Page 60 of Need

Silence.

“I don’t have your number.”

“That can be easily fixed if you ask for it. Politely.”

I heard him exhale loudly. “May I please have your phone number so I may call Brianna?”

I played with Brianna’s hair as I rattled off the number to him. Seconds later, the line went dead. I guessed it was too much to ask for him to say thank you.

Closing my eyes, I let all thoughts of Cal Ross disappear and concentrated on the feel of Brianna’s hair between my fingers. It was long and soft. I couldn’t help but think of all the things I could do with her beautiful hair.

I let her sleep another twenty minutes before gently waking her.

Groggily, she turned to look up at me. “Hi,” she said, looking embarrassed to find her head in my lap.

“Hi,” I smiled. “How did you sleep?”

“Good,” she blushed, glancing down.

I knew I hadn’t been unaffected by her presence, but I was also trying very hard to ignore it. Her staring at my rapidly growing anatomy wasn’t helping. Her mouth was so close. I could feel her warm breath through my jeans. I tightened my grip on her hair, and her eyes locked with mine. It would be so very easy to tell her to unzip my jeans and take me into her mouth. I still hadn’t forgotten the last time. I wasn’t sure I ever would. Her gaze held mine, and I knew without a doubt that all I had to do was give the word.

But I couldn’t. She wasn’t ready. It had been less than a week since she’d panicked from me touching her.

Reluctantly, I removed my hand from her hair and let it fall to the bed.

“Are you hungry?” I needed a distraction, and food seemed like the perfect choice.

“Yes, a little.”

“Go clean yourself up. I’ll wait here, and then we’ll go get something.”

She nodded, and walked into her bathroom.

I spent the time she was gone trying to calm myself down. That was too close, and I didn’t want to do anything that either of us would regret.

Brianna

I splashed water on my face, trying to get the sleep out of my eyes. My reflection looked back at me with uncertain eyes. Why had he stopped? I could see—feel—that he wanted it.

But even as I asked the question, I knew that it was me. I had messed up. It was my fault he wasn’t touching me anymore. I just didn’t know how to fix it.

Maybe Lily would know. He told me that I could ask her anything, so I could ask her this, right?

The tips of my fingers grazed over my lips and then down to my breasts. I wanted to feel that warmth again, the tingly feeling his hands left on my skin.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Lily. She’d know what to do.

For the rest of the weekend, I wasn’t out of Stephan’s sight for long. We worked out together, took a walk in the park, and he even helped me make dinner Sunday. But what he didn’t do was push anything physical.

Monday came and went as I debated whether I could really call Lily and ask her such a question. By Tuesday morning, I was no closer to the answer. So instead of spending another day arguing with myself, I called Lily as soon as I hit send on my eight o’clock text to Stephan.

“Brianna!” Lily said with excitement.

“Hi, Lily.”

“Is everything okay? I mean, not that I’m not glad you called, but I’m usually the one calling you.”

“I...” Maybe this wasn’t the best idea.

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