Gifting Me To His Best Friend - Katee Robert Page 0,37

have the history of quite as much baggage as they bring to this. Maybe that’s for the best. Maybe it means I can see things clearest of us all.

I cup Grayson’s face in my hands. “You love him.”

“Emma—”

I kiss him again. “It’s okay. Give me some time to talk to Derek and let’s see what I can do.”

“Talk, huh?” Some humor creeps into his tone.

I smile a little. “Sometimes talking and fucking go hand in hand, husband. You know that. It’s how you snagged me.”

“That’s the damn truth.” He sighs. “Okay. You’re probably right. I’m not… I’m not thinking clearly right now.”

I give him one last kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

After some quick consideration, I pull on my silk robe and walk to Derek’s bedroom. The door is unlocked, which is all the invitation I need to turn the knob and step inside. The room is identical to ours, positioned to maximize the view of the mountains with a giant king sized bed and large bathroom. Derek sits on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. He barely looks up as I shut the door and lean against it. “I need some space.”

“It’s not going to do you any good.”

That makes him actually look at me. “Easy for you to say.”

“It’s really not.” I walk to him, stopping a few inches shy of his knees. He’s tall enough—or I’m short enough—that our positions put his head nearly in line with my chest. But he’s not ogling my breasts right now. He’s staring up at me as if I contain the answers he’s afraid to ask for.

Because I do.

But Grayson’s right; I can’t come at this head on. If Derek is feeling skittish enough to flee when the glow has barely worn off from some of the hottest sex I’ve ever had in my life, then he’s likely to jump out the window and start hiking down to the lodge if I press him now.

Seduction.

What we need is seduction.

Chapter 15

I smile. “Did you like sleeping with us last night, Derek?”

His gaze shutters, but he finally huffs out a breath. “No shit, I did. Even if you snore.”

That pulls me up short. “What?”

“Oh yeah.” He grins. “It’s cute though. Kind of soft and snuffling like a little pig.”

I prop my hands on my hips. “Now I know you’re fucking with me.”

“Guilty.” He reaches out almost hesitantly and clasps my waist. “It’s Grayson who snores.”

“Only a little.” I let him guide me closer, until I have to hitch a leg up onto the mattress and straddle him. The move parts my robe a little, until it’s barely being held in place by the tie.

Derek looks down and gives a long exhale. “This doesn’t feel real.”

“I don’t feel real to you?” I settle against him and slip my arms around his neck. It brings us nearly chest to chest, but I let him keep that little bit of distance. Let him choose.

“Fuck, Emma. You feel real as hell.” His hands shift on my hips, fisting the fabric a little as if he can’t quite help himself. Derek watches his movements part it more, until my breasts are entirely bared. “This was a mistake.”

Words I desperately don’t want to hear. I don’t move. I barely breathe. “It doesn’t have to be.”

“How can it be anything but that?” He moves one hand to cup my right breast, stroking his thumb over my nipple. “A glimpse of paradise before the gates are shut.”

“That’s rather poetic of you, Derek.”

“What can I say? I see you naked and I get inspired.”

I laugh a little even as I fight not to moan. His hand at my waist dips beneath the fabric to press against my skin. I don’t understand how we’ve spent an entire twenty-four hour period getting lost in each other and he still affects me like this. Except I do. Grayson and I are years into our relationship and I still get twisted up over him. This feels the same and yet different. Like a puzzle piece we didn’t even know we were missing and now that it’s slid into place, our puzzle will forever be incomplete if he leaves.

“Derek…”

He kisses me before I can find the words. It’s deep and unhurried, a slow exploration of each other. Almost as if kissing for the first time. Almost like he’s saying goodbye.

No. Not goodbye. Not until we’ve at least had a chance to try.

I dig my hands into his hair and tilt his face