He shrugged and stepped forward, unwilling to voice his denial and his desire for much more than friendship. “Is that all you’re willing to give?”
Spencer stopped when they were mere centimeters apart. Heat radiated off him and seeped into her. She rested her palms on his chest with the intention of pushing him away, but instead, ended up fisting the front of his T-shirt. God, she couldn’t think around him. And that was the crux of the problem. When he was near her, all her careful plans disappeared, and rational thought fled.
“We can’t.” She cursed as her voice shook.
“Why?” he asked, pressing even closer until her ass hit the edge of her desk. “You’re not involved with anyone else.”
“Yet,” she insisted.
“Yet,” he repeated. “If that changes, then…we’ll see.”
“Why are you doing this?” she asked desperately.
“I want you to admit that you want me.” He held her gaze, his eyes dark. “Don’t rationalize and blame it on something—your jealousy, your grief. Quit making excuses and admit that you want
me
.”
“It could never work.” She shook her head, even as her heart raced and she yearned to wrap herself around him.
“Oh,” he dropped a kiss on her lips, “I think we’ve already proved it can work. Very well.”
“Not the sex part, idiot.” She couldn’t hold back the quick laugh. “That part—” She stuttered to a stop as he pulled her blouse from the waistband of her skirt and started undoing the buttons. “Spencer, please.”
He bent his head and ran his tongue along the curve of her breast above the lace of her bra. “Admit you want me, Maggie Monroe. Admit it.” His breath whispered across the damp skin, and she shivered deliciously.
“Of course I do.” She gripped the edge of the desk, leaning on it as her knees buckled beneath her. “But that’s not the point. I’m not looking for just sex. I need…” Spencer moved lower and pulled her taut nipple in his mouth, suckling through the fabric. “Oh God.”
He lifted his head and stared down at her. “Tell me to stop, darlin’. Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll walk out the door right now. Say the word.”
For a moment, only the sound of their quickened breathing filled the room. She
should
tell him to stop, and focus on her future—which he had no part of. At least not in a romantic way. But, saints help her, she couldn’t. She wanted him. At that moment, all that mattered, all that filled her mind was what was happening between the two of them. Shaking her head, she brought her hands between them and fumbled with the button to his jeans. He covered her hands, stopping her movements, and held her gaze. Then he let go and allowed her undo his pants. As she slid them over his hips, he gripped her elbows and took a few steps back, pulling her with him. Once his cock was freed, he lowered himself into the roomy chair facing her desk. The sight of his erection jutting up, thick and flushed, dampened the folds of her pussy.
The urgency, the intensity of her desire rolled over her, overwhelming and exciting at the same time. Maggie kicked her shoes to the side and, reaching under her skirt, slid her panties down and off. Before she could straighten, Spencer cupped her face and pulled her in for a long, languid kiss. His tongue danced over her lips before delving seductively inside. She gripped the hem of her skirt and hiked it up so she could straddle him, never breaking contact with his mouth. The length of his cock teased her folds as she settled atop him. A zing of pleasure stabbed her core and spread rapidly.
Lowering his hands, Spencer undid the rest of her blouse and slowly drew the garment off her shoulders and down her arms, his fingertips skimming her skin.
He pulled away and just gazed at her. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.”
Maggie couldn’t stop the curving of her lips at the declaration. She yanked on his T-shirt until he shifted enough for her to remove it and toss it aside. Running her palms over his bare chest, she felt true regret that they were always so rushed, and never had the time to just enjoy each other’s body. She’d love to kiss every inch of him, taste every dip and bump of his muscled physique. Then again—he lifted his hips and his cock slid along her slickness, causing her to gasp—slow and easy didn’t exactly fit with the desperation she felt when she was with him.
She lifted and, positioning him, glided down until he was fully seated within her. His cock stretched her, filled her so completely. Her legs shook as she held still a moment, eyes on his. He watched her from beneath heavy lids then a groan rumbled in his chest. Wrapping an arm around her, he flicked open her bra clasp. As he dragged the straps down her arms, he intently watched as her breasts were unveiled. The rosy tips tightened under his gaze, and he licked his lips then bent forward. He teased the sensitive nub with his teeth and tongue, pulling a whimper from her. He gave the crown a hard slow suck before shifting to the other.
She buried her fingers in his hair and held him to her. He continued to suckle her breast as she began to move atop him. Each pull of his mouth caused her pussy to tighten around his cock, as if an invisible line connected her breasts and her sex. Spencer lowered his hands to cup her ass, kneading the flesh. Maggie bit her lower lip and struggled not to cry out as sensation after sensation flowed over her. God, would she ever get enough of him and what he did to her? The momentary prick of fear was quickly consumed and obliterated by pleasure. Everything in her zeroed in on this man and what he made her feel.
Spence kissed his way up to her neck and inhaled deeply, savoring the tantalizing scent that was pure Maggie. Sliding his mouth along her pulse, he sampled the salty sweetness of her skin. Maggie trembled when he nipped her flesh with his teeth then ran his tongue over the spot. Despite her protests and rationalizing, he knew she was as affected as he was, just as trapped by this attraction between them.
“God, I want you,” she murmured, taking him inside again and again.
His chest tightened, and he closed his eyes at her declaration. At least, she admitted it, but damn, if he didn’t wish it was true in more than just the physical sense. Listening to her talk about dating other men had killed him. Spencer shoved the thought aside and focused his attention back on the woman in his arms. Her fingers flexed on his shoulders as she rode him, the bite of her nails teased him with a sweet, sweet pain.
Maggie’s eyes slid shut and her lips parted on a soundless cry as her pussy convulsed and rippled around his cock. Spence gritted his teeth. His balls ached, drawing tight and close to his body. He tried desperately to hold onto his control. If Maggie had her way, this would be the last time they were together, and he wanted this to last. It was a struggle in vain, though. As it always was with her.
Her pussy enveloped him, pulled him deeper with each contraction. Spence closed his eyes and fell through pleasure. His cock jerked and exploded, coating her womb with his seed. He reached between them and pressed his thumb hard against her clit and was rewarded with another violent spasm around his shaft and a strangled cry from Maggie. She tensed, then with another quiet cry, slumped against him, her head on his shoulder. Spencer tightened his arms around her and let himself just enjoy the moment, even though he knew Maggie would continue to fight this, convinced what was between them was only physical.
Suddenly, she jolted up. Spence held back a groan as the movement rocked her against his cock.
“God, anyone could have walked in. The door’s not even locked.” She scrambled off his lap and got busy straightening her clothes.
Moving slowly, Spence stood and did the same. When they were both put back together, Maggie turned to him.
“Shh,” he said before she could speak. “No overthinking, remember?”
“This doesn’t change anything,” she said quietly, reaching up to touch his cheek. “We can’t keep—”
“Friends,” he said, and pressed a kiss to her palm. “Let’s get to know each other and be friends. The rest? It’ll work itself out.”
She blew her breath out between pursed lips. “That sounds a bit too good to be true.”
He grinned. “I didn’t say I’d give up hope for something more than just friends, but for now, I’ll take what I can get. You’ll see; I’m an awesome friend. Just ask your brother.”
After kissing her gently on the lips, he walked to the door and turned when she laughed.
“If you’re offering the same kind of ‘friendship’ to my brother, we have bigger issues than I thought.”
Her smiling face made his stomach tighten and gave him motivation to see that expression on her face as often as he could.
* * * *
“I can’t believe you’re okay with her going out with some dork.” Cal closed the fridge and walked over to flop on the couch next to Spence, who was pretending to watch the baseball game on TV.
“Never said I was okay with it,” Spence said curtly. Oh, he put on the smiling “friend” face around Maggie, but the fact that she was being wined and dined at this very moment drove him nuts.
“But you’re not going to do anything about it?” Cal twisted the cap off the water bottle.
Spence slowly turned his head to glare at his friend. “And just what should I do? Storm the restaurant and drag her out kicking and screaming? I’m sure that will make her realize that I’m commitment material.”
Cal rolled his eyes. “Nothing so dramatic, idiot.”
“And what would you suggest, oh wise one?”
“Well, she mentioned her date was at Nina’s. They just happen to offer take-out. We could always call in an order, and you could pick it up. Nothing dramatic, but she’ll see you and you’ll be on her mind the rest of the date.” Cal nodded. “See, I
am
wise as hell.”
Shit, he couldn’t even believe he was even considering it.
“Or you could just hole yourself up here and paint. Oh, and think about her. With. Someone. Else.” Cal stood. “I’m going to go work. If you decide to make the call for food, their menu is in the drawer in the kitchen.”
Alone, Spence stared at the TV then pulled his phone out of his pocket. He turned it around in his hands for a few minutes. Did he risk pissing Maggie off by showing up during her date? Surely, that wouldn’t end well and wouldn’t bode well for developing anything beyond friendship with her. But damn it, sitting here was killing him.
With a muttered curse, he stood and flipped the phone open.
Maggie lifted her glass and sipped the cool water as she tried to focus on what her date—architect Kyle Stevens—was saying. Honestly? The man was boring her to tears. He’d seemed so normal, and he met every requirement on her checklist. Stable job. Financially independent. Everything. Unfortunately, the sum of it all, at least in Kyle’s case, was dull, dull,
dull
. She mentally shook herself. She had to give this guy a shot. After all, sparks and excitement were overrated. In the long haul, solid and dependable were what mattered.
“After that project, I was lucky enough to land—”
Maggie’s phone chirping from her purse interrupted him. She grimaced and reached inside the small bag. She glanced at the display and frowned. Spencer. Her heart raced. First, with excitement, then with worry. Maybe something had happened to Cal…
“Excuse me, I should take this,” she said.
Kyle nodded with a smile and turned his attention to his barely touched meal.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Hello, darlin’.” His voice, rough and low, traveled over the line.
“Is everything all right?” she inquired.
“Everything’s fine. How are you doing?”
She closed her eyes a moment. “I can’t really talk right now.”
“Oh?”
“I’m on a date.” She smiled tightly at the man across from her.
“Oh, that was tonight?” he asked brightly. “How’s it going? He’s not one of the weirdos, right?” When she didn’t respond, he spoke again, his voice low and gravelly. “What are you wearing?”
“W-w-what?”
“Are you wearing one of those hot little suits you have on all the time? Though I’m sure your date wouldn’t appreciate them as much as I do. But no, I’m betting you’re wearing a little black number? Seems like the safe choice for a first date.”
Maggie clenched her free hand in her lap…on top of the damned black dress she was wearing.
“And odds are you have the sexy thigh highs going on underneath, don’t you?” He hummed. “Sexy as hell. Did you wear racy underwear, hoping to impress?” His voice took on a hard edge.
“Spence—”
“Oh, he’s hoping for a peek. I don’t need to know the man to know that. Even though we haven’t managed it, any man with a pulse would want to peel your clothes off nice and slow. Tell me,” he continued, “is your hair up in one of those proper twists or did you wear it loose?”
She pushed her chair back and mouthed to Kyle,
Be right back.
Spencer kept talking as she hurried toward the back of the restaurant.
“It doesn’t matter really. Either is more tempting than you realize. Up, and it’s like you’re begging for my mouth on your neck. Down, and all I can think of is wrapping it around my hands while you work your way on down to—”
“Stop!” She ducked into the empty restroom, shut the door and leaned against it. The fact he’d changed from “a man’s” to “my” didn’t escape her notice. She pressed her legs together. No, she definitely noticed. “Damn it, Spencer, what the hell are you doing?”