Page 126 of Tangled Up In You

When he pressed his lips to the side of her neck, lingering in each small kiss as he moved up to her jawline, it was as if he wanted to take his time tasting her. He next teased his mouth around the corners of hers, never quite meeting her full on so that she was the one to lean in to him, anxious for the pressure of his lips.

The moment he finally took her mouth with his was unlike any other time they’d kissed. It certainly didn’t have the sweetness and surprise of that time on the beach years ago. And it wasn’t brief and tender like last night. No, this time, it was like a lifetime’s restraint had been released. His lips were commanding, coaxing her into the most delicious surrender as he guided her onto her back and raised himself over her. That was all before he eased her mouth open with his tongue. He kissed her deeply, confidently, until she couldn’t stop herself from pushing her hips against his, wanting so much more from him.

But he didn’t take this cue. Instead, he pulled away and moved down the length of her body to her waist. She pushed her hands through his hair as he lifted her T-shirt. The feel of his mouth on her skin sent waves of desire through her body, making her ache for him to reach her breasts. When he did, he first caressed and kissed the whole of her breasts before flicking his tongue against her hard nipples. She moaned as he teasingly alternated between sucking and biting.

Pulling away, he quickly removed his shirt and she looked at him through a haze of lust. His broad shoulders and well-developed but compact muscles were taut and his skin smelled good, and god he was sexy. There was a small smile playing at his mouth, a confirmation that he could see just how much she wanted him.

The way he moved his hands reverentially over her belly and up to her breasts again as he leaned down to kiss her only made her crave him all the more.

“I’ve never wanted someone so much in my life,” he murmured between kisses.

She melted into him, losing all self-control under his sensual touch. But when he reached inside her sweatpants and placed his hand over her panties and between her legs, it all got too real. She was desperate to keep going, to have all of him. That desire, however, suddenly seemed as reckless and dangerous as Gavin’s forays with cocaine.

“Conor, no. I’m sorry, no,” she stammered as she pushed him away abruptly. She pulled her shirt into place and moved to the side of the bed.

“Sophie, don’t do this to me,” he said, half moaning.

She put her hands over her face and closed her eyes tightly, working to breathe evenly. At length, she looked at him and said in a voice just above a whisper, “We can’t do this.”

He moved to the foot of the bed and sat up, his back to her. “You wanted this a minute ago. I didn’t imagine that.”

“It’s not about that. It’s about Gavin and Colette and Rogue.”

He nodded. Taking a deep breath, he looked around the room as if seeing it for the first time. Then he turned to her and asked, “Do you feel for me, Sophie? At all?”

She watched his anxious expression for a moment, trying to come up with an answer she could live with.

“I do. As much as I can feel for my husband’s best friend,” she said.

“Well that’s a very well-crafted response,” he muttered.

“Connie, I can’t do this. It’s too much.” Her voice was shaky as tears came to her eyes.

He moved to her and wiped away her tears. “Don’t cry, honey. It’s okay.” He kissed her cheeks, her closed eyes, her lips. “Listen, last night with you was the best I’ve ever spent with a woman. You don’t have to say anything. None of this is perfect, but it’s enough. Okay?”

Though she didn’t quite understand what he meant, she nodded into his shoulder and let him continue to comfort her. It wasn’t fair to him but she didn’t know what else to do.

It was,of course, awkward after that.

Conor offered her the shower, but she insisted he go first. After she had cleaned up, they went to breakfast, walking to a local café with several feet between them. They found a hundred things to talk about that didn’t involve how they felt about each other or what they had almost done in bed together.

And as much as she trusted him, she still couldn’t bring herself to tell him what she feared about Gavin and his drug use. For a reason she couldn’t quite explain to herself, to do so seemed like the ultimate betrayal, worse even than nearly having sex with Conor.

“So I suppose I’ll fly home today. Get back to Dublin and check in with the boys. Haven’t seen any of ’em in a long while now,” Conor told her as they waited for the check.

“The record company is still hounding James for you all to get in the studio,” she said.

“Good luck with that. We’re nowhere close to being studio ready. But it is time to get working. I think that’s exactly what I need.”

She nodded. “What do you suppose we should say about the photographs that came out from last night?” TMZ had already splashed photos of them all over the internet.

“The truth—that we found ourselves here and since we’re friends we took advantage. Well, not took advantage. You know what I mean,” he said with a laugh.

“What will Colette’s reaction be?”

He shook his head with a small smile. “She’ll break up with me.”

“Do you want me to talk to her?”

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