Read Online Fearless by Cheryl Douglas - Free Book Online Page B

you by the car?”
    He nodded, though he knew she couldn’t see him through the veil of darkness. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, sure, I’ll be right there.”
    He flipped a switch to light her path as he watched her walk away. He waited until he heard the front door open and close before descending the steps and retracing her steps. He waited by her car, kicking stones in the dirt, trying to find the words to make this less painful.
    She came out a few minutes later, her small bag over her shoulder. She paused in front of him, her hand resting on the door handle. “Thanks for dinner and the company. It was great, Josh.”
    He nodded, trying to force the words out.
    She placed her fingertips against his lips and smiled. “It’s okay; I know what you’re thinking.”
    He looked into her eyes. It would be so easy to just lure her back inside and make love to her just this once. 
    She let her hand fall to her side and reached up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “You are one of the best friends I’ve ever had, Josh. I know things won’t be the same between us moving forward, but I just wanted you to know that.” She brushed her lips against his. “Good luck. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
    He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight, lifting her off the ground. He couldn’t do it. He wasn’t strong enough to let her go. He buried his face in her neck, determined to use every trick in his arsenal to make her stay.
    He nibbled the hollow of her neck as he flattened her between the car and his body. His tongue urgently sought to make her forget about leaving as his mouth pleaded for one more chance to make her change her mind. He cupped her face with his hands, plundering her mouth with his tongue. He was desperate, urgent, out of control.
    She flattened her palms against his chest, pushing him away. “Stop, we can’t do this,” she panted, turning her head to the side. “I have to go.”
    He let her feel what she was doing to him. “Don’t go. Please, just give me tonight.”
    She shook her head, pushing him further away. “We can’t. It would be a mistake. You were right last night.”
    He groaned, glancing at her swollen lips. “I was an idiot last night. I should have made love to you, slowly, gently. I could have made you forget...” He tasted her lips again and she groaned into his mouth. He drew her closer, reaching up the front of her top.
    “I want you, Josh...”
    His hand found the closure at the front of her bra. He couldn’t wait to get her naked. “Let’s go inside...”
    “No, I meant what I said. We can’t do this.”
    He forced himself to take a deep breath. Damn it. If he let her go now, he knew he wouldn’t get this chance again. “I need you,” he whispered. He pressed his arousal into her abdomen to prove his point.
    She dropped her head and chuckled against his chest. “You don’t need me; what you need is a cold shower.”  
    “God, Lex, do you have any idea how good it could be between us?” He had no doubt she was everything in bed that she was out of it: sexy, daring, determined.
    “Don’t you think I know that?” she whispered. “That’s what scares me. If I made love to you, I know I couldn’t just walk away, but I also know I couldn’t give you what you need. You said it yourself last night; you don’t want to share me.”
    He hated that she was using his own words to douse his passion. But she was right. Once would never be enough, and it would kill him to know someone else was sharing her body while she was sharing his bed. He would likely kill his rival with his bare hands and spend the rest of his life in jail. They had to end this now, before he did something he’d regret.
    He took a step back. “Okay, go now, before I change my mind.”
    “Josh...”
    “I mean it. You need to go now.” He stalked up the stairs and slammed the entrance door so hard it rattled the frame.
     
    It had been seven days, seven wasted days, seven