Friends? Neither my mind nor my body are happy with my proclamation that I want to be friends with Erin. They don’t care that last night, when I returned to my apartment, I sat down and had a long talk with Sammy about Erin, and that we both agreed that I needed to stay away from her. That it would be the best thing for both her and me.

When I went to her apartment this morning, my intention was to provide her with the name of a sex therapist that Maddy had always thought highly of and wish her luck. I don’t know why, instead of doing that, I concocted this scheme to bring us to this park.

Now, my mind wants to get to know her better, while my body just wants her … badly.

It doesn’t help that on the drive over I learned that she and I have the same taste in music and movies, and she looks like a million dollars in a pair of cutoffs and a pale pink, long sleeved T-shirt. I thought she looked good last night, but today, in super casual dog walking clothes and no makeup, she looks much hotter.

“Why are you working so hard to fall in love?” I ask, unable to bear the heavy silence hanging between us.

Erin looks hard in the surrounding habitat, probably hoping to spot a bird species we haven’t already encountered, though I don’t know if it’s to try to beat me, or if it’s an avoidance tactic. Probably both.

“I don’t like being alone,” she finally says in a small, vulnerable voice that makes my heart ache. “I never have, and it’s not enough to surround myself with roommates and friends. I want to be the most important thing in someone else’s life. And I’m getting tired of waiting.”

“That was what Maddy and I had together.” The words tumble out before I have a chance to stop them. And not a day goes by when I don’t miss the connection.

I slide a sideways glance at Erin. There’s something building between us, something that feels remarkably like a life bond, though it’s still in a delicate and tentative phase. It’s just strong enough that I can no longer deny its existence. Sweat trickles down my back and my hands close into fists.

Up until now, I’ve been able to convince myself that Erin is just an interesting person who I happen to like and also find sexually attractive, but this new realization changes everything, and I don’t know how I feel about it.

I don’t know how to reconcile what’s steadily building between Erin and me with what Maddie and I shared.

Erin’s steps falter and she stares at me with wide eyes.

“How did it happen?” She gives a little, humorless laugh and shakes her head. “Stupid question. I mean how did you find one another?”

“Not through an online dating site or anything conventional like that.” The thought makes me chuckle.

Erin grimaces and tugs on Harlan’s leash as he tries to step off the foot path. “Online dating is the only way I meet any eligible guys.”

“There’s not a dating service in the world that would have put our profiles together.”

“Then how’d you meet?” She holds up a hand. “Hang on, let me guess, you were high school sweethearts. Or neighbors.”

“I’d gotten in legal trouble. Assault.” Erin’s eyebrows shoot upwards and the warmth drains from her expression. “It could have been worse. I was sixteen and took a swing at a guy who’d sideswiped my buddy’s car. Broke his nose. Amongst other things, I was ordered to get some counseling for my anger issues. Maddy was nineteen and already planned on becoming a psychologist. To get some experience and good recommendations, she was interning at the same facility the court ordered me to.”

“Kismet,” Erin says, her naturally happy expression falling back into place. “Like a romance novel.”

“Haven’t read any of those,” I tell her. She really needs to get over this romance novel obsession. It’s impacting the way she views the real world. “I don’t know that I even would have noticed Maddy, but according to her, she took one look at me and decided that I was the one she wanted, and she decided that she was going to get exactly what she wanted. Eventually, I realized I wanted her just as much.”

“That’s sweet,” Erin sighs. “Young love stories are always so beautiful.”

“We got married on my eighteenth birthday and then worked like hell. She waited tables and I worked as a mechanic.”

I also discovered that I’m even more talented at investing. Thanks to some stocks, buying into different business, and some surprisingly good business deals, I’ve somehow managed to earn more than a billion dollars, a fact that never ceases to stun and amaze me.

Erin kicks at a pebble, sending it skittering along the path. “I don’t mind working at a relationship. In fact, I’m excited about working on and toward a happily ever after. I just want all the components to be in place, you know?”

“Components?” I’ve heard lots of people talk about love and what they want from a relationship, but not once have I heard anyone use the word ‘components’ in the conversation. I’m not sure it’s used anywhere other than science lectures.

“Passion, respect, friendship, great sex.” Erin uses her fingers to tick off each item. “As long as I have all of that, I’ll work my butt off to keep it, no matter what challenges come my way.”

It’s such a nice day that I really hate to bring up No O and Erin’s sex life, but I might never have a better opening.

“Erin, I don’t know if you’ve thought about this,” I say slowly, “but is it possible that you’re so desperate to fall in love, to find all the … components, as you say, that you’re making it impossible for you to enjoy sex?”

She shoves her free hand into the pocket of her shorts and seems to seriously mull over my question. “Honestly, I don’t know if that was going on when I first started dating and attempting the whole sex thing, but now … it might be. It’s also possible that I’m so worried that I won’t feel anything when I have sex, that I get tense.”

I practically rub my hands together. That was easier than I expected. “I want to help you, I do, and I think I can help with the orgasm thing, probably, but maybe it’s also time that you think about going to see a professional, even for just a few appointments and see if they can help you develop the skills you need to attract and keep the perfect guy.”

Erin’s jaw stiffens. “I’m not sure that my issues are so bad that I need professional help.”

When Maddie was alive, she told me this happened all the time, that people see therapy as a type of weakness, so instead of getting the help needed to improve the quality of their lives, they continued to suffer. It drove her nuts.

I planted a seed. Hopefully, it’ll germinate, and Erin will think about her current pattern. It’s possible that once she does, she’ll reconsider her stance on therapy, or at the very least, change the way she approaches dates.

We round a curve in the trail and skid to a stop.

More than thirty feet of the path is under water.

Erin chews on her lower lip. “They did say that some of the spots may experience flooding. Looks like we found one of those spots.” She looks from the water to the pretty, tan leather sandals she’s wearing. “How deep do you think it is?”

Harlan, bored with waiting for us humans to make a decision, splashes into the puddle, going as far as his leash allows before lowering his head and taking a long drink.

I gauge how much of his legs are covered in water. “Looks deep.”

“Must have been a rain storm up in the mountains. Caused a flash flood. Clearly, our timing sucks. Another hour or two, and this would be dry.” Erin grimaces and sighs. “Looks like I’m going to have to deal with slimy feet for the rest of the walk. That’ll teach me to take more time when choosing footwear. I just hope it’s not too cold.”

She takes one tentative step toward the puddle.

Before she takes a second, I rush to her side, bend, and swoop her up in my arms.

She yelps, then laughs. “What are you doing?”

I grin at her. “It’s too big to throw a jacket over like, but the least I can do is carry you to the opposite shore.”

Giggling, Erin tightens her grip on the leash, and wraps her free arm around my neck. “Oh, how chivalrous.”

“That’s my middle name,” I joke as I step into the water.

Within two steps the water has soaked through my jeans, shoes, and socks, but I barely notice as I keep splashing across it, Harlan happily bouncing and splashing beside me. The only thing I’m fully aware of is the feel of Erin’s soft body against mine. The lavender scent of her hair fills my nostrils, but the smell doesn’t calm me; instead it seems to sink deep inside of me, working its way into my brain and touching tiny pleasure points. I can’t think of a single thing that smells as good as Erin’s hair.

Picking her up, or at the very least carrying her cradled against my chest instead of tossed over my shoulder, fireman style, was a mistake. Everywhere her soft, supple body presses against mine sends tingles and burns. I’m surprised my clothes aren’t smoldering. She feels perfect pressed against my chest.

With each soggy step, my dick twitches and grows, pressing so hard against my fly, the seams are going to tear apart at any second.

I reach the other side of the puddle.  Rather than setting Erin onto her feet, I lower her slowly, letting her slide down the entire length of my body.

By the time the soles of her sandals strike the footpath, I’m sunk. My promise to myself that I wouldn’t touch her is in tatters. My body craves her touch as much as it craves oxygen.

My knees tremble as my hands cup her hips, tugging her close, pressing her against my throbbing cock. My heart pounds in anticipation.

Erin’s head tips back, her eyes meeting mine. Longing swirls in their pretty depths.

“Can I?” Emotion and a sudden surge of lust thicken my voice.

Erin’s nod is all the confirmation I need. I close the short distance between our lips.

God! I thought I’d imagined how good she tasted last night. But I was wrong. She tastes even better now than she did then, and her sweet flavor is already getting under my skin, working its way into my bloodstream, becoming more addictive than the most potent drug.

A contented sigh buzzes against my lips as her body melts against mine. Tiny lightning bolts of pleasure spark and sizzle at each point our bodies connect. My fists tighten, clutching at her clothing, pulling her even more securely against me, desperately melding our bodies together as I deepen the kiss.

Erin is anything but a passive participant in the kiss. She licks and nips at my lips. Blood roars in my ears before dropping south and pooling in my groin, making me harder than I ever remember being before.

Erin wedges her hands between us, her fingers boldly running over my shoulders and down my chest before massaging my abs through my T-shirt. Our tongues engage in an age-old dance that almost, but not quite, distracts me from her still roving hands as they slide lower.

I moan against her mouth, fully anticipating her hands sliding between our pelvises but she stops just short of the jackpot. Instead her long, sweet fingers slip beneath the bottom of my T-shirt and brush against my overheated, sweat slick skin.

My knees tremble and I break the kiss, resting my brow against hers as I soak in the simple, G-rated touch. It’s been a long time, way too long, since I last felt a woman’s soft touch on skin. I’ve forgotten how good it feels.

Erin nibbles the thick cord that’s popped up on the side of my neck, her teeth finding all sorts of forgotten pleasure points as her fingers once again start to move, engaging in a slow, incredible exploration of the ridges and valleys that make up my abs. I lean into her touch.

Right now, I want Erin more than I can ever remember wanting anything else. She’s the only thing that matters.

I rotate my hips, delighting in the guttural groan the movement rips from Erin’s throat. Her nails scrape against my flesh, and her teeth catch hold of my earlobe, lightly biting it.

As good as this feels, I need more.

I drag my hands upwards, tugging the bottom of her T-shirt free of her shorts, so I can slide my fingers between the waistband and her soft skin, not stopping the slow, steady intrusion until I find the elastic band of her panties.

Erin squirms against me until my mouth once again finds hers.

The snap on her cut-off short breaks as I work my hand deeper into her shorts, rubbing and pinching at her through her panties.

The material is driving me insane. The soaked satin proves that Erin is every bit as turned on as I am, but I want more. I want to feel her essence, but I can’t; the material denies me the very thing that I want.

Erin thrusts her hips, grinding herself against my fingertips, her body begging for more attention as she drives her tongue deep into my mouth.

Harlan barks, the sound barely registering as I slide a finger beneath the tight loop of lacy elastic that wraps around Erin’s thigh. Something hard wraps around my legs, just below my knees as the barking continues, but I don’t care.

My fingers glides along Erin’s soft, smooth skin, until the tip finally brushes against her lower lips. Erin’s hips buck against my hand, silently demanding that I continue my sensual exploration.

Just as I start to obey her unspoken order, whatever has wrapped around my legs jerks tight, sweeping them out from under me.

One second, I’m upright and lost in the sweet paradise that is Erin’s mouth and body, the next I’m hurtling backwards towards the hard footpath at approximately the speed of light and bringing Erin down with me.