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Ben spun her around and covered her mouth with his, slanting his soft lips over hers, plumping her, tasting her. His tongue slid into her mouth, and she opened eagerly to let him in. When he stroked deftly against her, she tunneled her hand into his thick hair and gripped tightly. He huffed against her lips and she swallowed his moan as she sucked his tongue, hard.
Kayleigh pressed herself against him, desperate to feel him everywhere. He licked into her mouth again and again, teasing her and retreating, forcing her to chase him, making her come to him and take what she wanted. He was an expert kisser, hot, gentle but demanding and she collapsed against him, unable to hold herself up on her wobbling legs anymore.
Her core pulsed insistently, begging for attention and she shifted her hips against him, desperate to grind against his hardness while he worked her mouth so perfectly. Then he pulled away and the lights of the bar, the pool table, came back into focus but her world was blurry, shaken to its core by his kiss. She stared up at him dumbly, his mouth was puffy and swollen, and she was eager for another taste. His eyes glazed over, and his slicked back hair now stuck out at odd angles. Had she done that?
He tucked her hair behind her ear and framed her face with his hands and when he finally spoke, his tone was all gravel. “I think that answers your question on being sexy.” He ran his thumb over her bottom lip then turned away, picking up his cue and potting the last two balls before she could even blink.
“Come on, let’s get you home,” he said, not meeting her eyes before he took their beer bottles and tossed them. Then he was leading her outside, locking up the bar and shoving her bike into the trunk of his car. And she was sitting inside wondering what the hell had happened in the last two minutes?
He didn’t say anything the entire drive to hers and she didn’t know whether it was a good thing or not. She had been vulnerable and opened up to him, and he had kissed her.
Hekissedher.
When he pulled up outside her house, he once again removed her bike from his car in one smooth motion and then dipped his head, pressing his lips to her cheek. His stubble teased her and she realized her cheeks were stinging slightly from where it had rubbed against her in their make out session.
“Goodnight, bad girl,” he murmured.
*
Chapter 9
Working alongside Ben was getting harder by the day. Seeing those green eyes watching her so intently and the way his lush mouth kicked up on one side in a sinful lip curl had hunger crawling through her. She had tasted that mouth; she knew exactly what delights it could deliver. She was eager for more but he hadn’t made any moves.
Sometimes she thought he was flirting, like when he would move behind her in the cramped bar, his hands on her hips, shifting her to the side, his lips by her ear making goosebumps burst to life across her skin. Time slowed as she looked at him over her shoulder, their eyes connecting, heat sizzling between them. During those moments, the sounds of the bar vanished and all that could be heard was the heavy panting of their breaths. Then he would remove his hands and the world came back into focus with a harsh jolt.
Kayleigh decided that he was too sexy for a bartender. The way he laughed with patrons, the strength he exhibited when changing a keg over, right down to the flick of his wrist when he took the top off a bottle of beer, making every flex of his forearms downright obscene.
He had an energy, the elusive X factor that you couldn’t name, that made people gravitate towards him. Kayleigh watched it happen every shift and each time tried to tamp down the jealousy she felt clawing at her insides. She watched him flirt harmlessly and charm both men and women alike, just like he did with her. Which is what made her decide that, despite their kiss, she was firmly entrenched in the friend zone and that felt like a bigger blow than realizing she and Taylor would never happen.
As though her thoughts summoned her, Taylor appeared next to her, her emerald eyes sparkling in the light. It had been four weeks since her nasty ex had died, and Kayleigh was pleased to see Taylor was doing better each day.
“Everything cool?” Kayleigh asked, cataloguing Taylor’s features and waiting for the pang of longing that usually knocked her off her feet every time she saw the woman, but this time it never came.
“I decided to bring the bar into the twenty-first century and set up an Instagram account. I posted about the LGBTQIA nights coming up and it’s had a ton of engagement and shares and people messaging asking for more dates!” Taylor bounced up and down and did a little wiggle before pulling Kayleigh into a hug and spinning her around. When they turned, Kayleigh noticed Ben was staring at them, his hands on his hips, a frown puckering his forehead that didn’t leave until she had extricated herself from Taylor’s gangly limbs.
“That’s amazing!” Kayleigh squealed. Ben came over to join them and Taylor reiterated the news before turning back to Kayleigh.
“Thank you so much for the suggestion, I can’t believe it had never occurred to me to do this before so thank you for bringing it to my attention,” Taylor said, tucking a strand of hair behind Kayleigh’s ear. The motion was something that, a few months ago, would have rendered Kayleigh speechless, but now it smacked of sisterly affection and Kayleigh…wasn’t mad about it. Was she finally getting over Taylor?
A low growl distracted Kayleigh from her analysis and she flicked her eyes to Ben who had a slightly feral look in his eyes that Kayleigh also decided she wasn’t mad about.
“Excuse me,” he grunted before heading down the corridor to the kitchen.
“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. Watching you over the last eighteen months and seeing the woman you’re becoming makes me so happy,” Taylor said, distracting her.
“Oh my God, why are you doing this to me?” Kayleigh asked, emotion clogging her throat as the words sank in.
Taylor laughed. “Because everyone deserves to know how amazing they are. I want nothing but happiness for you. You’re like my little sister, you know?”
Kayleigh hugged her again, words failing her at Taylor’s sweetness, and again, it didn’t hurt that Taylor confirmed exactly the type of relationship she felt they had. If anything, Kayleigh thought she was right. She had always found Taylor gorgeous and admired what a strong woman Taylor was but is that all her feelings were? Pure admiration and idolization? The more she examined them the more Kayleigh acknowledged that Taylordidfeel like her big sister, she certainly looked up to her in that way and their relationship was something that she would forever cherish.
When they broke away Ben returned, looking a little grouchy and definitely stomping his feet. Taylor hurried back into her office but returned before Kayleigh could question Ben on his sudden mood change.
“So, tomorrow is Christy and Dean’s wedding reception, don’t forget I need you both here a little earlier to start setting up,” she said, flicking through the planner she held. Dean was Taylor’s stepbrother and he was marrying Taylor’s best friend, Christy who had come back to town a couple of years ago.
Kayleigh whistled low. “Wow, that’s come around quick.”
Ben turned away to grab a beer for Porter, one of the regulars.
