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He sounded like an asshole, but it would do no good for either of them to misunderstand what this was.
You really think you can sleep with her once and never again?
He ignored his inner voice with grim determination.
“It is, and I know it’s just for tonight,” Savina said. “I won’t get weird afterward if you don’t.”
“I won’t get weird,” he said.
You sure?
“Then we’re good to go,” she said. “Let’s go inside, Hal.”
CHAPTER9
Savina wasn’t as nervous as she thought she would be. But shewasmore anxious than she was letting on. She clamped her mouth shut against the barrage of words that wanted to spill from her mouth. Talking too much was a clear indicator of her anxiety, and Hal was well aware of that.
She smiled at him as he hung her jacket in the closet. “Your place looks the same.”
She hadn’t stepped foot in his apartment for nearly a year.
“Not a lot you can change when you rent,” he said. “Come into the kitchen.”
She frowned but followed him down the narrow hallway past the half bath to the small kitchen. Hal produced a bottle of whiskey and two glasses, pouring the amber liquid into both before capping the bottle.
She accepted the glass with a nod of thanks. She didn’t want a drink. She wanted to be in the bedroom undressing Hal and finally getting a look at that dick she’d fantasized about for the last year, but she sipped politely at it as he drank half of his in a large swallow. Who was she to judge if Hal needed to be drunk to do this?
Still, it sent tendrils of unease skittering through her veins that he needed to drink. She might have needed alcohol to sleep with a stranger, but this was Hal. He knew her better than anyone, and she wasn’t lying about him being her best friend.
Her stomach churning, she said, “I know this makes me a hypocrite, but I don’t want to do this if you need to be drunk.”
Surprise made his eyes widen. “I don’t need to be drunk.Youneed to be drunk. Don’t you?”
She set the glass on the counter. “Not with you.”
A look flickered across his face. One she couldn’t decipher despite how well she knew him.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Yes.” He set his glass next to hers and hesitated before stepping close and sliding his arm around her waist. He studied her in the bright light of the kitchen, then brushed his mouth against hers.
His gentleness made her pelvis ache pleasantly. She returned his kiss, parting her lips encouragingly. He pulled back instead of deepening the kiss. “We can sit on the couch for a while. We don’t have to go directly to the bedroom.”
“I’m good with the bedroom,” she said. “Unless you have a sex on the couch fantasy you’re trying to make happen.”
He laughed, and she had to blink back the sudden tears. God, she’d missed him so much the last year.
He took her hand, and she followed him to his bedroom. He turned on the bedside lamp and studied her in the dim circle of light. “You’re sure, Savina?”
“Yes,” she said without a moment of hesitation. “I want this, Hal. I wantyou.”
“I want you too.” His voice was warm like melting honey, and she reached for his shirt, tugging it over his head when he raised his arms.
He had a good body, an amazing body, in fact, and desire descended in a heavy wave that made her feel a little lightheaded. She traced her fingers through his salt and pepper chest hair, listening to his sharp inhale of breath when she moved further down to his flat stomach.
His hands gripped her hips and pulled her against him. She rubbed against his erection, and he groaned, the sound sending goosebumps popping up against her skin.
She kissed him, draping her arms over his shoulders as they leisurely explored each other’s mouths. The ache grew in her belly, and she was drowning in a deep, heady desire she hadn’t felt in too long.
