Page 59 of Mountain Dreams

He raised his gaze to meet hers and swallowed hard. “I shouldn’t be here,” he said almost to himself.

“Why are you?” she repeated, though without incrimination. She didn’t mind him looking at her like this. After all, she’d dreamed about this on and off for years.

“I didn’t want to leave things the way we did.”

His voice sounded even sexier than usual, and she felt her nipples tighten, but this time, she didn’t try to hide them.

“Do you have something to say?” she asked.

He threaded his hands through his already disheveled hair. “Yes, but I forgot what it was.”

She laughed, enjoying the effect she was having on him. “Take your time.”

“Can we sit down? I’m feeling a little…lightheaded.”

“Okay.” She went over and perched on the end of the bed, her bare legs dangling over the edge.

He raised his brows, obviously surprised that she’d chosen to sit there instead of in the living room. Then she patted the space beside her.

Ohmigod. What am I doing? she thought as he sat beside her. Pretend we’re at the beach and I’m in my swimsuit.

“How’s the hand?” she said softly.

He held it up. “Better.”

“Good.”

“Madison…”

“I’d rather you call me Maddie. Madison is too formal, especially when I’m sitting here in my bra and underwear.”

He chuckled gruffly, his gaze skimming over her again. “Maddie, I didn’t want you going to bed thinking that I don’t…that I haven’t… Damn, this is hard!”

“Is it?” Her gaze flicked down to his jeans. Who am I right now? She felt like a seductress in a romance novel, only this was no act. Cody was sex personified, and she felt sexy around him, especially right now.

He took a deep breath as if gathering courage. For someone who was usually so cocksure, especially around women, he seemed awfully nervous. She almost felt bad for him—almost.

“I do see you as a woman, Maddie. You’re beautiful, whip-smart, sweet, and way too good for the likes of me, which is why I never pursued you back in school. I wanted you around for more than one night, one month, or even one year. I was afraid that if we crossed the line, I might lose you.” He took another deep breath, and she reached out and held his hand, the uninjured one.

“You could never lose me,” she whispered.

He shook his head. “But I did. I lost you to Wyatt, and I learned to live with that because I still got to have you as my friend.”

She stiffened at the mention of her ex. He had no place here in this room or in her life, not anymore.

“I respected you too much to toy with your feelings,” he said. “I still do.”

“I respect that you respect me,” she said, coaxing a laugh from him. “But I also want you to trust that I can handle myself and my feelings. I’m not in high school anymore.”

“That’s for sure,” he said, his gaze dropping to her chest.

Right then, she was thankful to whoever had designed the push-up bra. Her breasts were average-sized, but the bra helped accentuate them. Then, like she’d been doing all night, she surprised herself again. She took his left hand and guided it to her chest.

It was like watching herself underwater, the movement slow and deliberate, and he watched too, looking like he couldn’t believe this was happening. Then his instincts must have kicked in, and he cupped her breast in his hand, brushing over her nipple with his thumb.

She sucked in a breath, feeling his touch from her breast to between her legs. Neither spoke as he brought up his right hand and cupped her other breast too.

Their eyes locked, and they both leaned in until their faces were mere millimeters apart. Heat emanated off him and bathed her in warmth. She thought she should have been nervous, especially given her limited experience, but this was Cody, and while she felt anticipation, she wasn’t nervous at all.