Page 41 of Sipping Seduction
“You’re not really scared, are you?” I’d rather face a thunderstorm in Beaver Bluff than some of the shit I’d dealt with in Afghanistan. At least with Mother Nature, you typically had a little warning before things got real.
“I’m glad you’re here.” She shifted her head to look up at me.
“I never told you how amazing you look this afternoon.” When I’d seen her coming up the sidewalk at the front of the chapel, she’d stolen my breath away. The dress accentuated her waist and dipped low enough in front to give a guy blue balls for days.
“Thanks. You looked pretty hot in your tux. I bet you could have had your pick of bridesmaids.”
I should have told her right then and there that I only had eyes for her. With Andrew out of the way and my leg feeling better than ever, there wasn’t a good reason to not come clean. Well, except the risk of ruining our friendship for good.
“I’d rather spend the evening with you.” It was an honest answer, and one that skated uncomfortably close to revealing how I really felt about her.
“Careful, Evan. People might start getting to know the real you.”
“The real me, huh? Who’s that?”
She propped herself up on an elbow, so she was looking down on me. “The real you is a man who would do anything for a friend, including letting her move in with her obnoxious dog. Oh, and let her date someone from your family’s biggest rival right under your nose.”
“I don’t have anything against Andrew Stewart. He seems like a nice guy.” And even nicer now that he wasn’t a threat.
“He is.” Frannie rolled onto her back again. “I think I got so caught up in making my dad happy that I lost sight of what I wanted.”
“What do you want?” I held my breath while I waited for her to answer.
“Well, I don’t want to die without ever having good sex, that’s for sure.” She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Sorry, I don’t know where that came from.”
Heat sparked low in my belly and slowly made its way up my chest. I’d be a fool to proposition her, but in that moment, the only thing I could think about was how her face might look when I became the first man to ever make her come.
“You know, Frannie, I’d be willing to help you out with that if you want.”
Her brows knit together, and her pretty pink lips parted. I was so tempted to lean forward—just a few inches separated my mouth from hers—and show her how I felt about her with a kiss.
“Are you joking?” Her pulse jumped. I could see the beating of her heart right below her jaw.
I nudged my nose into her hair and caught her earlobe between my teeth. “No.”
“What are you saying?” The way her body responded betrayed her. No matter what she said, I could tell I’d gotten under her skin.
I skimmed a finger down her neck and over her arm. “I’m saying if you don’t want to die without ever having good sex, I’d be willing to go there with you.”
“But we’re friends.” She reached up and ran her hand over the base of my neck.
“Best friends. That’s why you should let it be me.”
Her back arched as I whispered into her ear. We were vibing, even if she hadn’t realized it yet. “Won’t that change things between us?”
I sure as hell hoped so, but I didn’t want to say that and scare her away. “You’ll always be my best friend, Frannie. Nothing’s going to ever change that.”
Lightning flashed through the sky overhead, immediately followed by a boom of thunder that echoed through the clouds. The car shook.
Her eyes squeezed shut. “I can’t believe I’m even considering it.”
“Relax. I can stop anytime. All you need to do is say the word.” I wanted to do this for her, wanted to give her something she’d never experienced with anyone else.
“What word?” One eyelid popped open. “Is there a certain word I should use if I want you to stop?”
She was so high-strung, so nervous about doing something wrong. “You could just say ‘stop’ or we can come up with a safe word if you prefer.”
“But what if I say something like don’t stop? Does that ‘stop’ count?” She bit down on her lower lip, pulling it into her mouth. “Sorry, I’m being ridiculous, I know. I’m just nervous.”
