Hidden Gems by Carrie Alexander Page A

“Much better.”
    “Just right, is it, Goldilocks?”
    “As a matter of fact, yes.” She brushed her leg against his, to be certain he was thinking about her being half-naked only inches away. “Sorry.”
    Bad idea. The electric touch sent a shivery tingle through her. The heat of him clung to her like a force field, entreating her to roll over and curl up into his warmth. She wanted to dive into him like a pool, swallow him like hot fudge.
    “That’s okay, just don’t do it again,” he reprimanded.
    She slid her foot over. Touched their toes.
    “That was on purpose.”
    “I’m weak,” she whispered.
    He scoffed.
    “I am! When it comes to—” She stopped and thought. Men were her downfall, but not really. While she’d made mistakes, she hadn’t actually suffered for them. With Jamie though…
    Everything would be different.
    High stakes, big risk.
    Oh, please! Cut the drama. Get over yourself and just jump him already. The world didn’t come crashing to a halt because you lusted after your best friend, and it won’t when you shag him, either.
    Besides, added the impulsive Marissa, he looks too good in his bare chest and bare feet and candy-striped pj’s to pass up.
    The little show he’d put on before getting into bed had worked. She was revved up with nowhere to go.
    When she’d seen how thick and full his penis had grown inside the loose cotton pajama bottoms, her tongue had curled against her teeth, trying to get out. She’d wanted to catch him by the drawstring, drag him near, drop the pants with one quick tug, take him in her hands, in her mouth, taste him on her tongue—
    I want to have sex with my friend, Jamie, she said to herself, testing the idea. Jamie, my lover.
    That sounded fine. Extremely fine.
    Ever since her return from the islands, she’d seen him with new eyes. Unlike the men she’d been dating, Jamie was strong in body and mind.
    Especially in character. She’d underestimated how much she valued an honest, upstanding man.
    She’d intended to tease him, but lust was taking hold. Taking over. The depth and strength was revealing when, for three years, she’d rarely lingered on his potential as a lover. Now that was all she could think of.
    He felt the same way, so at least she wouldn’t have to suffer the indignity of craving and longing and nerves. Not for long.
    “We have to talk,” he said.
    The pit of her stomach dropped like a stone. “That sounds ominous.”
    “No, it’s only picking up where we stopped.”
    She reached for his hand and placed it over her breast. “You stopped here.”
    For one brief moment his fingers closed over her nipple and she felt the tug travel straight through her. Then he yanked his hand away.
    “We have to decide where we want this to go,” he said in a robotic monotone. Even so, the desire in his voice was rough and deep. Embedded.
    She moved restlessly, finally letting herself roll into the center of the bed, her nerve endings jumping and sparking as she brushed against his solid body. He was hot all over. His upper arm pressed against one of her taut nipples and she almost leaped out of her skin. She’d always been sensitive there; now she was on a hair trigger.
    “You’re too careful,” she said. Even without the extra blankets, the heat between them was thick and seething.
    “You’re too impulsive.”
    “I haven’t been with you.”
    “And why is that, do you think?”
    “Because I didn’t know it would be this way.”
    “What way?”
    She closed her eyes, breathing through her nose. He was going to make her say it. “I didn’t know I would want you this much.”
    “You want me.” He said it with wonder, making her twinge inside. The man had no idea of his immense appeal.
    She stretched like a cat, then braced her heels to push higher against the pillows, freeing her upper torso from the tangled sheet. She tipped her head near his, letting her breath blow across his bare shoulder to his cheek. “Just as much as you