“You’re not. You’re happy for your friend, but frustrated because of what her news means for the business. Neither emotion is wrong.”
She raised her head. “You swear?”
She was close. So close he could feel the heat from her body. It would only take the lightest of touches to pull her up against him. Then they would be touching everywhere. While it wasn’t all that he wanted, it got him a good part of the way there.
“Aidan?”
He was sure it was his imagination, but it seemed to him that the word came out as a plea. A request. One he couldn’t resist. He lowered his head those last few inches and pressed his mouth against hers.
He was pretty sure he’d caught her off guard, so he half expected her to pull back. Only she didn’t. She stayed exactly where she was, her lips against his.
Her skin was warm and soft. Her hands moved from his waist to his shoulders. His slid around her body. He took a step forward—or she did?—then they were pressed against each other and it didn’t matter who had moved first.
Wanting struck him like lightning, burning hot and bright. His breath caught in his throat as the need grew. She fit him perfectly. Her breasts nestled against his chest. Her belly rubbed against his growing erection. And then there was the kiss.
Her mouth was everything he’d hoped for. Hot and sweet and willing. She parted her lips before he asked and he eagerly swept inside. Heat grew until it consumed him and all he could think was how much he wanted her.
His hands were in her hair, stroking her neck, her back. Everywhere he touched was perfection. This was Shelby, he thought hazily, deepening the kiss until they were both straining toward each other. The woman he liked as much as he desired. The woman whose laugh made him happy. His friend and his—
Friend. The word was like a bucket of ice water. He drew back slightly, breaking the kiss and resting his forehead on hers. Their breath came in gasps. The rhythm matched the aching pulse in his groin. He was harder than he’d ever been, so ready to make love with her. He wanted her naked and writhing. He wanted to please her, then fill her until his release threw him to the other side of the universe.
The primal side of him told him she wanted it, too. That she was still touching him, still leaning into him. She had to feel his dick against her belly and she was okay with it. He nearly drowned in the images of them together. It was going to be so good.
But the rest of him—that damned sensible, civilized part of his brain, nearly starved for blood—reminded him that there was so much more on the line than what he wanted. Even if he was willing to ignore his own goals, what about hers? She needed to be healed so she could move on with her life. Sleeping with her now could totally screw up everything.
No pun intended.
“Dammit all to hell,” he muttered, his voice hoarse with passion. “I respect you. I like you. I want you to have everything you’re looking for. And it’s not this.”
Even though it was the most difficult thing he’d ever done, he took a step back.
Shelby stared at him. Her eyes were wide, her pupils dilated. She looked aroused and beautiful and it was all he could do to keep from reaching for her again.
“You should go,” he told her. “Just go.”
She started to speak, then shook her head before turning and walking away.
* * *
AIDAN HAD KNOWN for a while that his brother had a secret studio in the woods. He’d even visited Nick there on occasion. But he’d never explored it. Beyond looking at whatever piece Nick was working on, he hadn’t thought about what else might be stored there. Now he stood beside his brother and stared at the rows and rows of incredible creations.