Charles wanted to kick himself. He almost kissed her. He wanted to. So badly. She’d leaned into him, her eyes closed, and he almost kissed her.
At the last minute he stopped himself.
But when she said she wanted his friendship there was something in her eyes, something that made him wonder. Something that gave him hope.
“Are you sure friendship is all you want? I saw the way that other guy kissed you. Are you looking for more than a friend?”
Becca sucked in a quick breath and her eyes widened. His did too as her chest inflated and reached toward him. God, Charles wanted to touch her. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted her to be his.
And if he wasn’t mistaken, she wanted the same thing.
Becca shrugged. “I’ve definitely considered the possibility of more, but none of the guys I’ve been with held my interest for too long. There’s always something…”
“Missing,” they finished together.
“Yeah. It’s strange, you know. I want someone who knows me, but no one really does. I pretty much keep to myself. I don’t go out much and I don’t share a whole lot with new people. It’s hard to open up sometimes.”
“I know you,” Charles said, taking a chance she would understand the underlying implication.
Becca grinned. “Yes, you do.”
“What does that mean, Bex?”
“You’re the only one who’s ever called me that, you know. Most people call me Becca or Bec, but you always call me Bex.”
“Is that okay?” Charles asked, leaning slightly toward her.
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and Charles’s eyes went there. She nodded and he licked his lips, imaging his teeth holding her lip.
She got just a little closer, her body drawn to his. Charles couldn’t stop himself, he leaned forward, then paused, wanting it to be her decision to kiss him. Needing to know she wanted it as much as he did.
Her eyes met his, shining with desire that he felt all the way to his toes. He couldn’t stop if he wanted to, but he didn’t want to. He had to know what she tasted like, how soft her lips were. And he wasn’t waiting another second to find out.
