She studied him as though he’d grown an extra head—which apparently he had, or at least one had gotten bigger. If he didn’t leave immediately, he’d say or do something he’d regret. He didn’t care to look the fool. He started to walk away, but she stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Shouldn’t we talk about this?”
“About what exactly?”
“That.” A blush painted her cheekbones. “That kiss.”
He shook his head. “Depends. Are you interested in more or do you intend to remind me of your ridiculous rules?”
Her back stiffened, and he could almost hear her defenses snap into place. “Friendship between a man and a woman requires boundaries. You know the truth as well as I do. I think—”
“Shut up, Kate.” How could she look so damned hot and be so naive? She’d happily regaled him more than once about her sex life. She was no more an innocent than he. Crossing the narrow distance between them, he traced the tempting curve of her throat. “Right at this moment, I don’t give a flying fuck what you think. Unless you want me to shove your pretty ass against the wall and rip that very expensive dress from your hot little body, you’ll zip your lips while I walk away.”
He spun on his heel and stormed from the office, hungry for far more than she was ready to give.
Damned woman!
Kate watched Connor leave though her heart screamed to run after him. Next to Savannah, he was her best friend. He made her laugh, dominated her thoughts when they were apart, and helped her out in a hundred manly ways.
Make that your only friend besides Savannah, and she has other priorities now
. Friendship had never come easily, and she wouldn’t lose it for a romp in his bed, no matter how much she might enjoy the experience. A shiver raced up her spine, and she rubbed her arms while pretending the goose bumps were from a draft.
Enjoy would be an understatement.
If she ever allowed Connor into her bed, she’d never survive after he left.
She might as well go home. With the bride and groom gone and Connor angry with her, there would be no point in staying. She slipped out a side door and started for the car when she remembered Connor had her keys. She’d have to find him before she could go. A noise to her left caught her attention.
A step or two off the path, beneath a twisted old elm, a couple danced in the moonlight. The man’s broad shoulders nearly dwarfed the curvaceous woman in his embrace, and a tender sexuality floated around them. When they shifted slightly toward her, she recognized them—Gavin’s sister and her husband. Savannah had shared the tale of how the couple had met and fallen in love almost at first sight. What would it be like to be so certain? To know you were treasured? Protected and cared for like the massive man so obviously cared for his lovely wife?
When a wide palm slipped downward, Kate turned away, desperate to escape rather than get caught staring like a peeping Tom. Her feet crunched on the gravel path.
“Are you looking for someone, Kate?” The giant spoke behind her.
Oh God, had he seen her watching?
“No—” Her voice squeaked. She swallowed and tried again. “No, I was just leaving.”
“Do you have to go? We were about to look for you.”
“Me? Why me?”
“We heard you might be up for some fun. My wife and I would love it if you’d join us.” He pulled his pretty dance partner closer with a wink. “We have a cabin down by the water tonight, king size bed, fireplace, and enough privacy to guarantee no one will hear a thing.”
The other woman kept her gaze down, but a blush tinted her cheeks even in the dim lighting. Had they just asked her to join them sexually?
What the hell is wrong with everyone tonight?
She shrugged and stepped back, desperate to escape. “I was looking for a friend to say good-bye and then I have to go. Early day tomorrow and all. You know how it is.” Another step away, and she turned only to run smack into a solid chest. The scent of citrus and a faint masculine spice surrounded her.
Oh, thank God!
She threw her arms around his neck and clung to him. “Connor. I thought you’d already gone.”
He squeezed her tight a second before backing her up. “Is everything all right? You seem spooked.”
“Of course. I mean what would be wrong? You startled me is all.”
“You’re sure?”
She glanced toward the other couple, and the giant held a finger to his lips with a grin and a wink.
Unbelievable.
“I’m fine. Show me the lake.” She grabbed Connor’s hand and tugged him down the path.
A rich masculine laugh followed them. “Look us up if you change your mind, Kate. We have plenty of room.”
Connor smothered a chuckle, but Kate picked up speed. He owed Darcy and her husband a steak dinner or two. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. The whole world’s slipped into bat-shit crazy mode, but otherwise, everything’s peachy.” Her dress wasn’t made for running, but she stretched the fabric to its limit with her stride.
Steering her toward the water, he steadied her when she tripped in the poor lighting, then helped her down a couple steps to the dock. “Come on. What happened?”
She moved ahead of him to lean on the railing and stare into the night. “Your relatives keep hitting on me tonight.”
“Are you sure you’re not imagining things? I can’t see Marc looking at anyone besides my cousin.”
“Yeah, well, they seem all normal and everything, but they invited me to their cabin with its big bed and privacy. What does that tell you?”
He shrugged, pretending the idea of her stretched out on a bed where no one would hear her cry out in pleasure didn’t amp him up. “They probably worried you’d had too much to drink and didn’t want you to drive. But what would it matter anyway? I thought you wanted a spicy sex life. Weren’t you the one who told me vanilla wouldn’t do?”
“Yeah, well, a ménage with Beauty and her mammoth Beast wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.”
Good, because I’m done sharing you.
His cock sprang back to attention. “Care to elaborate on what you do want?”
“No.” She turned and rested her pretty ass against the top rail. “I want to forget tonight ever happened.”
“Why?” He placed a hand on either side of her hips and leaned in. The rapid puffs of her breath gave away her agitated state. His adorable, sassy Katelyn flustered by the mere idea of kink. Why did she try so hard to pretend when everyone could see how vulnerable she was, how fragile despite her tough veneer? “It’s been fairly interesting so far. We danced, you tried to out me to friends and family, we kissed, and you actually had your tongue down my throat. Now, you tell me you’re contemplating a three-way with my cousin. It doesn’t get much more interesting, does it?”
“I didn’t even contemplate a ménage!” Kate glared. “And my tongue has been in my head all night.”
Unable to resist, he brushed a kiss over her lips. “Denial won’t alter the fact you want me, Katelyn.”
“I do not. I won’t screw up what we have for maybes.”
“Is that it, darling? You want guarantees?” The curse ensured he would want her all his life, and he had no intention of even attempting to leave her unless she shoved him off. He didn’t share that part though; her stiff body language screamed she wasn’t ready to listen. “I’ll keep all the promises you need if you’ll just take a tiny leap of faith in my direction.”
“Stop it, Connor.” Irritation tainted her voice, but beneath it, longing softened her words. Perhaps it was nothing more than his imagination. He wanted her too much, had needed her for too long to take her protests at face value any longer.
He pulled her against him. The night air teased gooseflesh over her bare arms, and her nipples puckered under the fabric of her dress, reminding him how delicate she was despite her never-ending bravado. He released her long enough to shrug out of his jacket and wrap it over her shoulders. “Shall we go inside where it’s warmer?”
She shook her head, refusing to look at him.
“What are you afraid of? I won’t bite unless you beg me nicely.”
That brought her lashes up. Her hands fisted on her hips, so adorable even in her displeasure. “I said stop it.”
“What?” He knew good and well what had her riled, but he wanted to hear her say it.
“Stop with the sexual comments and—and the man stuff.”
He chuckled. “Man stuff?”
She stomped her foot. “You know what I mean. Damn it, we’re friends.”
He ran a finger along her jaw and cupped her face in his palm, refusing to let her look away. “Why is that? What makes me less than all the other guys in your life?”
With a shocked expression, she pressed her hand over his heart. “I wouldn’t say that. Not ever.”
Sliding his arm around her waist, he tugged her closer. “Then what am I?”
“I already told you.” Her breath whispered across his cheek as she struggled halfheartedly in his embrace. “We’re friends. I don’t want to lose you, so can we please go back to acting civilized?”
“I don’t think so.” He backed her up, dancing her across the dock until her hip bumped against the rail once more. “I want you, Kate. Your tempting smart-mouth attitude.” He fought down a groan and traced her right cheek with his thumb. “This gorgeous dip that makes me wonder where else you have dimples, like maybe at the base of your spine or beneath your beautiful ass.”
Her cheek pressed to his palm a fleeting moment before she stood straight. Spirit sparked in her eyes. “Enough! I mean it. Knock it off or I’m leaving.”
Disgusted with himself for wanting the impossible, he dropped his hands. “No one’s stopping you.”
For a split second, she hesitated, hurt evident on her face, then she thrust his jacket at him and turned away in a huff. “Fine. I’m going home, and you can shove your weird attitude up your butt. Come see me when you’re back to normal.”
Impatient, he grabbed her arm. If he let her leave, he might never break through her defenses. “What are you so fucking afraid of, Katelyn?”
She jerked away with a childish stomp, ruined by the height of her heels, which threatened to toss her on her ass. “I am not scared of anything. Certainly not you, Connor Wallace.”
“Really? Not anything?” When she shook her head, he pointed toward the party. “Then why run away? Why only give yourself to safe, malleable losers too weak to take charge in your bed? Pansies who won’t mess with your perfect little fantasy?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Liar.” He stepped closer, gripping her arms so she could not run. Her chest rose and fell hard beneath the faint light of the moon. “You want me, Kate. I can see it in your eyes and taste it in your kiss. Hell, even your tits are begging me to pay attention to them. Stop being a chicken shit and admit it.”
“You’re wrong.” She jerked back. Trembling hands rubbed off his touch. “I don’t understand why you’re acting this way.”
“I’m done waiting around for you to grow up. By the time this night’s over, you can either accept you belong with me or you won’t see me again. I won’t put up with this leash you have me on anymore.”
“Connor?”
With a firm hand on her shoulder, he turned her toward the path even though sending her away nearly killed him. “I mean it. Go pout if you must, but think about what I said while you’re at it.”
“That’s not—”
“I’m not playing anymore.” He smacked her sharply on the rounded globe of her ass, and his muscles clenched when she gasped. “Go on.”
Kate jumped, startled by the stinging spank. The swat smarted but not as much as his harsh command. The urge to beg for his forgiveness almost brought her to her knees, but she would not humiliate herself in front of him. Instead, she hurried over the narrow pathway, refusing to look back.
I’ll deal with him tomorrow, after he’s had a chance to cool off. He’ll…we’ll be back to normal. I won’t ruin us for sex.
Too many people had disappeared from her life—her father, stepfathers, uncles, boyfriends—too many claimed to love her when they didn’t. She refused to allow Connor to join the list. He loved her, as a friend. As long as she didn’t expect more, he wouldn’t leave, would he?
“Hey, Kate?”
Had he come to his senses so fast? She stopped but didn’t turn. “What?”
“Be careful on the way through the trees. There might be bears about.”
She snorted. “Yeah, right. I’m not stupid.” Hoping he had made a joke, no matter how weak, to get her to wait for him, she turned back. “If you think I need your big strong arms to protect me, you can forget—”
The dock was empty.
Where had he gone?
Damn man
. After three years, he had broken all the rules of friendship in a single night. Rules were the only things keeping her from the same lonely fate her mother and aunts suffered. Kate had grown up too smart to ever risk friendship for nookie. Especially with a man who could so easily destroy her thin, protective walls. Bros before hos guys would say, but in this case her bro could so easily make her a ho and leave her broken and alone when he cast her aside.
The trees rustled to her left. “Con?”
No one answered. Even the bugs and birds refused to break the silence. She looked over her shoulder. The lights of the party glinted dimly, much farther off than she expected. Something rustled through the bushes to her left. She jumped, spinning to search the shadowed grove.
“Don’t be stupid, Kate. No one’s out there.” Her own voice shattered the darkness, spooking her even more.
Be careful. There might be bears about.
“He was messing with you.” Still, she hurried toward the safety of the crowd. Her tight skirt disallowed running. If someone actually attacked, she’d be helpless to escape. Blood pounded in her head. Her heart thundered. A twig snapped behind her, and she screamed, trying desperately to hike up her skirt so she could stretch her stride in the tight gown. Her foot caught on a shallow root and sent her crashing to her knees.
As she struggled to find her feet, a gloved hand closed over her mouth; a broad chest settled against her back, pressing her to the ground. “Don’t move.”
For a second, she thought it was Connor, but the voice lacked his smooth sexiness. It held an accent she couldn’t pin down, Australian or Eastern European perhaps? She twisted, but he held her effectively in place. Desperate, she tried to see his face. A black ski masked covered his features, the darkness hiding the color of his eyes, and panic flashed through her. She lunged upward to smash her skull into his nose.