Page 39 of Reckless Storm (San Francisco End Game #3)

Hayley

As though a flip switched inside me the second Reed gave me an orgasm, I can’t look at him now without picturing his hands on my body, his eyes boring into mine, his cock between my legs…and it’s really freaking inconvenient.

Especially when he appears completely unaffected.

“I feel like a burrito bowl.” His expression curls into a contemplative look. “Should we order lunch?” he asks nonchalantly, the Saturday after our high school-style romp, while I’m still thinking about what that mouth could do to my pussy. Three days later.

He’s hinted at having a dirty mouth before, but I always thought he was joking around. He wasn’t. That man can—

“Hayls?”

“Huh?”

“Lunch?” He waves his hand in front of my face.

“Oh. Yes. Let’s get lunch. I’ll grab my coat.”

“You don’t need a coat to order in.” He chuckles for a beat until his expression turns serious. Stepping closer, he palms my shoulder as he stares into my eyes, searching for something. “Is everything okay?” His voice projects the concern he feels, and a wave of guilt washes over me.

“I’m good. I’m just…” I trail off, not really sure if I should make this an “us” problem, when it’s definitely my issue.

“Just?” Reed questions me, never one to let things go when he thinks my feelings are involved.

The rules of our fake relationship run through my mind, and I curse myself for always wanting to be honest. “You kind of broke me.”

“What? How?” A crease forms between his brows as he searches his mind for what he’s done. “I—”

“You didn’t do anything, per se. It’s more of a me mind fuck.”

“A you—” He cuts himself off and smirks. “You want more of what happened the other night, don’t you?” He laughs but it’s a little bit strained. “I rocked your world.”

He thinks he’s joking but he’s not far off base. Only I shouldn’t. We crossed a line the other night, and we definitely shouldn’t take it any further. So why can’t I stop myself?

“Well…” I trail off, cringing as Reed’s eyes widen.

“I was kidding, Hayls. I didn’t— Wait. Really?”

“Don’t you? I can’t be the only one that hasn’t stopped thinking about it, imagining the benefits we could add to our little arrangement.”

Reed’s nose scrunches and I gasp. “Oh, Jesus. Am I the only one?” I cringe and he groans.

“You’re not now .” He rakes his hands down his face as he shakes. “Nope. Nope. Definitely not.”

“No, what?”

“I’m trying to convince myself that we can’t do the things I’m imagining.”

Oh, God. I clench my legs so I don’t squirm, then torment myself by asking a question I shouldn’t. “What are you picturing?”

“ Hayley ,” Reed warns but it’s too late. My mind is running wild with ideas, and if he doesn’t tell me, God only knows what “things” I’ll conjure.

“Reed,” I say sternly. “I need you to tell me, or I’m going to be picturing more than you could possibly imagine.”

“I highly doubt that. It’s better if you don’t know.”

An image of Reed bending me over a counter and dropping to his knees has me shaking my head as I silently curse myself. This is not helping.

“Hayley,” he warns again through his clenched teeth. “We’re moving into dangerous territory.”

“Moving? I thought we already passed that.”

“Fuck.” He spins around, running a hand through his hair, giving me a chance to marvel at his magnificence without scrutiny.

Is this the longest I’ve been without sex since I started having it? Yes. But I’ve also been honest about my feelings for Reed since the very beginning. I’m attracted to him. There’s no denying it. But did I ever think I’d go there? No. Because our friendship means more than that.

But what if we could have both?

Dammit.

Reed turns in time to catch my indecisive expression and he groans again, the sound vibrating through me, sending a pulse to my core. “What are you thinking, Hayls? Aren’t you worried about our friendship?”

“Of course I am. And I will always put that first. I was just being honest. Like we promised we would be.”

“We also promised we’d never cross a line unless it was for show, and the other night was not for public viewing. At least I hope it wasn’t.”

He cringes and I can’t help the hysterical giggle that escapes me. “It was just us. And you’re right. Let's chalk it up to another crazy idea of mine and leave it at that.”

“It’s not—”

“I blame you , you know. You’re too sexy for your own good. I’m only human.” I shrug and he chuckles, shaking his head as he motions toward my body.

“And what about you, Miss Jackman?”

“I thought I was ‘Baby’?”

“Okay, Baby. What about you?” His voice lowers and a hint of his country drawl comes out, making my body heat as I mentally melt.

If anyone else called me “baby,” I’d probably dick punch them, but with Reed…

“Hayls, you opened your door this morning wearing a fucking midriff top and tight booty shorts, and you’re saying it’s my fault? ”

“I—”

“I think about getting you naked at least once a day. Baby . And I’m not going to pretend your moans from the beach aren’t running on repeat through my mind, because they are. But I didn’t bring it up. You did. And now I can’t un-think it. So I’ll repeat… What do you want? ”

As though I’ll awake from a dream if I don’t answer quickly, I rush out my response, my eyes locked on his.

“I want you to make me scream, Reed. I want you to release the tension between my legs so I don’t have to use my hand.

You barely touched me the other night and worked me over more than I ever could have imagined.

I know I shouldn’t want that. I know . But—”

“Fuck, Hayls.”

“What do you want? If we weren’t friends. If this was a one-night stand or a real relationship, what would you want?”

He shakes his head, turning away from me, his fists clenched. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t.” That much I can promise him. Because if there’s one thing I know for certain in this world, it’s that I need Reed in my life.

“But we are friends, Hayls. We can’t pretend that we’re not.”

“ Please . I—”

“I’d want to wrap my hand around your throat while I destroy your pussy with my fingers, three of them pounding into you while my thumb teases your clit, circling the little bud without ever actually touching it.”

My legs clench and I bite back a groan. Holy mother of all that is good in this world. That mouth .

His eyes bore into mine, waiting for me to respond, but all I can think about is the arousal undoubtedly soaking my panties. “Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?” I rush out, struggling to control my breathing.

“Jesus, Hayls, let’s keep my mother out of this.”

“I had to go there, because the alternative was me dropping to my knees and worshipping your cock.”

“She jokes.” Reed shakes his head. “After all that’s been said, she jokes.”

“Who’s joking? Feel my heart.” I grab his hand and place it on my chest between my heaving breasts. “I’m going to need you to say something else,” I whisper as he stares at our hands. “I need to know more. What would you do next?”

Reed’s pained expression finds mine. “Hayley.”

“Please.”

“We can’t.”

“Reed.” My voice is pleading and I’m consciously aware of the fact that I should let this go, but I’m too far gone to stop it.

“You don’t know what you’re getting into.” He pulls his hand from mine and steps back, putting some much-needed space between us.

But I don’t give up.

“I do. I—”

“ Fuuck .” Releasing a loud, drawn-out groan, Reed stalks forward and pushes me against the wall, his hand sinking into my hair.

He tugs on my ponytail, tilting my head to face him, and stares into my soul.

“We have to set some ground rules,” he demands, the gentle version of Reed making way for this new alpha and I’m totally here for it.

“If this is about added benefits then we need boundaries.”

“Of course.” I nod, my gaze locked on his mouth. “But I can’t think and—”

“We both have to need it. It can’t be a want. Only a need.” He leans forward, pressing his lips to my neck before sucking the flesh into his mouth. And I melt against him, no longer able to hold myself up. Who is this guy?

“Do you need this, Hayls?”

“Yes,” I rush out on a breath, working hard to concentrate. “Yes, we have to need it. And no sex. We can’t go all the way.” I don’t think I could come back from that.

“No sex,” Reed agrees. “But how far will you let me take it?”

Holy shit. My chest tightens as my heart beats rapidly. “Hands?” I ask, setting the boundaries that I hope will protect us. “No mouth.” Reed pulls away from my neck and licks his lips, a guilty expression in place. “I mean, no oral. You can keep doing that.”

Grabbing the back of his neck, I guide him toward mine and twist my head, giving him better access. “I wasn’t ready for you to stop.”

Reed groans against my skin, and my entire body erupts in a shiver.

“We really shouldn’t.” He fights his urges, trying to preserve the shreds of his good-guy persona. The Golden Boy. But now that I’ve seen the other side of him, I can’t let the good guy win.

Grabbing his free hand, I lower it between us, guiding him toward the waistband of my shorts. He stiffens momentarily, but doesn’t stop me as his head drops to my shoulder.

“Last chance to say no,” he rushes out between breaths, his palm flexing beneath my touch.

“I need it, Reed. I need it.”

He growls before shaking himself free of my grasp and shoving his hand down my shorts, his fingers brushing against my panties. Without wasting any time, he cups my pussy and rolls his palm against my clit, cursing when he undoubtedly realizes how soaked I am.

“Is this all for me, Hayls?” he asks as I moan. “Is this wet pussy weeping for my hand?”

Oh, God. “Yes.” I’d prefer more but I’ll take his hand and that mouth . I bet he could make me come with his words alone.

He grinds his palm again, curling his fingers, creating a friction as my panties rub against my entrance. Squeezing my breast with his free hand, he repeats the movement and I cry out, my hips bucking as I fall into him.

“God, Reed.”

“Is that good, Baby?” The cockiness to his tone has me gripping his shirt and groaning his name as I rock against his hand. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He chuckles while my pulse spikes, my pussy throbbing in response.

And he’s paying attention.

With a strangled groan, he releases my breast and removes his hand from my pants, grabbing the waistband before dragging my shorts down my legs. My panties follow and he steps back, his wanton gaze locked between my legs.

“Fuck, I knew you’d be pretty but damn…”

I fall back against the wall this time, moaning as my legs clench. “ Reed .”

“I know, Baby. It’s coming.”

He moves forward in two easy strides, grabbing my waist and spinning me around. When my back hits the kitchen counter, he lifts me up, perching my ass on top.

“Open,” he demands, and my legs part instantly, my pussy dripping as he stares down at me again.

With my eyes locked on his every move, I watch as he steps closer and runs a finger through my soaked folds, groaning as he reaches my clit, teasing me until I’m begging for more.

Ignoring my impatient moans, he repeats his ministrations a few more times before two of his fingers brush against my entrance, making me cry out in relief.

“Yes.”

“This?” he questions and I gasp in agreement, pleading for more as he whispers, “I’ve got you.”

My eyes flash to his, finding his bottom lip trapped between his teeth as he stares down at his hand.

I follow his gaze, both of us watching as his fingers disappear inside me, the veins in his heavily tattooed forearm bulging as his muscles tense, a low deep growl rumbling in the back of his throat.

“Is this what you want?” He curls a finger against my wall and my pussy constricts as I silently scream his name. And when his thumb brushes against my clit, I lose my mind, begging him for more.

“In this moment, I’m yours, Reed. Do with me what you will.”