Page 32 of Yours, Unexpectedly

“I was thinking about what you said at the bar the other night,” I say, picking up my fork and digging into the fluffy pancakes.

The tentative excitement I see in his eyes almost makes me second guess what I’m about to suggest. But I think again about Cassie flying in the door last night like she owned the place, and I know I’ve got to protect myself from heartbreak, as if that’s possible.

“What about it?” he asks.

“I think we should, uhm, be more than friends, too.” I shove a forkful of pancake into my mouth.

His grin lights up his face. “And what exactly does that mean to you?”

It takes me a second to finish chewing and, oh my gracious, these pancakes are divine. “Well, I think we should be, you know…”

“I don’t know, Bex. Tell me exactly what you want.” The mischievous glint in his eye tells me that he’s enjoying watching me squirm.

I’m absolutely terrified. Oh God, I can’t say this out loud! I immediately shovel more chocolatey heaven into my mouth. Seems like a good idea.

“I fink weh shold beh fwends wif benfits,” I say around a mouthful of food. No idea if he caught that but I should take another bite just to make sure I don’t have the ability to say anything else.

Chancing a glance up at him, I realize his eyes are already on me. He almost looks… disappointed? That can’t be right.

He quickly schools his features.

“Benefits, huh?”

Okay, so he did catch what I said.

I nod.

“What kind of benefits do you want from this friendship, Bex?” The sexy smirk is back, even if it looks slightly off.

I gulp.

“I mean, I already bring you coffee to class three times a week. I’d say that’s pretty beneficial. I made your favorite breakfast this morning—also beneficial. I’m happy to help you in other ways… I just need you to tell me what you want here.”

More pancakes. I need more pancakes. I go in for another bite only to find my plate is empty.

Anders stands and slowly rounds the table. “Do you need more pancakes, Baby Bardot?”

I scowl. “Don’t call me that.”

“Why not? Friends have nicknames for each other and that’s what we are, isn’t it? Friends? Well, friends with benefits. As soon as you tell me what those benefits are.”

He’s standing over me now and my eye line is right at those damn gray sweatpants. I look up, up, up across the expanse of white T-shirt, past the scruffy beard, to his green eyes, full of fire.

He leans down, grabbing the plate from in front of me, and stops mere centimeters away from my ear. “Do I need to show you some of the benefits of my friendship?”

I’m too stunned to say anything so I just sit there, paralyzed with what I think is lust.

I look back down at his sweatpants. Yup, definitely lust.

Anders pulls my chair back, startling me to my feet. He sets my plate to the side and his hands come to my waist as he spins me around so the back of my thighs hit the table. In the blink of an eye, he’s in front of me and lifting me up so I’m sitting on top of the table, straddling him.

On instinct, my legs reach out and wrap around his hips, pulling him closer to me. His hands bracket either side of my hips, resting on the kitchen table.

“Is this what you want, Bex? Me between your legs? You feel the connection between us, don’t you? You want my friendship…” He reaches up to toy with the hem of my oversized sweatshirt. “But you also want more. I can give you whatever you want from me, baby, but you have to tell me what it is.”

I. Am. Speechless.

I clear my throat, summoning some courage. “I’m, uhm, not sure what this looks like,” I choke out. “I’ve never… uh, done this kind of thing.”

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