A knock at the door woke me with a start, and I sat up. Taryn. Hauling to my feet, I ripped a hand through my hair as I thundered down the stairs. She blinked up at me when I flung open the door.

“Is it too late?” Cringing, she took a step back. “It is too late. I’m sorry. I’ll just …”

Her face was drawn, and shadows bruised her eyes. Whatever she’d done today, the stress of it had taken its toll.

Catching her wrist before she could get away, I pulled her toward me. “It’s not too late. Come in.”

Taryn chewed her bottom lip, unconvinced. “Are you sure?”

“Of course, I’m sure,” I said, lacing our fingers as I urged her up the stairs. “I told you anytime.”

Which Taryn obviously took literally since it was almost midnight.

“Are you hungry?” I asked as I guided her to the living room. “I’ve got pizza.”

Sinking onto the sofa, Taryn looked around as if she didn’t know how she got here. “Yeah, that sounds good.”

She forced a smile when I eased down beside her with a couple of slices. “Thanks.”

Digging into the pizza I hadn’t fully enjoyed earlier, I asked, “So what had you so busy tonight?”

“Nothing really.” She picked at her pepperoni. “I went for a drive and ended up halfway to San Antonio. And when I came back I wasn’t sleepy so …”

With each word, her shoulders curved inward, and she got a little smaller. Before she disappeared completely, I took the plate from her lap.

She peered up at me with those stormy eyes, a crease between her brows.

“I’m glad you came by. Regardless of the reason.”

I brushed a kiss to her mouth, and her lips curved into the faintest smile. I’d seen so few of Taryn’s smiles that I treasured every one.

Deepening the kiss, I maneuvered her onto her back. “I’ve been thinking about you all day.”

Conflict furrowed her brow once again. “Me too.”

Sobered by the battle raging in her eyes, I ran my thumb over her bottom lip. “Is that so bad?”

Sliding her arms around my neck, she fiddled with my hair. “That depends. If you want a friend with benefits, I think I can do that. But if you just want the benefits, I’m not built that way.”

“So … what are you saying? You want to be friends?”

She pressed a kiss to my lips, soft as a feather. “Friends, at least. Is that too much to ask?”

Confounded, I shook my head. “No. Why would you think any different?”

“Because you don’t have to be friends with someone to fuck them. And if I pass you on the street, I don’t want you to treat me like a stranger.”

I thought of all the women I’d fucked who were exactly that—strangers. People I didn’t care to know. Taryn wasn’t one of them.

I pushed to my feet, offering my hand. “Okay, let’s be friends. We can have a sleep over.” She laughed as I hauled her upright. “I could braid your hair.” I tugged my T-shirt off as I pulled her toward my bed. “Or we can watch chick flicks.”

Smiling, she took off her blouse. “You can braid my hair some other time.”

I eased onto the bed and reclined on my elbows, watching as Taryn wiggled out of her jeans. When she was down to her panties and her bra, she climbed on top of me.

“Friends?” she asked, her fingers poised on my belt buckle.

Gripping her waist, I held her in place, grinding my hard length against her center. “Sure, baby.” She relaxed for the first time, and I flipped her onto her back. “Now, answer me one question.”

She nodded, and I kissed my way to her ear. “How many ways do you want me to make you come, friend?”