Blazing Bedtime Stories, Volume VI Read online

  “Yes,” he said. “I suspect we would have had lots of fun.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Good night, Thea.”

  She sighed softly, then shrugged. “Good night, Alex.”

  He strode to the stairs and climbed to the second floor. Alex wasn’t sure what his decision might cost him professionally, but at the moment, he really didn’t care. His thoughts were completely focused on the woman waiting for him in his bedroom. He’d managed to convince Thea he didn’t want to sleep with her. Now he’d have to convince Greta of the exact opposite.

  * * *

  GRETA SAT IN the center of the bed, the sheet pulled up around her naked body. She reached over to turn on the light, then thought better of it. What was taking him so long? Had Alex decided to spend a little more time with Thea? She groaned softly. Oh, God, what if she was seducing him right now?

  She flipped off the light. Maybe it would be easier if she didn’t have to look at his face when he walked in. She flipped it back on. No, it would be best to see his reaction from the start. If it didn’t look good, she might be able to spare herself a small measure of humiliation. She reached for her T-shirt at the end of the bed, then tossed it aside.

  “No,” she murmured. She wasn’t fooling herself. She was reading all the signs right. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. But how far would he allow it to go before he called an end to it?

  She flopped back on the bed and pulled the pillow up over her face. She knew Alex better than any other man on the planet, sometimes better than he knew himself. And what was happening to them, all these feelings and passions, they couldn’t be ignored. They had two choices—continue to fight this attraction or appease their desire and then carry on with their friendship.

  They’d done it once before. Maybe this was all they needed to maintain their friendship—sex every four years. But then again, maybe sex this time would ruin everything. The thought of never talking to Alex again, never being able to count on him, caused a deep ache in her heart.

  Greta heard the door open and she froze, the pillow still over her face. What now? She’d told herself she’d decide by the time he returned and here he was. She heard the click of the lamp and bit back a moan.

  “Adler?” he whispered. “Are you asleep?”

  “Yes,” she mumbled into the pillow.

  “If you’re asleep, why are you talking?”

  She slowly pulled the pillow away and looked at him.

  Alex grinned, his hands shoved in the back pockets of his jeans. “Are you naked under there?”

  “Yes,” she said. “Where have you been?”

  “I dug the car out. Didn’t you bring anything to sleep in?”

  “Yes,” she said. “I thought you and Thea might be…”

  “Not a chance.” He paused. “So, you’re naked because…”

  “Don’t make me say it,” Greta replied. She reached out and drew back the covers on the opposite side of the bed. “Just take your clothes off and get in.”

  He stared at her in disbelief. “What’s going on, Greta?”

  He rarely called her Greta. And at this moment, her name on his lips sounded so intimate, so serious. “I figure, every four years we get this…itch. Rather than suffer through all the silliness, it makes sense just to sleep together. And this is as good a time as any, don’t you think. We’re actually killing two birds with one stone.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked, setting his bag on the floor next to the bed. “You’re not drunk, are you?”

  “No,” she said. “What difference would that make?”

  “Technically, it hasn’t been four years since the last time.”

  “Do you really want to nitpick right now? Because if you do, you can sleep with Thea.”

  Alex sat down on the edge of the bed and met her uneasy gaze. “I told myself after the last time that if we ever decided to give it another shot, I’d make sure neither of us were drunk. I just didn’t expect your suggestion would sound so…”

  “So what?” she retorted. “Desperate?”

  “No, practical.”

  “Are you in or are you out?” she asked.

  Greta watched as he tugged his sweater over his head and tossed it aside. His T-shirt followed, revealing a smooth expanse of muscular chest. When he stood and reached for the button on his jeans, she drew a sharp breath and he paused.

  “Too fast?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she murmured. “Can you slow down? Just a little bit?”

  He nodded, smiling at her the whole time. Alex slid across the bed, stretching out beside her, the bedcovers the only thing between their bodies. “So maybe you should tell me what we’re going to do after I take my jeans off. Just so I’m prepared.”

  “Was Thea still downstairs when you came in?”

  He nodded. “I think she was waiting for me,” Alex said.

  “Did she try to kiss you?” Greta asked.

  “No,” Alex said. “But I kissed her. On the cheek.”

  His admission didn’t make her feel any better. In truth, talking about Thea was just a way to waste a little time until she was ready to touch him. Once she did, there would be no going back.

  “I don’t want Thea,” he whispered, smoothing his palm over her cheek.

  A long silence grew between them. “Do you want me?” Greta asked.

  Alex slowly nodded. He leaned closer and brushed his lips against hers. “I want you, Greta. I’ve wanted you for a long time, I think, but I’ve managed to convince myself otherwise. But now, I think maybe we should stop pretending to be best friends and start believing that we might be something more.”

  Greta sat up, wrapping the sheet around her bare breasts. “No! That’s not how it should be.”

  “Are you saying that you’ve never thought about us…together? Because I think you’d be lying. We’ve both considered the possibility, a hundred times over. And we’ve both been too scared to do anything about it. But maybe it’s time we did.”

  “Romance will ruin our friendship,” she said. “But sex won’t. We survived having sex once before. We can do it again.”

  “I think friendship might make a romance work. I’ve never been friends with a woman before. Maybe that’s what’s been missing.”

  Greta scanned his face, looking for some assurance that he truly meant what he was saying. Was he really suggesting they try to be more than friends? She’d allowed herself a few romantic fantasies about Alex, but she’d been quick to push them aside. Usually, when she allowed herself to daydream about him, it was purely sexual. Sex could be simple between them, but love was a whole different story. “How long have you felt this way?”

  “For a while. Although I think I’ve been trying my best to ignore the feelings.”

  “How? By dating every big-boobed blonde in the city of Denver?”

  “They were distracting,” he said with a smile. “But they weren’t you.”

  “And what if there’s nothing between us? No spark. No chemistry.”

  “Then we know we’re friends and nothing more. Wouldn’t you much rather know for sure than live with all this doubt?”

  It sounded good. But she wasn’t all that sure that she wanted to know. Maybe the reason she’d been so determined to maintain their friendship was because, deep down, in a secret corner of her heart, she’d always hoped that someday he’d choose her. That she’d be his one and only.

  But she’d never allowed herself to really consider the possibility. Greta knew that if they tried being more than friends and it didn’t work, she’d never be able to go back to their former relationship. She’d become just another in a long line of discarded women, good enough to warm his bed for a few weeks and nothing more.

  What was going on in his head? Where did he think this night might lead? “Are you sure this isn’t about making a good show for Thea?” she asked.

  Alex shook his head. “You know, a few years ago, I might have slept with her. But now, I know how disappointed that woul
d have made you. You make me a better man, Adler. And I think maybe it’s time you benefitted from all your hard work.”

  His revelation stunned her. In truth, she assumed he really didn’t listen to any of her nagging. She’d tried to convince him to be the kind of man she’d always imagined as perfect. And now, he was offering himself to her. How could she refuse?

  “All right,” she said softly. “But if either one of us decides this isn’t working, then we go back to being friends. You have to promise me that.” It might be an empty promise, but Greta needed his assurance either way.

  He stared into her eyes. “If that’s the way you want it, I promise. We’ll always be friends.”

  Greta drew a deep breath. “All right. I just need a moment.” She grabbed her T-shirt from the end of the bed and tugged it over her head, then slipped out from beneath the covers. “I’ll be right back.”

  Alex rolled over on his back. “I’ll be waiting.”

  Greta hurried to the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She flipped on the light, then stood over the sink, staring into the mirror.

  “This will change everything,” she murmured to her reflection. And though she wanted to believe they could go back, in her heart, she knew it wasn’t likely. Was it worth the risk?

  * * *

  ALEX GLANCED OVER at the bathroom door. Greta had been locked inside for the past five minutes. Though he could imagine what she might be doing, as the seconds ticked by he began to realize that maybe she wasn’t ready for this.

  He knew her so well. She’d be running over all the pros and cons, making a mental list of the possible consequences and weighing each carefully. Hell, it took her fifteen minutes to decide which laundry detergent to buy. Considering the ramifications of this night, she might be in the bathroom until dawn.

  Over time, he’d begun to wonder if her indecisiveness with men was because her standards were too high. Then he wondered if she was carrying a secret torch for him. Alex didn’t like to imagine she was in love with him. He’d often wondered if that was why he spent so much time pursuing other women—he was afraid of failing with Greta.

  Hell, he didn’t have a clue why he’d done what he’d done in the past. But tonight, for the first time in his life, he knew exactly what he wanted and why. And he needed to believe that Greta was just as certain as he was.

  With a groan, he rolled off the bed and crossed to the bathroom door. Alex decided not to bother knocking. He opened the door to find her sitting on the edge of the whirlpool tub, her hands clutched in front of her. She looked so pathetic that he couldn’t help smiling. Without a word, he moved to take her hands and pull her to her feet. His mouth came down on hers, softly teasing until she surrendered to the kiss.

  Her body went soft in his arms and Alex smoothed his hands over her back until they rested on her hips. She wasn’t wearing anything beneath the T-shirt and the temptation to touch naked skin was overwhelming. But he knew she’d have to take the lead.

  “Are we really going to do this?” she whispered.

  “That is entirely up to you,” he replied. Alex grabbed her hand, then pressed his lips to her wrist, toying with her fingers as he did. “I think it’s time we figure out what’s going on between us,” he said.

  “We’re friends.”

  “Come on, Greta. We both know it’s more than that. Only we’ve been too afraid to admit it.”

  “What if this ruins everything?” she asked.

  “And what if it makes it even better?” he countered. He saw the surrender in her eyes and he felt a current of fear pass through him. He wanted it to be good. No, not just good. Amazing. “So, how do you want to start?”

  “I don’t know.” Greta closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m really, really nervous.”

  “We’re friends. It can’t be that hard. And we have done it before. Why don’t you start by touching me.”

  “Or maybe you could touch me,” Greta said.

  “I could,” Alex murmured, sliding his palm along her hip and beneath her shirt. He slipped his other hand around her nape, weaving his fingers through her hair and drawing her nearer. “How’s this?”

  Spinning her around, he pressed her back against the edge of the marble-topped sinks, his mouth searching for another taste. This time, she reacted, her fingers splaying over his chest as the heat between them grew.

  He knew her so well, all her silly quirks and stubborn beliefs. But Alex didn’t know this part of her, the woman beneath his best friend. For so long, he’d considered her just another girl. But that had suddenly changed.

  As her hands smoothed over his shoulders, he felt a tremor of need rock his body. He wanted her, but not just in a physical sense. They’d shared so much that it felt only right to share this too. And this time, he’d remember every single moment of it.

  Alex picked her up and wrapped her legs around his waist, then carried her back to the bedroom. They tumbled onto the bed, rolling together until they found a comfortable spot. He kissed her again, surprised at how natural it suddenly felt.

  This wasn’t the stubborn, opinionated, bossy friend he’d always known. Greta was soft and vulnerable, her body pliant beneath his touch.

  When she reached for the button on his jeans, Alex knew she’d made her decision. If she had any doubts, they were gone now. He rolled onto his back and watched as she worked at his fly with nervous fingers. Reaching out, he brushed the hair from her eyes and smiled at her. When his zipper was undone, he slid his jeans over his hips and kicked them off onto the floor.

  His desire was evident through the thin cotton of his boxers and Alex worried that she might think this was just about sex. He wanted to tell her how he felt, how it didn’t matter if they went that far. This was about getting closer, even closer than they already were.

  Greta lay down next to him, wrapping her arm around his waist and tucking her body into the curve of his arm. “What are you thinking?” he murmured.

  “Nothing.”

  “You’re always thinking about something, Greta. I know you too well. That brain of yours never stops working.”

  She sat up, tucking her feet beneath her backside, and watched him warily. Then she placed her hand on his chest and slowly smoothed her fingers down to his belly. The sensation caused his breath to catch in his throat. “That’s what I was thinking,” she said.

  “What?”

  “I was wondering if I could make you feel the way all those other women did.”

  Alex gasped. How could she even think of comparing herself to them? Besides the females in his family, Greta was the most important woman in his life. “None of those other women have what you have. Why do you think they never lasted? Because I was always comparing them to you.”

  “You were?”

  “Yeah. I think I was. I didn’t really realize it until now, but I could never be completely honest with them. Not like I am with you.”

  “I feel the same way,” she said.

  “Then I think you should kiss me now and start thinking about you and me.”

  She laughed softly. “All right. I guess I can do that.”

  Alex grabbed her around the waist and pulled her on top of him. His hands cupped her naked backside as he drew her into another kiss. But this time, the kiss did what it was meant to do. Slowly, all her hesitation dissolved and she left her insecurities behind.

  Before long, it wasn’t enough just to feel each other through the barrier of the clothes they still wore. Only skin-to-skin contact would satisfy. He tugged at her T-shirt, pulling it over her head and tossing it aside. His boxers followed and when they were finally naked, Alex was free to focus on enjoying her body.

  Though Greta was usually so dismissive of her physical beauty, Alex saw perfection. She wasn’t enhanced by artificial means, just natural. From her hair to her nails to her breasts. Everything was as it should be.

  He moved to kiss her breast, then teased at her nipple with his tongue. It grew to a h
ard peak and he moved to the other, all the while listening to the soft moans coming from deep inside her. Her fingers tangled in his hair and she pulled him back into a kiss.

  They had all the time in the world and yet they seemed to be in a rush to find out where all their hidden desire would lead. He held his breath as Greta’s caress found more intimate territory. And when she wrapped her fingers around his hard shaft, a shudder ran through him.

  Moments of intense pleasure spun out around them. This wasn’t so much a seduction as it was a discovery, like uncovering a hidden treasure that had been right in front of them all the time.

  Why had it taken so long for him to realize how he really felt about Greta? Had some instinct warned him off until now? Had the planets finally come into alignment? Maybe destiny did have a hand in this after all.

  Greta trailed a line of kisses across his collarbone, then drifted lower, to his chest and then his belly. Alex held his breath, knowing what was coming, certain it would send him over the edge. Her tongue lingered at the tip of his shaft before she took him into the warm recesses of her mouth.

  Alex’s mind flashed to an image of Greta with all the boyfriends who’d passed through her life. Had she pleased them in this same way? Jealousy surged through him along with waves of pleasure. From this point on, there would be no others. Greta belonged to him.

  To prove his point, he grabbed her hands and pulled her up along his body. He’d tucked a box of condoms beneath the pillow while she was in the bathroom and he retrieved them now, handing them to her. “I think we need these,” he murmured, his gaze fixed on her flushed face.

  “I think we do,” she whispered, a smile touching the corners of her mouth. She removed one from the box and opened the package, then gently sheathed him.

  Alex had done this so many times, he knew exactly what was about to happen. But as she sank down on top of him, her knees on either side of his hips, he felt as if it was his first time. His senses had been heightened, his nerves alert, so every single movement sent frissons of pleasure pulsing through his body.

  There was nothing he could do to stop himself. Instinct took over and he rolled her beneath him, dragging her knees up around his waist. She moaned softly, running her fingers through his hair as he pressed his lips to her neck.