Chapter 14

Dana

"I'm so sorry, Kendal. You didn't have to defend me." I reached over and touched the side of his shoulder. My heart was racing inside my chest, not over the drama, but over the fact that he'd stood up for me. No one had done that before... no one.

"Of course I did." He started the car and gripped my hand before lifting it to his lips and kissing my fingers. "You're a woman and I'm a man. That's what we do. We protect women from assholes like your ex. Let's just pray someone protects you from me."

I pulled my hand from his and let out a shaky breath. "Why would I need protecting from you?"

"Because you're obviously not with your boyfriend anymore, and as much as I wanna keep talking about being good friends, I'm interested in far more than friends should discuss."

He glanced over at me, and the preditorial look in his eyes blistered my insides with desire. I'd only been sexual with a few men over the years, and none of them were worth remembering.

"What do you want then?" I tugged at my seatbelt as the air grew harder to breathe.

"I don't know about tomorrow, but tonight I wanna hear you moan." He pursed his lips and turned back toward the front windshield as the leather under his tight grip squealed.

"Shit," I panted softly and turned to look out the window as he drove like a bat out of hell toward my place. I wanted to moan for him a million times, but sleeping with someone outside of a relationship seemed risky. Far more risky than I'd let myself be in the past. It was this damn heart. It got involved too quickly in hopes of having love, or at least building it.

He stopped in the parking lot of my apartment building and put the car in park. "We can end the night here. I don't wanna push you into something you don't want."

I turned to face him, which was a damn mistake. His expression promised pleasure like I'd never experienced before and what his eyes weren't doing to me, the scent of his cologne was working to remedy.

"If you're just looking for a good fuck, that's not me. I mean, I am a good-"

He pressed his fingers to my lips and smiled. "I know what you mean. It's all good. I'm so glad you let me take you out tonight. Seems like we both needed it, or I know I did."

"I did too. I was so embarrassed about Cameron leaving me."

"And now?" He ran his fingers over my cheek and sunk them deep into my hair, tightening his hold on me just enough to cause a moan to rip from my lips.

"And now I'm good with it." I reached out and pressed my fingers to the front of his shirt. "I'm not good enough for you, Kendal."

"Why do you get to decide that?" He moved forward and pulled me toward him at the same time.

"Because you’re established and poised and so fucking hot." I brushed my nose by his when he got close enough.

"Let me take you upstairs and touch every part of you." He nipped at my lips, showing me a side of him I didn't think possible based on the nice guy I'd seen a few times around the hospital. "So much pleasure, Dana."

Indecision raged inside of me. I was being an idiot. Not a few days back I was crying over not having sexcapades like Jackie and here one was being offered to me, and I was mulling over whether it was a good idea or not. I didn't deserve passion in my life, obviously.

"I can't," I whispered and closed my eyes.

"It's okay. I respect that big time. I wish I would say the same, but I'm not as strong as you." He leaned in and brushed his lips by mine. "I'll see you at the hospital soon?"

"Yeah, of course." I moved back as the intense burn of regret drove down the center of my chest.

Do this. You're going to miss out if you don't take him up to your place.

"You want me to walk you up?" He reached for the keys. It was another offer. A subtle one, but still an offer to reconsider.

"Yeah. That would be great." I got out of the car and smoothed my dress down. There was no hiding how turned on I was thanks to my nipples being budded like pebbles at the front of my dress.

"Is Cameron usually that aggressive? I mean, do you have anything to worry about by staying here? I have an extra room at my place. Grab some clothes and you can stay there until you can get the locks changed."

"No, it's okay. He's really laid back. I have no idea what all that shit was about." I walked up the stairs and tried to catch my breath. This time from the excitement pumping through me.

"I don't like it." He stopped behind me and slid his hands onto my shoulders. "Just get some stuff. I'm ten minutes away."

"We're barely more than strangers, Kendal." I walked into the dark apartment as a shiver ran through me. Was I safe? Of course I was. Shit, he'd left me. I didn't leave him.

"We're friends, and we'd be lovers if you'd stop turning me down." He laughed and I couldn't help but smile.

"All right, but I'm not sleeping with you tonight." I walked to the back bedroom, hating myself for saying no again.

"Can we at least make out a little more? I haven't even gotten to-"

"Don't say it, please. I'm already on the fence about saying yes to you."

"That was the wrong thing to say." He stopped in the doorway to my bedroom and flipped on the light.

"Oh yeah? Don't like the truth?" I pulled out a duffel bag and quickly filled it with a few pairs of scrubs and some pajamas before gathering up my bathroom stuff. "Do you think I can get the lock fixed quickly?"

"Oh yeah. That shouldn't be a problem at all. We'll call someone tomorrow." He moved back as I walked past him. "Are you working at the hospital this weekend?"

"Yeah. I only have Sundays off every other week."

"Shit. That's a lot, Dana." He moved into the living room and stopped behind me again, his fingers brushing down the back of my arms.

"You sure this chick at work isn't rubbing off on you?"

"She definitely wants to rub something on me, but it's nothing I want." He shivered and walked to the door. "You ready?"

"I guess." I walked back out into the humid night's air and tried to logically think through if I was making a huge ass mistake. Yes, I was insanely attracted to him and not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. I could see something great happening between us, but he had a lot of baggage, and obviously I did too.

"I'll behave as long as you want me to." He wrapped his strong arm around my shoulders and gave me a cocky grin that could melt panties.

"That's part of the problem. I'm not sure I want you to."

"Well, then. All bets are off."