Make Me Bad - R.S. Grey Page 0,28

wrapped around my forearm but now it’s squashed between us, the backs of his fingers grazing the side of my breast.

My lips part and Ben presses his other hand over my mouth, apparently worried I was about to give us away. And oh god, maybe I was. His skin is on my parted lips. His scent is wrapped around me and it’s the first thing I take in when I finally remember to breathe, him and his exotic blend of spice and sandalwood. Having him press me against this wall and cover my mouth with his hand is as erotic as a first kiss, more so considering every guy I’ve been with has treated me like a porcelain doll.

His eyes implore me to keep quiet and then he turns his head, trying to listen.

“She’s not in here,” Jake says, sounding annoyed at having been forced on this wild goose chase.

“I’ve called her ten times,” Colten snaps, and then I hear the faint sound of a phone ringing through his speaker before my voicemail kicks in. “Hi, this is Madison! I can’t come to the phone right now, but if you need me, leave a message!”

Ben’s looking down at me again with mischief in his eyes.

He likes that he just heard my voicemail, likes the trick we’re playing on my brother.

To him this is all a big game, and that’s okay. It’ll hurt less when I eventually fall in love with him if I know there’s absolutely no hope he feels the same, and I am going to fall in love. I’m falling at this moment, with his piercing amber eyes locked on mine and my lips pressed to his palm.

My breasts heave and brush against his chest with every breath, his smile slowly fading into something more sinister. His expression is one I’ve never seen him wear. I swear it’s carnal.

“She’s probably back in the living room, looking for you,” Jake says. “C’mon, man.”

Colt groans then the sound of their footsteps echoes down the hall. They left the door open. We’re alone again, but we have to be quiet.

Ben removes his hand slowly and I breathe deeply, but he doesn’t move. His hips have left no room between me and the wall. I wouldn’t be surprised to find he’s flattened me like a pancake. If he wanted to cage me in, he could. His body would completely eclipse mine. My dress is hiked up to the middle of my thigh and his dark jeans feel like sandpaper against my skin. Abrasive. Raw. He follows my gaze down to where our bodies are touching and we must remember at the exact same time that I’m no longer wearing panties because he steps back and I leap to the side as if to get away from him, which is ludicrous because he’s already getting away from me.

He wipes a hand down his face, brushing his jaw like it’s giving him pain.

My cheeks are so red, I’m fairly certain they’ll stay that way permanently.

“Mission one: accomplished,” I quip, trying to lighten the mood. Jesus, I need to reach behind him and pop that window open, air this place out a little—or better yet, throw myself out of it.

Where do we go from here?

I can’t think of one witty or interesting thing to say. My nerves are still frayed from where he was touching me. I need a moment of silence for Ben and the fact that his glorious body was just touching mine, but there’s no time for that because he’s telling me to go first, to leave.

He sounds gruff, and I hate that I’m disappointed.

I should have realized—he wants to go back to the party. He has friends to attend to, women to kiss.

He lifts his chin toward the door. “I’ll hang back until the coast is clear.”

I nod and brush past him to exit. I try to rack my brain for some sendoff, some way to make this night as memorable for him as it was for me, but I come up empty. All I manage is a lingering glance over my shoulder before I turn the corner and flee.

9

Ben

It’s late and I should go straight to bed, but I’m not tired. I left while the party was still in full swing, but by the time I made it back out to the living room, Madison was gone and Andy was busy trying to woo Arianna. I pulled an ol’ Irish goodbye and headed home.

Now, I walk into my kitchen and