Page 32 of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

I nodded, unable to form words as his lips crashed into mine. The kiss was fierce and all-consuming. I melted into him, letting the world fall away. His hands gripped my hips, lifting me as if I weighed nothing. My legs wrapped around him instinctively.

He carried me to the couch, laying me down with a gentleness that didn’t match the fire in his eyes. His mouth never left mine, exploring, tasting, claiming. My hands roamed over his back, his shoulders, pulling him closer, wanting more, needing⁠—

My eyes snapped open, and I was staring at the ceiling of my old bedroom.

The rush of sensations, the weight of his body, the heat of his kiss all disappeared. It was just the empty air around me. My heart pounded against my ribs as I blinked, disoriented and disappointed.

It had felt so real. I could still hear his voice in my ear, feel the press of his lips on my skin. But the room was silent, the only sound my ragged breaths. I had been so close to a climax.

I groaned, throwing an arm over my face. “I’m in a lot of trouble.”

The knot of desire low in my belly refused to untangle itself. My body was primed and ready. There was no way I was going to be able to sleep feeling this way. Only one thing was going to get me through this.

My hand drifted down, slipping under the waistband of my panties. If my dreams were going to torture me, I figured I might as well do something about it.

My fingers found their way to the heat between my legs. Images of Kannon flashed in my mind. I envisioned his intense eyes and that enticing smirk as he taunted me against the wall. My body responded instantly, a sharp pang of longing coiling tightly within me.

The memory of the dream felt so vivid. I imagined his hands exploring my skin. I circled slowly, building the pressure gently—every touch amplified by the lingering echo of his breath against my ear. The frustration and intensity from the dream heightened every sensation. I rubbed my clit, pretending it was him, and it didn’t take long for the orgasm to hit. I groaned and rolled to my side, trembling with pleasure.

This thing with Kannon was going to make me crazy. I wanted him and hated being around him at the same time.

Lord give me strength.

15

KANNON

Merritt sat on the floor in the dining room. The new vinyl flooring had been put down and the guys were going to be working in the living room next. The interior of the house had been painted, making it look brand new.

I looked down at her from my spot at the top of the ladder. The new ceiling fan I was putting in had been one she picked out. Alone. I told her we could head to Home Depot together, but she had been insistent she would order it online and I could pick it up or she would have it delivered.

She was avoiding me. We were five feet apart and she was acting like I didn’t exist. I couldn’t figure it out. She had thawed to me the other night but now she was surrounded by ice again.

The guys were out picking up the appliances, so it was just the two of us. I thought maybe she would loosen up like she had the other day. I thought maybe she was just shy or didn’t like Wes and Luke. I didn’t know why, but I assumed that was the problem.

But now I knew otherwise.

Her laptop was open in front of her, fingers flying across the keyboard as if the speed of her typing would keep me from noticing how hard she was avoiding me. Her hair was up in some kind of messy bun, little strands falling loose, which I found sexy as hell. She was wearing a loose shirt, splattered with white paint. She insisted on helping yesterday by painting the trim in the garage. I was pretty sure her sudden interest in painting had more to do with her trying to find an excuse to stay away from me. The woman was acting like I had cooties.

I finished securing the fan and climbed down the ladder. She continued ignoring me, which wasn’t new. What was new was how much it bugged me.

“Merritt.” My voice was calm but firm, cutting through the silence like a blade. Her fingers froze mid-keystroke.

She glanced up, her expression wary. “What?”

I took a step closer. “Did I do something to piss you off?”

Her lips parted, and for a moment, she looked like a deer caught in headlights. “What? No. Why would you think that?”

“Because you’ve been avoiding me all week,” I said. I squatted in front of her to get eye level. “Ever since the other night, you’ve been trying to keep from being in the room with me.”

“I’m in the room with you now.”

“Are you?” I asked.

“We’ve been busy rebuilding a house,” she said. “And I’m still trying to keep up with my responsibilities at work. I’m busy.”

“Are you freaked out because we actually had a good time?”