “Um, so like I was saying, I like him.”
But if that were true would I have been rubbing up on Knox like a cat in heat? I’d never cheated on a man in my life, and after what happened with Leo I never would, so how could I have been so attracted to Knox if I really was into Auden? It didn’t make sense. Nothing made sense anymore. How could I go from being best friends with a guy I spent almost every day with, to picturing him naked, going down on me, in the blink of an eye?
