Those words punch me hard in the gut, because I don’t believe for a second that’s what she’s saying to me. Reaching up, I rub against the stubble on my chin, taking a deep breath to calm myself down.
“So what are you thinking?” I chuckle. “One night stand? Friends with benefits?”
“Why do we have to put a label on it? Why can’t we do what feels good? Why do we have to make decisions right this instant?” She seems irritated with answering questions, even though she’s the one asking them. It gives me more insight into her frame of mind than she even understands.
“You know what I think, Counselor?”
She slings her hair out of the way, giving me her eyes again. Hers travel up to mine, eyebrow lifting in question.
“I think you have so much control in the courtroom, you want someone to take control in your personal life, I mean…” I lean in closer, propping my elbow up on the center console. “Correct me if I’m wrong.”
She doesn’t move, all she does is close her eyes. “You’re not wrong.” The words are so soft I almost don’t hear them.
“Is this drunk Shelby talking? Or is this the Shelby who hides everything she wants talking?”
Her green eyes shine in the muted tone of the security light shining down from above this parking spot. “This is the Shelby who hides everything she truly wants. The one who has to look professional all the time, the one who always has it together, who always has the answer for every fuckin’ question people ask.”
My mouth and lips are dry as fuck, I get what she’s putting down.
“Want me to walk you up to your apartment?”
She lives two floors up from me, and immediately I see the disappointment in her eyes as she avoids my gaze.
“Or do you want to come to mine?”
A small smile spreads across her face. “Mine,” she whispers.
“Sit tight.”
Getting out and shutting the driver’s door, I take a moment to adjust my dick. It got fifteen times harder than it’s ever been. Calm down, my brain tells the rod in between my legs.
When I get over to her side of the car, I open the door for her. She turns, spreading her thighs for me.
“Promise me, Sully.” Her voice is soft. “Promise this doesn’t change our friendship.”
This is going to completely change our friendship, but I give her the answer she wants. “We’re good, no matter what happens here, tonight.”
My hands go around her waist, pulling her out, making sure she’s on solid ground before grabbing her fingers, leading us up the steps. As I pass my apartment, there’s a part of me that screams to go in there and not do what I’m about to. Laying my heart out isn’t something I’ve done easily since we lost Etta. Honestly, she’s the last person I gave my love to so easily.
I shut that shit down real quick.
The closer we get to her front door, the harder my heart beats.
She fumbles with her keys, so I end up taking them out of her hand and opening the door for her. I’ve been in here a few times, but now isn’t the moment I want to comment on her decorating ability.
“So.” I shove my hands in the pockets of my jeans, rocking back on my feet. “Should we just go for it or, is there something specific you’re expecting.” The last thing I want to do is ruin our friendship or change the dynamic of our friend group.
She giggles, throaty and deep. “I leave it up to you, Sully. Give me what you do best.”
She wants what I do best? Then that’s what she’ll fucking get.
Looking around the apartment, I see exactly what I’m going to use. One of the two chairs she has at her kitchen table. Grabbing her by the hand, I pull her over.
“My kitchen?” Her eyes are clouded with question.
“You’ll see,” I say the words like the promise they are.
She’s tall, especially in her high-heeled boots, and I appreciate not having to bend at the waist to take what I want. I put my arm behind her neck, grasping, pulling her closer to me. It knocks her off-balance slightly, and when I take her lips it’s on a small gasp.
Her open mouth allows my tongue to go right for what I want, brushing the roof in a possession I’ve needed to have since the first day I saw her running.