Page 43 of Friends with Benefits

He scribbled secrets on my skin with the tips of his fingers, drawing gooseflesh to the surface. He knew my body as well as my mind. And just like that, all the thoughts flew out of my head. I let him lift my lips to his with the slightest pressure from a hooked finger. His mouth brushed over mine with easy comfort and the devastation of a natural disaster.

The contrast of his implacable body to his soft lips made me forget myself. His mouth nibbled at mine—no hesitation, no self-doubt. His focus was one hundred percent on me. Tripp’s confidence had always astounded me. What must it feel like to always know exactly what you want?

Even more, how did a girl react when that certainty was focused entirely on her?

Sweat gathered in the deep of my lower back as his tongue enticed my lips to part. With light, easy pressure, it rubbed against mine. I couldn’t help it. I moaned into his mouth, the sound needy and urgent, even to my ears.

One kiss wouldn’t hurt.

Would it?

And I let him. God help me, but no one kissed like Tripp Wilder. He made me feel like I was the only woman in the world.

I deepened the kiss, letting him slide a muscled thigh between my legs. The weight of him came over me slightly, a welcome shelter. I wanted more. That was the problem. I wanted too much.

I’d talk to him.

I would.

I just wanted to be with him for a little longer. It seemed that when it came to Tripp, I’d always want more.

And that was terrifying.

I broke away, exhaling heavily, and already missing his lips on mine. “Tripp, wait.”

His lips moved to my neck, biting softly, and then moving to my ear. My weak spot. Was there a link between that spot and my G-spot? It certainly felt like it. Maybe Tripp just knew all my spots.

He stopped. It shouldn’t surprise me that he did. Tripp was nothing if not kind and considerate. I hated to think about Chris at a time like this, but he wouldn’t have taken me pumping the brakes so well. I should have realized it back then—I had wanted to please him so much that I hadn’t given myself enough respect.

Tripp didn’t ever make me question myself. He respected me enough for the both of us. This friends-with-benefits arrangement was for my comfort. I was fully aware that he would have been all-in ages ago if it weren’t for my own reservations.

He tucked me close to his side. “Talk to me.”

“I’m…I…” Words failed me.

Noticing my struggle, he said, “How about I talk, then? And you can tell me if I’m off base or not.”

I unstuck my tongue long enough to mumble, “Okay.”

“I know you’re worried about your sisters. We wouldn’t be friends if you weren’t the caring, slightly neurotic person you are. I’m guessing something happened today?”

I shouldn’t be surprised. He always knew. “Doesn’t this break the rules? Emotional chats aren’t exactly one of the benefits in our rules.”

“Friends come before the benefits,” he answered without hesitation.

If hearts were made to beat, mine was beginning to feel like it was meant to beat for him.

I couldn’t meet his eyes, especially not after that revelation. “I lost the twins at the grocery store today.” Even saying it out loud made my stomach tie itself in knots. “For a second, I thought my mom had found them and taken them. It made me realize how vulnerable they are right now. I can’t afford to be selfish.”

“And I make you selfish.”

It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyway. “You make me feel a lot of things.” There. That was neutral.

His mouth moved to my ear again. “Do I make you feel good?”

Was I imagining it, or was my temperature legit rising from his words alone? “Yes,” was the most articulate response I could formulate.

“Hmm,” Tripp murmured, licking my ear again. He eased back, and I caught myself reaching for him.