Page 7 of Her Father's Best Friend

His eyes blaze as they travel over me, lingering on my breasts, my waist, the button of my shorts. "This isn't appropriate."

"Why?" I step closer, water dripping from my hair onto my shoulders, trailing down between my breasts. "There's no one here but us."

"Your father?—"

"Isn't here," I finish for him. "And I'm an adult, Mitch. I know what I want."

"You don't know what you're asking for," he says, his voice rough with restraint.

I close the distance between us, tilting my head back to meet his gaze. "Then show me."

Something snaps in him—I see it happen, the precise moment his control breaks. His hands grip my waist, fingers digging into my skin as he backs me against the wall. His mouth crashes down on mine, hungry and demanding. The kiss is nothing like I imagined and everything I've ever wanted—brutal and tender all at once, his beard scratching my skin as his tongue pushes past my lips.

I moan into his mouth, my hands fisting in his shirt, pulling him closer. He tastes like coffee and mint, and he kisses like a man starved. One of his hands slides up to cup my breast, thumb brushing over my nipple, and electric pleasure shoots straight to my core.

"Fuck," he growls against my mouth. "Been trying not to think about how perfect you'd feel."

His confession makes me bold. I arch into his touch, my nails scraping along his scalp as I tangle my fingers in his hair. "Tell me what you've thought about. Tell me everything."

He drops his head to my neck, teeth grazing the sensitive skin there. "Thought about these tits." His hand squeezes my breast, rough and possessive. "Thought about your mouth." His thumb traces my bottom lip. "Thought about how wet you'd get for me."

His words send heat flooding between my thighs. I drag his face back to mine, kissing him with everything I have. His hands seem to be everywhere—squeezing my breasts, gripping my hips, sliding down to cup my ass and lift me against him.

I wrap my legs around his waist, gasping at the feel of his hardness pressing against me through our clothes. He grinds against my center, the friction delicious even through the layers separating us.

"Wanted this for so long," I breathe, rocking against him. "Dreamed about your hands on me."

He groans, pressing me harder against the wall. "Shouldn't be touching you at all. Should stop right now."

"Don't you dare." I bite his lower lip, tugging gently. "Don't you fucking dare, Mitch Lawson."

Something dark and possessive flashes in his eyes. "Watch your mouth, little girl."

The name sends a thrill through me. I grin wickedly. "Make me."

His hand tangles in my wet hair, tugging my head back to expose my throat. "You've been playing with fire," he says, his voice a dangerous rumble. "Pushing me, teasing me. You think I haven't noticed?"

"I wanted you to notice." I roll my hips against his erection, delighting in his sharp inhale. "Wanted to make you crazy."

"Mission accomplished." His teeth scrape along my collarbone, making me shiver. "Can't think straight with you around. Can't sleep without seeing you."

Water still drips from my hair, running down between our bodies. Mitch follows one droplet with his tongue, tracing it from my throat to the swell of my breast. When his mouth closes around my nipple, I cry out, my head thunking back against the wall.

"So responsive," he murmurs against my skin. "So fucking perfect."

The sound of a car door slamming upstairs freezes us both.

"Dell?" My father's voice calls from the front door. "Left my wallet! You and Mitch making progress down there?"

Mitch sets me down so quickly I stumble. I grab my wet shirt, yanking it back over my head as panic flares in his eyes.

"Yeah, Dad!" I call back, my voice surprisingly steady. "Just had a little accident with a pipe!"

"Everything okay?" Footsteps approach the basement door.

"Fine!" I straighten my clothes, running fingers through my wet hair. "Don't come down—water everywhere. We're handling it!"

Mitch has backed away, his face a mask of guilt and horror. His chest rises and falls rapidly, and there's an obvious bulge in his jeans that he can't hide.

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