Page 45 of Best of Me

Duke rakes his teeth over his lower lip. “So, what’s it gonna be? You gonna watch or you gonna touch?”

This man, he redefines sexy—no, forget that, he is the walking, talking, living, breathing embodiment of the word. “I…” My response fizzles on my lips as I watch his hand make another slow stroke, twisting at the tip.

He laughs deep and low and throaty, the sound shooting straight to my core as he maneuvers past me. I watch dumbfounded as he steps into the shower.Is this really happening?He groans as the steaming water pours over him. “The water feels real good, Cricket baby, but I bet you feel better. Why don’t you come in and let me find out? I promise you’ll like it.”

Helpless to resist him, I strip and join him in the shower where he makes good on his promise with that expertly talented tongue of his.

After our shower, Duke tries talking me into staying the night with him. “C’mon, you know you wanna.” He’s a sight to behold dressed in nothing more than a pair of tight black boxer briefs as he towels off his still-dripping hair. Meanwhile, I’m still wrapped up in one of his fluffy towels.

He’s right, too, I definitely want to stay. However, I know what will happen if I do, and I’m not prepared—mentally or physically—for what sex with him will do to me. Heck, it was hard enough to resist him in the shower after he brought me to two screaming orgasms, but I know it’s for the best. When Duke and I finally sleep together, I want to know his feelings are for me and not confusion from missing my twin.

“I’ve got to get up early-early and weed the flowerbed,” I say as an excuse.

“You know I’ll come over and do that for you, right?”

I pop a brow at him. “And you know I’m perfectly capable of doing it on my own, right?”

He grins. “Yeah, I know. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do it anyway.”

I lift my shoulder in a half shrug. “It is what it is. If I don’t tend to it soon, the weeds will overtake the flowers.”

“Stay anyway. I’ll wake you up early.”

“I don’t want you to have to do that.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Seriously, it’s fine—”

“Cut the crap, Mallory. You obviously don’t wanna stay; what gives?” He leans back against the doorframe, assessing me with his cool, penetrating gaze.

Grasping at straws, I blurt out, “I don’t wanna sleep with you.” My cheeks instantly burn with humiliation as I wish I could take back my words—too bad life doesn’t work like that.

I’m fully expecting him to be annoyed with me, maybe even hurt, so his laughter takes me by surprise. “Could’ve fooled me with the way you were screaming my name not even ten minutes ago.”

Gooseflesh covers my skin as his words wash over me. “I…that’s not what I meant.”

Duke crosses the room to me and runs his calloused hands over my shoulders and down my arms. “I know what you meant, baby; I’m only teasing you. You’re not ready for sex and that’s fine. I’m more than willing to wait. I just want you here, next to me, in my space.” He presses his lips to my forehead in a soft kiss. “Will you please stay?”

How’s a girl supposed to say no to that?“Yeah, Duke, I’ll stay.”

chapter twenty-seven

Mallory

For the past three weeks, Duke and I have been cocooned in a blissful little new-relationship-bubble. Every spare moment has been spent with each other; we’ve even started going to the gym together some days. And while that’s all fine and dandy, we’ve both been blowing off our friends when they try and make plans with us—separately, of course. Today though, they won’t take no for an answer.

Duke and I are snuggled up on my couch reading—he finally started onDoppelbanger—and if the perma-grin on his face is anything to go by, he’s liking it.

I’m re-reading an old favorite of mine thanks to a book funk. Luckily, Trey’s growliness inGentby Harloe Rae always snaps me out of it. I’m at my favorite part when a text notification pops up on my screen.

Jenny: We’re going bowling at 2. Come with?

I’m debating on if I want to go when Duke’s phone chimes. He sets down his paperback and checks the notification; he taps away at the screen before turning to me. “They text you, too?” he asks.

“Jenny invited me bowling.”

Duke nods. “You wanna go?”

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