Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

DANE

J ust the thought of losing Lettie as my best friend causes my blood to stop pumping. I know I'm being selfish, wanting more and after kissing her, really kissing her, I'm done for. And I'm ready to risk it.

My forehead rests against hers. "We're best friends, but I would be lying if I said I didn't want to kiss you again."

Her fingertips crawl into mine, and she leads me away from the dance floor. She stops at the elevator, takes off her high-heeled sandals, and slings them into her hand.

"Do your feet hurt?" I ask as I swipe my thumb over the outside of her hand.

"A little."

The elevator doors open, and I press the button for the twelfth floor. My heart rate spikes in anticipation as she leaps into my arms, knocking us against the back wall, and the heels swing around, poking me in the eye.

"Oh God, I'm not very good at this. Are you okay?" She giggles, and it's the sweetest sound.

"Give them to me," I growl, teasing. She drops her arm, placing the straps in the crook of my finger that's under her ass. "The only way you get these weapons back is if you're on your knees while I'm inside you."

She gasps at my honesty. And our mouths crash together. I don't know what's gotten into me. I went from hiding my feelings for years to flipping a switch. The clock is ticking. In less than a year, we'll be living separate lives in different cities. But I'll be damned if she's going to think I never wanted her when in fact, I've never wanted anyone else.

This kiss singes my lips. It's not soft. Not hesitant. This is straight pent-up and when I get her into the hotel room, I'm going to feed her every desire and we'll deal with the consequences later.

"Why didn't we do this years ago?" she asks as I pull her head back and smile at the goosebumps rising on her skin.

Lazily trailing my tongue over each bump, my fingers skate over the graceful curvature of her neck, angling it for access when I say, "I have no idea. We've wasted so much time."

"Then let's not waste any more time." Her voice is barely above a whisper, with her hypnotic gaze on me, and I'm aware that we're experiencing the same magnetic pull.

The elevator suddenly shakes to a stop. Lettie's a firm believer in karma, horoscopes, and other mystical concepts, so this is why there's no doubt that she believes that being stuck in an elevator together is a sign. Good or bad i s yet to be determined.

It's quite a contrast between her mathematical side. One of the reasons I love spending time with her is that she's interesting. Lettie has all of these amazing thoughts, and it's fun to talk to her. Other girls want to gossip and eat salads while Lettie ponders the little things in life. Why do you never see trees sprout up? Why are they all of a sudden five feet tall ?

With haste, I turn and press her back against the wall, giving me more leverage, and kiss her fiercely.

The enclosed space amplifies every touch and sensation, making us both crave each other more. I hoist her higher with her legs draped over my shoulders. I move the scrap of lace to the side and blow on her warm, glistening center. With well-placed kisses and suction, her back arches off the wall, putting me off balance. I regain control and hold her center onto my face, licking her folds, and sucking her swollen clit as she grinds down against the prickly stubble, finding the friction she desperately needs.

Sweet cream flows over my lips, and I gently lick until her body goes slack. I lift her just enough that her legs fall from my shoulders, letting her torso slide down my chest. I place a kiss on her forehead and wait for her to reveal the windows to my world.

When they sluggishly open, she bears a lazy, satisfied smile. I stare at her for several minutes; knowing I put this expression on her face makes me feel like a king.

She cocks her head to one side, flushed and sated. "Would you go down on me again?"

"Anytime. Anywhere." I chuckle before capturing her lips between mine. She moans as we share the sweet residue left on my lips and tongue.

God, she never ceases to amaze me. Just when I think she's going to pull away and freak out, realizing we're stuck in an elevator, her biggest fear, she pushes down on my shoulders.

With a scratchy laugh, I say, "Oh, you mean right now."

"I always knew you could be a straight A student if you put your mouth to it." She smirks. "Or I could taste you."

She looks down at the hard bulge in my tuxedo pants. "I'm so hard for you, baby, but when you're on your knees for me, you're going to be there for a while."

She runs her palm over the torpedo in my pants, ready to blast off into another world—Lettie's world. A warning bell goes off in my head, only it's not in my head. Lettie lunges into my chest as the elevator floor cabin vibrates while a beeping sound penetrates the space.

"It's okay. I'll always protect you." I run my hands over her back, hoping to soothe her, now that she's realized she doesn't have a way out. "The elevator is restarting. We'll be out of here in no time."

Squeezing me tighter, she nods. And no matter what happens between us, I'll be wherever Lettie needs me. Whenever she needs me.

Finally, two maintenance men faintly bark orders as the elevator cabin ascends.

"Tenth… Eleventh…Twelfth," I say to keep her calm. The steel doors rattle before they part slowly.

Guiding Lettie down the hall to our suite, I can't help but notice the mood has drastically changed.

She flips on the lights. "I need a drink."

It hits me that she took her ADHD medicine today, and she's been drinking. I've been drinking. Are we clear headed? With the realization, I am stone-cold sober.

I know if I confront her, she'll go off on me. I'm a woman and can do anything I want. So instead, I take off my jacket, throw it on the couch, and attempt to bring her mind back to me—on me.

My voice is an octave lower than normal as I stride toward her, unbuttoning my crisp white shirt. "Hey," I move behind her.

"What are we doing?" she asks. But when she faces me, she licks her lips. "I'll never be able to get into an elevator again without thinking…"

"About me?" For some reason, I smile like a stuck pig with the thought of her thinking about me every time she gets into an elevator.

"Be serious, Dane. I'll be taking my kids down to the pool on vacation, and when we get on the elevator, I'll be thinking about you instead of my husband.

Screw that. Lettie is mine.

"Maybe I'll be your husband." The words slip out my mouth, but the truth is I've never pictured anyone b y my side but Lettie.

Her eyes round, and one eyebrow lifts. She moves her head back and forth, smiling, and then says, "I can't believe what we did."

"Technically, I did it," I joke, but the mention of her with a husband and kids sends my stomach tumbling. What the fuck is going on? I've watched her flirt and kiss guys in front of me for years, and now I can't stomach her talking about having kids with someone else.

"Shut up."

She pushes her hand against my bare chest, and I feel as if I've been branded. I have no idea where this is going in the long run but tonight, I need to finish what we started.

Speechless, I let her take the lead. Whatever she wants, my best friend receives. My mind is working overtime, hoping that one lustful night doesn't change us. And part of me hopes it will take our relationship down a different path.

As confused as I may be about what all this means, my dick is not as it strains against my pants. Lettie reads my mind, delicately pushing the button through the hole. I inhale, enjoying her fingers scraping against my lower abdomen.

It seems we're on the same page, but I need to hear it. Even though she's giving me all the signals, she's my best friend, and I can't take the chance without asking her, "Lettie, what do you want?"

"I want my heels, and I want to repay you."

"You don 't have to. This isn't a tit-for-tat."

"Are you kidding? I've thought about it for a long time." Her eyes practically twinkle.

"How long?"

"Since you kissed me."

"In the elevator or on the patio."

She cackles, biting her bottom lip. She lifts her eyebrow. "Patio. See… a long time."

Then she unzips my pants, letting them pool by my black shiny shoes. I step out and toe off my shoes.

This is why I love her. Not because she's about to give me oral, but she alleviates my fears with her sarcasm and humor.

Her nimble fingers slip inside my boxer briefs and makes circles over my head.

"Oh wait. I need my heels so you can get the full effect." She skips toward the small foyer, picking up her strappy heels, and sits on the couch, tucking her painted toes into the footbed. Taking her sweet time. Teasing me while buckling the strap around her ankle.

Crouching in front of her, I fasten the other shoe. I kiss the inside of her ankle as my hands skate under her dress and up her body. Nibbling on the insides of her thighs. Moving to the swell of her breasts.

"I need you out of this dress," I choke out.

"Thought you liked it."

I pull her to stand, kissing every inch of exposed skin. My fingers find the hidden zipper toggle and lower it until the sleeveless dress falls. For the first time, I see Lettie's body in lingerie.

"Fuck, baby." God, I can barely breathe. The strapless bra and thong match the color of her dress, and her skin glows from the summer.

She dips her head, showing a hint of bashfulness. "You've seen me in a million bathing suits."

"I know. But this is different. I wasn't getting ready to fuck you. I wasn't getting ready to strip you completely bare."

She steps into me. "I'm not sure if…"

My heart races out of control.

She's stopping.

She drops to her knees, pushing my boxers to the ground, and gasps. "It's so… big."

"I'm a big guy. What did you expect?" My voice sounds like sandpaper. I look down at her, staring while lightly touching my cock. And I tense so this doesn't end before it begins. I haven't had sex in months, and just the heat from her fingertips burns.

While wrapping her hand around my shaft, she drops her mouth to the tip, swirling her tongue. But when she moans as she takes me into her mouth, I can't take it. I thread my fingers through her hair, pressing the tips into her scalp.

"Will you help me?" she asks under her long lashes and lust-filled eyes.