Hard Knox - Riley Hart Page 0,50

guilt twisted me up again. I had been jealous tonight, but… “That’s not what this is. Don’t you know me better than that?”

He nodded, sucked his bottom lip into his mouth, and I wanted nothing more than to nibble it myself. “I do know you, probably better than I should for how long we’ve known each other. I had to say it, though.”

Because he was strong, because he didn’t take shit. I loved that about him. Still, it wasn’t that easy. I walked over, sat on the couch. “I don’t want to hurt you, and I want you, Christ, I want you so much, it feels like someone set my insides on fire.”

He gasped. “That doesn’t sound pleasant.”

“In a good way.” I smiled, maybe sadly. “And I’m not going to say I wasn’t jealous tonight, because I was. And I want this…to see what this is between us, but I’m on shaky ground too. I need to figure shit out myself before I risk hurting Logan. Can you imagine how confused he would be if I told him we were together? Then what if it didn’t work and he lost you?”

“He won’t ever lose me. I wouldn’t do that to him. I know I’ve had my head in my ass the last couple of weeks, but I wouldn’t walk away from him. Not really.”

“Okay.” I didn’t think it would happen on purpose, but there was always the chance. “What are you asking for, Cal? I want to explore this, want you to be mine, but I think we need to get our legs under us before we consider telling Logan. I need to sort through stuff in my head before I pull him into it.”

Callum stood there for a moment, and damned if I wasn’t holding my breath. Then slowly, he walked over to me. He knelt on the floor between my legs. “I would never risk hurting Logan that way. I would never rush you either. I just needed to know this is real.”

“It’s real,” I told him, my voice scratchy and vulnerable. “There’s no one else I want but you. I won’t be with anyone else, but I have to take it slow and not be…public with it yet. I know that’s not fair, but…”

“One step at a time,” Callum said softly. He put a hand to my face then, stroked his fingers over my beard. “I love this. I love the way it feels against my skin.” He leaned in, put his cheek to mine, and rubbed them together.

Desire shot straight to my groin. “I like the way you feel against me.”

Callum nodded, making his face brush against mine again. He sat back on his heels, and I wanted to drag him closer again, pull him on top of me and learn his body, even though that scared me too.

So I waited, watched. He caressed my arms, danced his fingers from my wrist to the inside of my elbow and back again. My eyes were riveted on him, watching a man touch me this way.

Callum leaned forward, this time his mouth taking the same route, up and down my left arm, then my right. It was so simple, but the way my heart slammed against my chest and my cock throbbed was anything but easy. It was maybe one of the most erotic moments of my life.

“Can we take your shirt off?” he asked. “I love your chest. Such a sexy lumberjack.” Callum winked playfully before sobering. “I won’t go too fast. I just want to…touch you. Savor you, find all my favorite spots.”

A groan started deep in my chest. Christ, what did you even say to that?

I tugged my shirt over my head. Once it was free, Callum pushed me so I leaned back, resting against the couch. He kissed my stomach, right near the edge of my jeans, and I nearly fucking came right there.

“Someone likes that,” he said against my skin. I could hear the smile in his voice, even though he wasn’t looking at me.

He kissed me again and again, all around my lower stomach. My hand was in his hair, and my body arched toward him. “You feel so good,” I whispered. “You might kill me.”

“Don’t do that. I just got you.”

I couldn’t help watching him, studying him as he pressed his lips to my skin over and over. The first time he lashed his tongue against me, I moaned and tightened my hold. My eyes almost drifted closed, but I didn’t