Page 57 of The Wingman

The warning bells ringing in my head fade away, and all I can think about is how much I want her. My blood pounds in my ears as I watch her tuck her bottom lip between her teeth.

“Okay.” She nods. “We should kiss, then.”

I bring a hand up beneath her chin and tip her face up to mine. Our eyes lock and my heart races, and I wonder if this is a mistake before I lower my mouth to hers.

CHAPTER 26

DARCY

Hayden’s lipsmeet mine and my thoughts collapse like a house of cards.

“Holy fuck, Darce,” he murmurs, angling his mouth against mine, coaxing my lips open and slipping inside.

Holy fuck, indeed.

His tongue delves between my lips, slowly stroking against mine, and I’m lost in his warmth, in the clean, masculine scent washing over me, and his taste—like mint gum and bourbon from the old-fashioned he’s drinking. My awareness narrows to where we touch—his lips against mine, his thigh pressing against me, and his tongue gently exploring my mouth. The gentle grit of his stubble against my skin. My lips have never felt so sensitive, but suddenly, I can feeleverything. Every brush and press of Hayden’s mouth over mine—the same mouth that’s smiled and grinned and sent flirty smirks at me for years.

Music plays nearby, but I can barely hear it. I shift closer to Hayden, electricity pulsing through my body and landing low in my belly. His hand is in my hair, and his other comes to my jaw, tilting me the way he wants me.

Kissing my best friend feels perfectly natural. I never wantto stop, like it’s something I’ve been missing, and the second it’s over, I’m going to have a nagging feeling like I left something at home.

He pulls away an inch, breathing ragged as he studies me. His eyes are dark, heavy-lidded, and glazed in a way that makes my heart pound harder.

“Okay?” He sounds hoarse.

I nod hard, catching my breath and what’s left of my wits. “Yep. Was it okay for you?”

He nods, and his eyes drop to my mouth. “Uh-huh.”

“Not mushy?”

He lets out a tight laugh. “Definitely not mushy.” He glances over my shoulder. “I don’t think he saw.”

“Who?” My eyebrows pull together.

“Grant.”

Oh. Right. Him. Our eyes meet, and my pulse skips a beat at the intensity in his eyes.

“We should do it again,” Hayden says in a low voice that sends heat to the base of my spine, “just to make sure.”

“Yeah. Okay.” I sound breathless. “Just to be sure he sees.” I press my swollen lips together. “Any pointers for me?”

His jaw flexes and he looks at my mouth again. “You can touch me this time. If you want.”

God, yes, I want to. “I wasn’t sure if it was okay.”

His mouth quirks up, and the long line of his throat bobs. “It’s okay. It’s definitely okay. We’re practicing.”

“Right.” I almost laugh, because practicing with Hayden is so much more intense than I expected. I’m lightheaded.

I wrap a hand around the nape of his neck, pulling his mouth back to mine.

A low noise of encouragement rumbles through him, and I arch against the hard wall of his chest as he takes my mouth, more urgent this time.

Hayden’s kiss turns demanding, desperate, and addictive. I sink my fingers into the soft hair at the back of his neck, and his breath catches. I gently suck on the tip of his tongue, and he groans into my mouth. A shudder rolls through him when I scrape my fingers over his scalp. The deprived, neglected data analyst inside me loves this game.

My free hand lands on his collarbone, and I slip my fingertips beneath the collar of his t-shirt to catch his warmth. I’ve always wanted to touch this part of him, run my fingers over the hair at the top of his chest.

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