What Are Friends For? (4 page)

He covered her hand with his. “I don’t know if I am.”

She had her answer. He didn’t want her. She could seduce him and his body would respond, but his heart wouldn’t be in it. He’d be performing just because she wanted him to. That meant she wouldn’t be able to relax, wouldn’t be able to please him. She’d end up embarrassed and frustrated and still not know what she needed to do sexually to keep a man interested in her.

“I’m going to start the grill, okay?” Luke asked.

Erin nodded. “Sure.”

The chips and salsa she’d eaten formed a lump in her stomach. She pressed a hand against it as she watched Luke walk to the grill and get it ready to cook. Maybe she wasn’t meant to find someone to love her. A lot of people went through life without finding their soul mate. Maybe she was one of those people.

She took a deep breath, pushed aside all the bad feelings and self-pity eating at her. She wouldn’t let anything spoil her time with Luke. Her idea to seduce him didn’t work. That didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy being with him, the way she always did.

He wouldn’t be her lover, but he’d always be her best friend.

Chapter Four

Erin laughed so hard, her stomach ached. She knew better than to get Luke started on stories of his family. With two brothers and two sisters, he had plenty of tales to tell.

He grinned as he took another sip of wine. “I swear it’s the truth.”

“You caught Eve and her boyfriend having sex in his car?”

“Yep.”

“How old was she?”

“Seventeen.”

“Did she know you caught her?”

“Not until the next day. I told her I’d tell Mom and Dad what she’d done if she didn’t do my household chores for a month.”

“You blackmailed her?”

“Yep.”

Erin shook her head in disbelief. “You were…what, fourteen? Did you even know what sex was?”

“I had a vague idea. I did know I shouldn’t have seen her boyfriend’s naked ass pumping away on top of her.”

The mental picture he’d put into her mind made Erin laugh again.

“Want another sexy story?”

Erin placed one hand over her sore stomach. “I don’t know if I can laugh anymore without hurting myself.”

“Even if it involves my parents?”

No. Luke couldn’t possibly have seen his parents having sex. “You peeked in their bedroom?”

“Didn’t have to. I caught them on the kitchen table.”

Erin almost choked on her sip of wine. “
What?
”

“Mom called and said she had a blackberry cobbler for me and to drop by after work to pick it up. I was within five miles of their house on a job that morning, so decided to pick it up then and save myself a trip later. I walked in the back door and there they were, Mom on the table, Dad with his pants and shorts around his ankles.”

She couldn’t imagine anything more embarrassing than catching her parents in such an intimate situation. “You saw your mother
naked
?”

“No, thank God. Dad’s back was to me, so all I saw was Mom’s legs. But there was no doubt what was happening.” He swirled the wine in his glass. “For Dad to be so tan, he has a really white ass.”

She did her best not to laugh. “What did you do?”

“I slammed my eyes shut and backed out of the door. They were too busy to know I was there. I went back after work, like I was supposed to, and picked up the cobbler. It was really hard to look at that table and pretend I didn’t know what happened a few hours earlier.”

She’d been in Luke’s parents’ house many times and knew the layout as well as her own house. She could imagine how difficult it would be for Luke not to laugh when he looked at the kitchen table. “When did this happen?”

“Last month.”

“Last
month
?”

Luke grinned again. “I guess those date nights help keep the passion alive. Although this happened on a Tuesday morning right before lunch. Dad must have gone home for a
nooner
.”

Warmth crept into her cheeks, even while she couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer. “Did you tell them you caught them?”

He shook his head. “Nope. Didn’t tell anyone until now. I didn’t want to embarrass them.”

“Oh, but it’s okay to tell me about it and embarrass
me
.”

“I like to embarrass you. You’re cute when you blush.”

The sun had set half an hour ago. Though the sky was still dusky, she doubted if he saw her face clearly enough to know her face was probably pink. “It’s too dark for you to see me blush.”

“I have a good imagination.”

So did she. She imagined many more nights just like this, with the two of them enjoying the summer breeze while night fell around them. They’d normally have gone in the house by now to watch TV or a movie, but had elected to stay outside tonight. Luke had lowered netting around the table so they could enjoy their meal and the approaching night without being eaten by bugs. Although she could see through the netting, it gave a sense of intimacy to be enclosed with him.

A lot of good that sense of intimacy did when Luke didn’t want to take their relationship beyond platonic friends.

Sighing to herself, Erin looked away from him. The sight of the full moon peeking through the leaves of an oak tree stole her breath. “Luke, look.”

He followed the direction of her pointing finger. “Wow, it’s huge tonight.”

“And so bright.”

Erin pushed aside the netting that surrounded the table and stepped out from under it. She didn’t want anything to hamper her view of the moon. Moonbeams reflected off the water in the pool, turning it and everything in the area silver.

Luke came up beside her, his gaze focused on the white orb in the sky. She looked at his profile bathed in moonlight. Her stomach clenched and her heart sped up its rhythm. The word handsome didn’t begin to do him justice. He’d slipped on a short-sleeved shirt before they ate, but left it unbuttoned. She’d ogled his chest the entire time they’d eaten. She’d imagined nibbling on his strong neck, dropping kisses across his chest, flicking her tongue over his nipples. She’d drop to her knees between his thighs as she moved down his body. Then she’d tug his swimsuit away from his body so she could lick his cock…

“Wanna swim?” Luke asked.

His question dissolved her fantasy like a puff of smoke. Perhaps that was for the best. No matter how much she wanted to be with him, he’d said no. She had to respect his wishes.

She smiled. “Let’s do it.”

Erin drew off the large T-shirt she’d worn over her bikini since they sat down to eat and dove into the water. She’d made it halfway to the deep end when lights in the bottom of the pool came on. They usually swam during the day, so she’d forgotten Luke’s pool was lighted. The dim illumination turned the water crystal clear.

She heard a splash, signaling Luke dove into the water too. Instead of racing him this time, she swam slow and steady, enjoying the feel of the lukewarm water flowing over her skin. Luke swam beside her, using the same slow, steady strokes she did.

She swam three laps of the pool before coming to a stop next to the waterfall. Internal lights in the rocks gave the waterfall an unearthly glow. It shimmered and sparkled in the moonlight, making it even more beautiful than in the daylight. The water bubbled over the rocks on its journey into the pool. The sound soothed her. Holding onto the side of the pool with one hand, she closed her eyes and let her body float in whichever direction the water took her.

“Comfy?” Luke asked.

“Very. I could sleep right here.”

His chuckle sounded deep and husky. “I don’t think that’s a possibility.”

“Too bad. I love it in the water.”

“Then you should be
in
the water.”

Erin shrieked when Luke grabbed her around the waist and tugged her beneath the water. She came up sputtering, her wet hair covering her face.

“You bully!” She pushed her hair back so she could see him. “Why did you do that?”

He gave her a smug grin. “Because I could.”

“You’re gonna pay!”

Laughing, Luke headed for the other end of the pool. Erin followed, swimming as fast as she could to catch him before he reached the steps. She threw herself at his back, wrapping her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist. They both went underwater.

Prepared to go beneath the water, Erin had held her breath. Luke hadn’t. Now it was his turn to sputter when he surfaced. Knowing she was probably in trouble, she quickly headed for the steps.

“Oh, no, you don’t.”

Luke grabbed the waistband of her swimsuit and pulled. Erin went back under the water, unable to move since he still held onto her thong. She managed to get her head above water, but that’s all she could do. At least they were in the shallow end so her feet touched the bottom.

“No fair! You’re using brute strength.”

“You think it was fair to jump on my back?”

“A gal’s gotta do what a gal’s gotta do.”

“So does a guy.”

He twisted the waistband, causing the thong to tighten across delicate flesh. “Easy, fella. You hurt the good parts, you’ll have to kiss them and make them better.”

“Maybe I’d like that,” he said into her ear.

She knew he teased her. He’d made it clear he didn’t want any more than friendship. Still, she decided to be completely honest with him. “I know
I’d
like that.”

The hold on her thong eased. Assuming he would release her, she took a step forward. Her progress abruptly stopped when Luke wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her under the water again.

She rolled through the water with him, their legs bumping as she tried to gain control. He let her come up with him and draw air into her lungs, then she went under with him again. Finally getting on top of his shoulders, she pushed him beneath the water and quickly swam away. She made it to the bottom step when he grabbed her from behind, one arm around her waist, the other over her shoulder to cross her torso. His hand landed right beneath her breast.

Erin froze. Her heart already pounded from their playful tussle in the pool. It sped up even more with his hand so close to her breast.

Making the first move had never been her strong point. Just as she waited for the man to ask her out, she waited for him to initiate sex. She happily went along with it, but the man had to start things in the right direction. Not with Luke. He’d already told her no. If things were to progress between them, it had to be up to her to start it.

Erin took his hand and dragged it up to cover her breast.

He didn’t move. She could hear his rapid breathing in her ear, feel his body pressed to her back. His heart beat heavily against her shoulder blade, as heavy as her own heartbeat. She waited, not knowing if he’d release her or take this to the next step.

Luke gently squeezed her breast. “Are you sure?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so sure of anything.”

Erin reached behind her and gripped his thighs, keeping him pressed against her. Her position left her body completely open for however he wanted to touch her.

“Is this an experiment to see if I think you’re good in bed, Erin, or do you really want me?”

This whole evening started out as an experiment, like he said. Yet the touch of his hands, the feel of his warm breath on her neck, sent little fingers of sensation crawling up and down her spine. “Both,” she admitted. “I won’t lie to you, Luke. I thought about being in this situation with you all day. I figured since we’re such good friends, you’d be honest with me about my…performance in bed. But you’re also incredibly handsome and sexy. I’d be crazy not to want you.”

Moments passed in silence. Luke stood so still, Erin wouldn’t have believed he was still behind her if he didn’t have his arms around her. He finally released her and moved back so they no longer touched.

“Turn around,” he said.

Chapter Five

She turned to face him. Luke stared at the vision showered in moonlight. The silvery glow made Erin even lovelier and he didn’t think that was possible. He tried to fight the attraction, tried to think of her as only a friend. Her confession that she wanted him blew all his good intentions to tiny bits.

Cradling her face in his hands, he slowly lowered his head until his lips touched hers. He’d kissed her dozens of times, friendly kisses between friends. This kiss was completely different. It was a kiss of hello, a kiss that began the journey from friend to lover. Her lips softened beneath his, parted for the sweep of his tongue. She clutched his waist, her fingernails digging into his skin. The bite of pain sweetened the kiss even more.

He pushed one hand into her wet hair to cradle the back of her head and let his other hand drift up and down her back, going lower with each pass until his hand rested on her ass cheek. Still he kissed her slowly, in no hurry to speed up anything between them.