“Drew, I know you are in there,” I said through the door. I heard the lock click and the door opened. He was barefoot and a little rumpled. I hated that my first thought was how incredible he looked with his t-shirt stretched across his broad chest and jeans hanging low on his hips. Damn it, focus! I was mad at him.

He took a step to the side to let me in. I went straight to the living room and dropped my stuff in the brown leather arm chair we bought from that estate sale last year. He didn’t say anything, not even a hello. He just stood there with his hands on his hips.

“Okay, I will start. Why are you avoiding me?”

He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of scotch off the counter. “I’m not avoiding you.” He poured himself a glass. “You needed time.”

He walked back into the living room with his glass and casually leaned against the couch. The anger I felt before quickly faded to confusion. Why was he acting so cold?

“I didn’t mean for you to disappear,” I said quietly.

He threw back the rest of his drink and set the glass on the table next to the couch. “What do you want from me, Alex?” He crossed his arms across his chest.

“I-I want things to be like they were,” I said, my voice cracking.

“It can’t be like it was. Things are…” He exhaled a long breath. “Things are different.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. This was it. He was saying it was over. I should’ve never said anything. I should’ve just dealt with it myself. I got caught up in that story Millie told me about following your heart, only to have it ripped from my chest. My biggest fear was losing him and it looked like that was exactly what was going to happen. I wish I knew what to say to make him reconsider, but I guess some people just don’t get their happy ending.

“Drew, I know things have been tense with us, but we can get past it.” I was desperate. “You are too important to me. I love you. Even though you don’t feel the same way, I can’t—”

“Goddamn it, Alex. Stop telling me how I feel!” He yelled. “I don’t want to get past it.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Stop assuming you know what I want.”

I took a step back. “What do you want?”

He crossed the room, stopping just in front of me with a dark, crazy look in his eyes. Then he grabbed the back of my neck and crashed his lips to mine.

My world stopped. I forgot everything I came there to say and instantly responded, pressing my body as close to his as I could get. I was running on pure instinct. His hands and his lips urged me on and set fire to my resolve to get over him.

This was a game changing kiss. Hot and passionate. Two words I’ve never used to describe Drew before, but the taste of him, the smell of his skin, the warm buzzing that raced its way through my body told the same story. No other man would ever compare to him. I was ruined.

He walked me backward until I was pressed to the wall. I responded, wrapping my arms around his neck as his tongue searched for access to my mouth. I was lost in his taste. A little scotch, a little honey, and all Drew.

He kissed me harder, biting down on my bottom lip as I cried out. It felt incredible. The sharp sting of his teeth followed by the soft caress of his tongue made me weak at the knees. His body was hard and toned in all the places where mine was soft, making us fit seamlessly together. There was no telling where he ended and I began.

Everywhere he kissed me, sparks of electricity shot through my body, making my skin feel alive and sensitive. He kissed his way down my neck and shoulder, paying close attention to the sensitive spot behind my ear as I breathed his name.

I ran my hands down his back, frantically searching for the hem of his shirt. He groaned as my fingertips met the warm skin just above the waistband of his jeans. I tugged at his shirt and he pulled away, his lips leaving mine just long enough to reach over his shoulder and pull the shirt over his head.

We were only inches apart, breathing each other in as I ran my fingers over his sculpted abs and chest. I wanted to commit every inch of him to my memory in case this was the only time I would get to see him so full of lust and fire. It felt surreal, like a fantasy sequence from a movie. I was afraid if I blinked, the moment would be gone and I would find myself still sitting on the grass in the park, trying to work up the courage to confront him.

With a sexy half smile, he leaned in and brushed his lips softly against mine, causing a moan to escape my lips. I was trying not to think too hard, but questions swirled in my head, then disappeared again as his tongue parted my lips and his kisses became more demanding.

There were so many reasons not to give in, not to let this go further, but I didn’t care anymore. I’d reached my breaking point. I’d humiliated myself over this man. I’d risked everything to tell him I love him. I couldn’t stop myself anymore. I wanted him desperately. I was done worrying about what could happen to our friendship, to our little makeshift family. All I wanted right then was more of his lips, his hands, more of him.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and spun me quickly, pressing my back to his chest and his lips to my neck as he kissed his way down to my shoulder. I leaned back into him as his hand moved from my stomach up to my chest.

One hand closed around my breast with a gentle squeeze as he tugged on the back of my dress, pulling down the zipper with the other. He slowly pushed the dress to the floor and his hands followed the soft fabric as it slid down my body. He bit my ear lobe, sucking it into his warm mouth. He slipped his hand under the delicate lace of my panties and into the slick folds between my legs.

“Tell me you want this,” he whispered.

I couldn’t speak or think when his fingers made contact with my clit. Pure pleasure rocketed through me as he worked his fingers in slow, punishing circles, intensifying the ache that had been building between my thighs since the moment his lips touched mine. My body tightened and begged for release as his fingers continued their assault on my sex.

“I need to hear you say it, Red.” He pressed a kiss to my neck and slipped one long finger inside me. I moaned, arching my back as I felt his lips spread into a wicked smile against my neck. “You like that,” he whispered, his breath hot in my ear.

I was beyond words at this point. I couldn’t respond if I wanted to.

“Say it, Red,” he whispered, gently nibbling on my earlobe. His fingers continued their slow torture. I was so close. I moaned his name, begging for him to get me there.

“Tell me you want me and I will make you come.” He pressed his thumb hard to my clit. I saw stars. The added pressure had me so close, I could taste it.

“I want this. Oh God, I want you, Drew,” I said breathlessly.

I felt him smile against my neck as he picked up the pace. He kissed my neck and down my shoulder, his fingers bringing me closer to the edge. The tension built and built as I braced myself for the explosion that was coming.

He bit down on my shoulder and I detonated. My orgasm rocketed through me as I cried out. My breathing turned into sharp, loud gasps as he continued, prolonging the intense pleasure that threatened to consume me.

I was still riding the high of my orgasm when he pulled his fingers from me and turned my body, pressing me back against the wall. He brought his lips back to mine, kissing me deeply and wrapping his fingers tightly into my hair. He held me close as he took control. His lips were firm, almost bruising. His kisses went from a sweet caress to a punishing assault, then back again. I couldn’t get enough.

I was only in my bra and panties, but there was still too much between us. I wanted to be closer. I wanted to feel his chest pressed to mine, skin against skin. As if reading my mind, he reached behind my back and unclasped my bra, tossing it somewhere over his shoulder as I giggled against his lips.