If I’d known that kissing Marie would've made things awkward for us, I might’ve reconsidered. But who the fuck am I kidding? That kiss needed to happen. The thing is, I can handle the surprised and questioning look that registers on her face after my kiss, but not that other expression. It’s not a good one. It flashes in her eyes, then disappears almost as quickly. What is it? Disappointment? Regret? Whatever it is, all I know is I don’t want to be the guy who causes her any pain.

When Marie asks me what I’m doing and why I’m acting so strange, I decide I’ve fucked up the timing and just get back to work. She’s the last person on earth I’d ever want to let down.

Except, it’d be a hell of a lot easier if there wasn’t such a disconnect in her reactions.

Her words say no.

Her eyes say she’s not sure.

But her body? That’s another story. Her body says yes.

I could tell from the way her soft, full lips molded to mine, and how she held onto the back of my shirt, her fingers gripping fistfuls of fabric as she tugged me closer for the first few moments. And the way her heart raced during this scorcher of a kiss, beating so hard that I could feel it pound on my chest as she seemed to hold her breath during the entire time. Fuck, feeling the heat of her torso soften against mine, even if it was only for a short while, was pure bliss.

I know I crossed the line, but it was worth the risk.

She wants this.

She wants me.

And by crossing that line from being just friends to whatever this might turn into, I’ve also left her a little disoriented. A little off balance. No matter how her work days go, and no matter what Doc Trent’s agenda is, Marie’s mind is now on me, not him. I’ve put my mark on her. It’s like a brand that tells her, Doc Trent and everyone else that she is mine. The way I see it, my job is done.

For now, anyway.

Which is the reason my expression goes blank when I tell her I have work to do. It’s called giving her a little space, some time to catch her breath, a chance to let that kiss settle in so that her mind, heart and body can all catch up and come to agreement.

We usually talk every day, but I don’t see or hear from Marie until a few days later. She texts me late one evening after work, and the message is all business, so I keep my cool in my reply.

Marie: Hi. How’d your week go? Remember Lila? She’s back in town.

Me: Hey. That’s great. It’s been years, right?

Marie: It sure has. She just finished college and found a job out here.

Me: Good for her.

Marie: Do you have time to give me a hand and help her move into her new place sometime in the next few days?

Me: What’s in it for me?

Marie: Lol, a thank you.

Me: I was kidding. Of course, I’ll help. Whatever you need.

Marie: Good. You’d better be joking. Maybe she’ll spring for dinner and beer or something.

Me: That’s fine.

Marie: Thanks. Will fill you in on the details. Ttyl

Me: Later

I look down at out text conversation on my phone screen and shake my head. Marie’s the one acting strange now. We rarely talk by text, and she would never ask me for a favor this way. I just hope that kiss doesn’t fuck up our friendship.

But I have to wonder, if just a kiss has her behaving so differently, how will she react when I take it further? It’s bound to happen. Now that I’ve had a taste, it’s turned into a craving. It’s just a matter of time before I have all of her.

* * *

I breathe out a long breath as the horse ranch fades away in the rearview mirror of my old, beat-up pickup truck. It’s the first time in a long while that I’m leaving work this early in the afternoon. Usually, I take my lunch break around now, but today, Marie needs me. It's her friend Lila who actually needs help, but as Marie asked, I'm happy to oblige. Marie has been at Lila's new place all day. They just want a big strong friend like me to move some of the big boxes and to set up heavier pieces of furniture.

My pulse is racing when my truck rolls up to the driveway of the house Lila’s renting. And my chest starts to tighten when Marie shyly waves at me from the front door.

That kiss must've done as much to me as I'd intended for it to do for her. Seeing her now, I can't take my eyes off of her. The woman is fucking gorgeous. While the engine is still running, I take a second to admire her.

I've taken her for granted for far too long.

But not anymore. As soon as we're done helping her friend unpack, the second I have her alone, I'm telling Marie that she's mine.

* * *

I keep busy with the job of helping Marie's friend settle into her new place. I’m no stranger to hard work, and Marie knows that where my friends are concerned, I’ll do just about anything for the people closest to me. While they unpack and find the perfect places for Lila's things, I assemble bookshelves, put her living room furniture where she wants it, and set up her bed in the master bedroom.

It's smooth sailing until we sit down to dinner. At that point, it's fucking torture. Being this close to Marie, knowing how we left things hanging a few days ago, and without being able to touch her, I'll go insane any minute now. I lose track of the number of times I glance over at her and have to force myself to look away. It’s because every time I look across the table at Marie as she chats with Lila or playfully argues a point of conversation with me, I picture myself fucking her.

I can’t push away the image of setting her down on the table, her legs on either side of me, then wrapped around my waist as I fuck her sweet cunt. I’ve already covered up several carnal groans by coughing or clearing my throat, and once, I even cracked a joke to lighten my mood. Sure, they laughed at it, but it doesn’t do a thing for me. And no amount of fixing or adjusting the bulge in my pants has brought my cock under control. I’m hard as fuck.

I’m almost grateful for the distraction when someone knocks on the door. But that moment of relief quickly fades, soon to be replaced by the sudden incessant, aggressive pounding that causes both Lila and Marie to jump. By the sounds of it, it’s an unknown angry guy, someone who’s a smidgen away from all-out fury.

“Are you expecting anyone?” I ask Lila as I set down my napkin and get to my feet.

She shakes her head and stands. “I don’t think so. No. Unless it’s my mom, but… It can’t be her. She’d never knock like that. Plus I already gave her a spare key for emergencies.”

Lila sheepishly follows me. In my peripheral vision, I notice Marie at her side as I leave the dining room and head for the front door.

“Stay here,” I tell them. “Whoever it is, they couldn’t be in their right mind, showing up drunk and irate by the sounds of it.”

Bracing myself, I open the door to find one of Lila’s friends standing there. The shit the man starts to say is coming from left field. I barely know the son of a bitch and he has the nerve of accusing me of trying to steal Lila away from him. After some minor shoving at the front door, my instincts kick in. At the same time, anger and impatience bubble to the surface. I can’t hold back when I hear myself shout, “What the fuck? Marie is the woman I want!” I push Logan away and he moves backward.

Marie comes out then, her hand covering her mouth, the shock clear in the way she holds herself. She’s probably just as surprised about our behavior as what I just said. It’s the first time I’ve ever admitted out loud that I want Marie.

The room grows silent as we all just stand there.

“Maybe we should go,” Marie says to me. “We should probably talk…about… things.”

Yeah, that was probably a good thing. “We will, but I’m not leaving your friend here with this asshole,” I say the words harshly, and Logan growls low, stepping closer to him, trying to appear threatening. “I don’t know what the fuck has gotten into you, man, but this is insanity.”

“Rowan, it’s fine. Logan is calm now.” Lila stares at Logan. “Isn’t that right, Logan? There’s not going to be any trouble, is there?”

“I don’t think I should leave,” I say again.

“Rowan, Logan has his shit together,” Marie says, but she sounds a bit unsure. Hell, I’m a bit unsure right now.

“I’m fine, seriously.” Lila exhales. “Logan, things are fine, right? This was just a misunderstanding.”

The room goes silent.

Finally I sigh and grab Marie’s hand. I stare at Logan. “I don’t know what the fuck has gotten into you, but chill the fuck out.” I walk past Lila but stop. “You need me, I’m waiting outside the door, okay?” Marie follows me out the front door to my pickup truck. We climb inside and are dead silent for a long while. After what feels like forever, Marie turns to me.

“I’m the woman you want?” she asks, crossing her arms. “I’ve been your close friend for a long time. A really long time, Rowan. Please just tell me why. What changed?”