Page 30 of Final Temptation
“Before I do anything, I need you to know…” I took a deep breath, combing her hair away from her forehead, “all the other chicks that have had a piece of me that you haven’t, they don’t have a fucking thing on you, Sophie. They don’t own me. They don’t take up space in my mind like you do. You are so goddamn out of my league, and I would be truly blessed to have any chance at being with you. Without even touching me, you already own me more than anyone else ever has.”
With her words stuck in her throat, she answered in a form of action instead.
Her body melted into mine, surrendering her lips to me as our kiss started slow. I savored each gentle brush of our lips before the moment sped up, becoming wilder and more frantic. She moaned under my touch, the sound of it vibrating against my tongue as hers swiped against mine. I’d been waiting a week to feel her lips on mine again. How was it possible that each time we kissed, it became more electric?
My hands had a greedy mind of their own, moving from her hips back to her ass.Fuck, she is perfect.
I knew Sophie said to take things slow, to go at her pace, and I had every intention of respecting her. The plan was to keep tasting her lips against mine until she pushed me away. I’d stay lost in this moment until she told me otherwise.
The taste laced on her tongue was addicting. I couldn’t pinpoint what it was; I just knew I needed more. Memories of each time we kissed flashed through my mind—the time I picked her up from this very house, tipsy from girls’ night. Last weekend, when we played our little game and the glass of wine she chugged for liquid courage. This moment, right here. Her hair smelled woodsy, like the bonfire, and her kiss tasted malty from the beer she’d been drinking.
The craving that never seemed to go away crept back up, haunting me in the form of this beautiful blonde girl in my arms. I’d perfected the art of saying no when it came to having a drink, but I found myself wanting to devour her. The taste on her tongue transferred to mine— she’d become my new addiction, and she didn’t even know it.
Suddenly, I was second-guessing myself. I never shouldhave told her it was okay to drink around me if it meant I’d be tasting it from her lips.
The energy around the bonfire shifted. Kissing Sophie changed her entire mood. She was back to her bubbly norm, laughing with Paige and the rest of us.
With every glance in her direction, I craved the feeling of her sinking into my lap, holding her around the fire, just like my brother got to do with his girl. The only problem was, Sophiewasn’tmy girl. We were friends with benefits until we broke it off—or I decided to get my shit together and commit for once in my life.
“I’m so excited to go to Vegas next month!” Paige squealed. The topic of conversation caught my attention.
“It’s going to be a blast; I have so many activities planned for us.” Sophie clapped her hands in excitement.
Seeing Sophie and Paige smile in excitement only confirmed that I needed to suck it up and get through it. Their smile wouldn’t fade on my account.
It’s going to be fun; you have nothing to worry about,I repeated silently.
“Well, don’t go getting hitched while you’re there, you know, since I can’t make it,” Chase joked.
“She wouldn’t dare! It would put me out of a job that could help fill my future portfolio.” Sophie shot Paige a serious look.
“Don’t worry, Chase, one day, a few years from now, we can do another trip. Maybe then, you’ll have a girl, and itcan be all six of us, and you won’t have to be the fifth wheel,” Paige spoke across the fire to her brother.
“Six of us? You’re indicating that Myles and I aretogether?” Sophie questioned, pointing between her and me. “What would give you that idea?” She nervously lifted her drink to her mouth.
“I came back down here earlier, and the second I sat down, Myles went up to the house. That was my first clue. Then, I realized I forgot my drink in the kitchen, so I went back up to the house and he had you pinned against the fridge with his tongue in your mouth. Honestly, if that wasn’t telling that something is going on between you, then I don’t know what is.” Sophie’s eyes went wide while Paige shrugged her shoulders. Obviously, her best friend was a little loose-lipped and unaware that she had just outed us to the group.
Silently, I chuckled to myself. “Want to take the reins on this one, Soph?” Her eyes narrowed in my direction, the frustration painted on her face absolutely adorable.
“We are just friends…with benefits.” She puffed out her chest, pretending she didn’t just drop a bomb on the three people who looked between us with their jaws dropped.
“Jesus Christ, this is way too good.” Chase laughed out loud, basking in our awkwardness.
“Myles, mind coming up to the house to help me really quick?” Declan stood, clearing his throat.
Nice one, Declan. Not obvious at all.
I already knew there wouldn’t be something he needed help with, and instead, he would take the opportunity to give me shit about this whole me and Sophie thing.
I stood from my chair, ready to walk up to the house with Declan, squeezing Sophie’s shoulder as I passed.
“Cut the shit. You don’t need help with anything. So,what’s the deal?” I asked, taking a seat on the swing he had hanging on the front porch.
Declan backed up against the porch railing, facing me. “Really, dude? Fucking friends with benefits? That’s a recipe for disaster. In what world does that ever work?”
“You don’t need to worry about it. Sophie and I are in agreement, two adults who made a decision based on what’s best for us.” I shrugged.
“You’re an idiot if you think Sophie isn’t going to fall head over heels for you. She’s a relationship girl, Myles. And you’ve never even tried to navigate that territory.”
