Page 59 of Forget About Me

“Pfft.” Pretending that his words don’t send shivers down my spine isn’t easy. “I guess Cindy was right about this dress.”

“The only thing I can tell you about the dress is that I didn’t like seeing Nick’s hands on it.”

His voice dips into a register I’ve never heard before. The vibrations rumble directly from his chest to mine—even breaching the girdle. Struggling to squelch the desire fizzing through me faster than the bubbles in the champagne I’ve been drinking all night, I force words out of my mouth. “Is that all this”—I look pointedly between our bodies—“is about? Jealousy?’

He presses his forehead to mine with a groan. “No. It’s just the straw that broke the camel’s back. I’ve been trying to stay away from you for seven years. But I can’t do it anymore.”

Separating my chest from his with difficulty, as my breasts enjoy being nestled into his pectorals—not to mention other soft places of mine that ache to press against other rock hard places of his—I look him in the eye.

What I see there erases any lingering worries. Raw need. For me.

Suddenly I can’t remember what the problem is.

Cindy’s right about more than one thing, darn it—damn it. I deserve to have a little fun and it’s time to step out of my goody-two-shoes. If being together is something that we both want equally, if it can salve some of the loneliness in his eyes, then I’m ready and willing.

Big breath in. Big breath out. Look him in the eye again.“Okay, then. Let’s go.”

The need in his eyes turns to shock. “Uh, just like that?”

“What? You want to work a little harder?”

“No. No. I’m good. Let’s… go.” He grabs my hand, pulls me off the dance floor, then turns around so fast I almost run into him. “Uh, meet you at my place?”

I shake my head firmly. “Nuh-uh. I didn’t drive. I wanted to be able to enjoy the champagne, so I took a cab. If you haven’t been drinking, you get to drive me home instead.”

“I had one sip of bubbly and then switched to soda.”

“Well, let’s do it then.” It’s my turn to tug him toward the door. His roughened palm in mine is warm, strong. Familiar. I squeeze it once before stopping to say, “But this time, no secrets. No hiding.” A shadow crosses his face. “Okay?”

His head drops like a puppeteer cut a marionette string, but he raises it again just as suddenly, his eyes lit with determination. “No secrets.”

As we exit the party room, doubt and desire chase each other around my belly. It’s been seven years since he saw this body naked. Will he be disappointed?

Batting those thoughts aside, I remind myself that sex between us was fun. That’s the point, if I remember anything from all the books I read when I was eighteen.

However, I am having a hard time keeping up with Ben’s long strides in my heels. “Slow down, mister. I’m not used to these shoes.”

“Sorry.” His grin is not the least sorry. That devilish look sends shivers of anticipation running through me and has me bouncing on my toes while he reaches inside his dressing room to grab his backpack.

As he closes the door, I realize someone’s missing. “What about Puck?”

“Oh.” He tips his head back toward the party. “He’s having a sleepover with Deb and Pam’s dog Rufus and going to a dog birthday party tomorrow. We don’t have a show until the evening. That’s okay, right?”

He looks so worried I have to laugh. “I’m sure he can handle himself at a dog birthday party. Hopefully, they won’t stuff him so full of treats that he barfs onstage, though.”

He nods sharply. “I’ll call them tomorrow and warn them about that. But right now, all I’m thinking about is taking you home and making love to you all night long.”

He gets us out the door and to his car without letting go of my hand. Once I’m tucked inside, he runs around to the driver’s side as if he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he loses contact for too long.

He starts the engine, but before putting the car in gear, he takes my hand again. This time he kisses it, his eyes full of questions that I have answers for—starting with bringing my lips to his for a long kiss full of promises.

Good-Girl Lucy has ruled for long enough. Maybe I can just be a girl for a change. Not Good-Girl Lucy or Bad-Girl Lucy. Just a girl who wants to kiss a boy.

And do a few other things with too.

BEN

I’m doing my best to drive carefully, but the prospect of seeing Lucy naked again has my foot heavier on the gas than usual. When taking a corner has her grabbing the door handle, I ease up. “Sorry, I’m a little impatient to get there.”

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