Page 61 of Learn Your Lesson

“Chloe,” I warned.

“Mr. Perry.”

My next breath flared my nostrils, and I curled my hands into fists by my sides to keep from reaching for her, to keep from pinning those soft hips against the wall of this pool and sliding my thigh right between hers. I wanted to tell her to call me Will, but fuck if I didn’t like the way she said Mr. Perry. Fuck if it didn’t make me think about bending her over and making her call me allkindsof names.

She slid another inch toward me.

And panic sliced melike a knife.

“Stop.”

The word shot out of me.

Chloe did as I said.

Her eyes widened a bit like she hadn’t expected that, but she didn’t dare test any more of what little space was left between us.

I could feel the heat of her body through the water.

One step, and I could close that gap.

One touch, and I could witness those pretty eyes of hers fluttering shut, her lips parting for me.

One moan from her would be all it took for me to surrender, to fuck her right here, right now, and not relent until I’d taken everything she had to give.

But I couldn’t.

I couldn’t risk Ava losing her just so I could have one selfish night.

And I couldn’t risk hurting her — because I knew I would. I didn’t know how to do anything else, not anymore.

Still, I couldn’t deny myself just one small pleasure.

Tentatively, I took that step, sucking in a breath just as Chloe did when we were close enough for our skin to brush.

Water dripped from my hands as I raised them from the water. I swallowed hard, sliding my hands along her jawbone until my fingers curled at the base of her neck.

She closed her eyes on a stuttering breath, tilting her chin up, waiting.

My heart slugged to a stop at the way her silky hair felt in my hands, at how my jaw clenched hard when I dropped my forehead to hers, our noses brushing gently. She kept her eyes closed for the longest time, and when she opened them, I wanted to die.

I saw every emotion, every want and desire in her luminous gaze.

And I saw every reminder of why I couldn’t get involved.

On a sigh, I dropped my lips to her forehead, wincing against the way just that touch alone burned like the hottest flame.

“We can’t,” I rasped, the words as painful as the truth behind them.

I held my lips against her forehead, feeling how her weight sagged, how her next exhale let out any hope she was holding onto.

And with my declaration final, I released her.

“Goodnight, Chloe,” I whispered, and I didn’t look back — not when I climbed out of the pool, nor when I swiped my towel off the back of a lounge chair, or when I slid inside the sliding glass door to the kitchen.

I hauled ass to my bedroom, and once I was inside, I let my head fall back against the wooden door with athunk.

And I wondered how the fuck I was going to resist her now that I knew she wanted me, too.