The Do-Over (The Rooftop Crew #5) - Piper Rayne Page 0,42

the street.”

“Oh. So if I had fought harder, you would’ve left me?” The way her lips are tipped up, I think she’s playing me.

“No.” I step closer, my hand finding her hip.

“Why then?” she whispers.

“Because it was you.”

“Me?”

My fingers tighten on her hip and I nudge her closer so there’s barely any space between us. “Yeah. All those years ago, I’m gonna be honest here, I made the wrong choice that night. It should’ve been you. And I’d do just about anything to have a do-over.”

A barely audible sound falls from her lips. “What?” There’s a hint of disbelief in her question.

“I should’ve taken you home that night. You’re the one who fits me.”

“Knox.” She steps back and turns around, away from my hold. “What are you saying?”

I step up behind her. “I want you. I want you in every way possible, but I won’t cross the line, Kamea. Not now.”

“Why not?” She slowly turns to face me again. “Why did you just tell me all that then?”

I have no idea why I laid my heart out there. Maybe I wanted it off my chest and she’s the one I trust the most. Maybe because I want her to know that I regret that decision. That Leilani didn’t bring me anything but heartache. Seeing Kamea tonight and the entire time she’s been living with us, she fits perfectly in my life.

“Because I wanted you to know,” I say.

She steps closer, her breasts pressing to my chest. “And why aren’t you going to act on it?”

“Because you’re staying with us and I can’t jeopardize that. I don’t want you thinking you have to be with me to have a roof over your head. Nor do I want you to think you have to feel the same way as me.”

“And if I do?” Her fingers run down my tie. “If I feel the same way? If I think you were an idiot all those years ago, but I want to start over, like that never happened?”

“I’d say we’ll put it on the back burner until we find her and get your money back. When you’re back on your feet.”

She shakes her head. “You’re used to dictating everything, aren’t you? Is that because you’re a cop?”

She has a point. I tend to dictate how I want things to go. I like it that way. “Yes.”

“Well, Officer Whelan, you’re not going to control this situation. Because I’m a grown woman and although I love your intentions, it’s my decision.”

“Kamea,” I plead, but she grabs my tie and pulls me down.

“Kiss me, Knox,” she whispers, her lips millimeters from mine.

“Kamea,” I plea again, but the pull between us is so strong, I can’t resist when she presses her lips to mine.

Damn, they’re soft and tender. She holds her lips against mine, knowing I can’t wait long before I lick along the seam of her lips, and she opens for me. My tongue tangles with hers. She tastes and feels amazing. She’s not tentative or shy, and her moan has me about falling to my knees to worship her, if only for more sounds like that. My fingers dig into her hips and my erection presses against her stomach.

“This one is going to be arrested for public indecency,” a deep voice says from behind us.

I push Kamea away from me and allow my breath to even out.

“Leave the lovebirds alone, sweetie,” a woman says.

I’m not even going to turn around to see who it is. My mind swims with leftover sensations from that kiss and how amazing it was. It ignited a spark I’m not sure will ever go out.

“Is that convincing enough for you?” she asks.

I shake my head. “We can’t. We shouldn’t have.”

Her face falls and she takes off my coat and hands it back to me. “You regret it?”

I pull on the back of my neck. “It’s not right.”

“Because I’m living with you?”

“Yes, don’t you see that?”

She shouldn’t want to start whatever this is between us when she’d be the one on the street if it goes bad. Not that I’d allow that, but the apartment is mine, not hers. She needs to be more protective of herself.

“Okay. Fine.” She walks away.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“To see about cake. It’s the next best thing to an orgasm.”

She disappears inside, and my head falls back, wondering how I manage to keep screwing things up with this woman. I follow her inside, but when I find Kamea, she’s got a slice of cake on