There's Heat: A Friends to Lovers Romance

by Nadine Hudson

He wriggles out of his jacket. Then he tosses it over my legs and rubs his hand on top, trying to create friction to keep them warm. I smile back at him. He is the most perfect man I’ve ever met. I stare at him for a few seconds longer than I need to, retracing all the curves of his face that I already know so well. I let out a sigh of relief and rest a hand on top of his arm that’s laying in my lap. I feel him give my thigh a gentle squeeze and watch him bite his lower lip.

  His touch sends a tingling sensation straight to my core. I feel my face flush and I’m immediately thankful that it’s dark and he can’t see my face turn three shades brighter. As if he can sense the reaction he just had on my body he shifts in his seat and clears his throat but doesn’t say anything. I can see him glance at me every few minutes from the corner of his eye. He feels something too.

  I sit up and turn on the radio. I hope noise will help drown out the sexual tension that’s suddenly building between us and filling his truck. I feel my heart begin to pound harder in my chest as his hand continues rubbing gently up and down my thigh. What the hell is happening? I can’t do this. Not with him. I can’t lose him. I can’t ruin what we have. My mind is racing with doubt as we pull up outside of my house.

  He jumps out of the driver's side and moves around the truck to open my door for me but I don’t wait for him to get there. I open my door immediately and rush inside. I need space from him. I need a little distance between us before I do something that will ruin everything.

  “Brooke, hold on a minute,” he calls after me. “Let me help you.” He takes a hold of my arm gently and walks beside me to sit me down on the couch. I’m perfectly capable of walking on my own. But now that he’s next to me again I’m craving his hands on me so I let him guide me. Once I’m sitting down Conner walks across the room and turns on the light. He sits on the coffee table in front of me and inspects my cheek once again.

  His hand gently lifts my chin, turning my face into the light to give him a better view. I feel his thumb rubbing softly against my cheek and it sends shivers down my body. I want him. Badly. He has this inexplicable direct line to the pleasure center of my body. How can he still make me feel like this? After everything that has happened today, why is sex with him the only thing I can think about?

  “It’s still a little swollen,” he says eyeing my cheek. “I’m gonna grab you some more ice, alright? Just sit here.” He stands and leaves the room.

  As soon as he’s gone I let out a deep breath and smile. He really is the whole package. He makes me feel things no one else can. Things no one else has. I don’t know why I thought I could hide my feelings for Conner behind forced feelings for Ian.

  I feel torn in half again. I know this isn't going to last. Nothing lasts with Conner Smoak. He’s going to break my heart. I’m going to be one of those girls that I swore I would never become. Our friendship will be ruined forever and nothing between us will be the same again. At this moment these are the risks I need to weigh against the reward I’m desperate to have. I put my forehead in my hands and drag my fingers through my hair letting out a small groan of frustration.

  “You good?” I peek up to see Conner standing in the entrance to the living room, leaning into the door frame. He has a humorous, incredibly adorable smirk on his face. And all hope I ever had to control myself, my urges, are completely lost. I squeeze my thighs together as he moves toward me, handing me the ice pack.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” I answer, trying not to look at him. Then a disturbing thought crosses my mind. Will he want this too? I mean there was tension in the truck but that could have all been in my head. Maybe he isn’t even interested in me and here I am getting myself all worked up over nothing. The thought makes my heart sink.

  “Where are your extra blankets and stuff for the couch? I’ll go grab them to make up my bed.” Conner asks with a small smile as he starts to turn toward the stairs. This is it. I need to know if he wants this too.

  “Actually, do you mind sleeping upstairs with me? I just don’t want to be alone right now.” I ask quietly. My heart is thumping in my chest waiting for his response. I can’t look at him. I don’t want to see a reaction on his face telling me I’ve read things all wrong. The longer I sit there in the silence the more nervous I become.

  Then I feel his hands reach down and take mine and I look up through my lashes. He’s standing in front of me smirking his panty dropping smirk that he does so well. His eyes are narrowed and so seductive. I’m sure he could undress me with his eyes alone if he really wanted to. Taking my hands he pulls me up to standing. Our bodies are so close I can feel the heat from his against mine. I inhale deeply and let the delicious apple-woodsy smell of his cologne fill my lungs.

  He turns away from me and switches my hands around behind his back as he leads me up the stairs to my bedroom. My heart is racing. This is happening. I can’t believe this is actually happening. He pulls me into the room then releases my hands and shuts the door. I feel like I’m ready to come out of my skin with anticipation. How is he staying so calm right now? I hate that he’s so much calmer than I am but his confidence is so damn sexy at the same time.

  He moves slowly toward me and holds my face in both of his hands. I feel everything below my waist clench. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?” he asks, his eyes search mine. I nod my head quickly before I can overthink things and change my mind. A smile spreads across his lips before he presses them to mine. I immediately rub my hands up the back of his neck and through his hair. I’ve never felt a kiss this passionate before in my life. I feel so alive.

  He tightly wraps his arms around me pressing my body against him. I can already feel a bulge pushing through his pants and I moan against his mouth. I part my lips pleading for his tongue to enter and it does without hesitation. He tastes so good. I feel his palms slide up my shirt to my waist and rub firmly against my bare skin. He continues running them higher and higher up my body, pulling my shirt up with them. I lift my arms over my head allowing him to drag my top off.

  I wait for him to kiss me again but he doesn’t. He holds onto my waist and spins me around until I’m facing the bed. I feel his hands collecting my hair and pulling it over to one side exposing the other side of my neck. I feel his lips start to slowly trail kisses starting at my shoulder then moving higher. His hands rub up and down my sides and stomach.

  “Brooke…” he breathes into my ear. I instantly feel goosebumps trail down the length of my body.

  “I want to make you forget every man who has ever come before this.”

  My breathing hitches and my entire body trembles at his words. I arch my back so my ass presses harder into his erection and I feel his fingertips dig into me hard.

  “Tell me exactly what you want.”

  I want you! This. Every night. Every day. Forever. I never want this moment to end. But I know I can’t have that. So I’ll settle for the next best thing. If I can only have him tonight then I want it to be real. I reach behind me and wrap my hand around the back of his neck pulling him closer to me.

  “Make love to me, Conner…” I whisper against him.

  ****

  Conner

  At her words, my fingers make quick work of the buttons on her shorts and I slip my hand inside. She arches her back, pressing her body against my dick and I lose more room in my pants. I take my time sliding her shorts down her long, smooth legs. I want to touch every inch of her. I want to taste every inch of her. I kneel to the floor, pulling her shorts all the way down and she steps out of them. As I start to rise again I gently trail my fingers up her instep.

  Her body is so smooth aside from the goosebumps that rise on her skin under my touch. Her body's responses cause my dick to harden even more making my jeans almost unbearable. When I reach the apex of her thighs I reach to her hips and turn her around to face me. As if she knows what I am thinking her hands are opening up my button and zipper finally giving me some room. I hold her at arm's length and admire her beautiful body standing in front o
f me in just her bra and thong. I slide my pants and boxers the rest of the way down and kick them to the side.

  I watch her eyes paint over my body and stop at my erection. Her face flushes. Yes, baby. All that will fit inside you. And you’re going to love it. I don’t try to hide my grin as I step toward her pressing her warm soft skin against mine. She feels so good but I want more. I want to make her feel as good as she makes me feel. I wrap a hand behind her back and unclip her bra freeing her breasts. She slips her bra over her arms and tosses it to the floor.

  As soon as it’s off I lower her onto the bed. She spreads her legs apart allowing me to slide in between them and I grind my hard dick against her over her panties. I prop myself on one elbow over top of her. Her breathing is heavy and the way she’s digging her fingers into my back makes me want to rip her panties off and dive into her but I can’t. She wants me to make love to her.

  I lower my mouth onto her breast, slowly taking one of her nipples into my mouth and I feel it harden against my tongue. I hear her moan as she tips her head back. I feel her try to squeeze her thighs together against me. I suck gently on one breast while I massage the other with my hand. She wriggles beneath my touch, beneath my tongue and it makes my cock extend even more. I’m so fucking hard right now.

  She keeps arching her back, pressing herself against my dick. I can feel the heat from her pussy through her panties. She wants it badly. And so do I but not yet. I plan on keeping my word. I want to make her come so hard that she will think of me every time she comes from here on out.

  I press my dick hard against her and she moans my name loudly. She sounds completely breathless and it turns me on so badly. I need to settle her down or I’m not gonna last. I slide my body hard against her as I move down her torso. Kissing and sucking as I go until I reach her panties. I hook my fingers into the top of them and start to pull them down. My tongue follows her panties down her pussy as it’s exposed before me. I don’t want to tease her anymore. I just want to taste her and make her feel good.

  I pull her panties down past her knees and she kicks them the rest of the way off. I snuggle in between her thighs and let my mouth explore her again. My tongue travels up and down her pussy, lapping up her wetness. She tastes so good. I spread her lips apart with my fingers giving me full access to her clit. I start to circle it with my tongue. Slowly at first but the louder she moans the harder I press. I pick up speed and wrap my arms under her thighs pulling her deeper into my mouth. I start to suck hard on her clit as I feel her body tensing beneath me. She’s building. She’s going to come.

  I quickly thrust two fingers inside of her and I instantly feel her body start to pulsate around them. “Ahh, Conner!” I hear her cry out. I continue sucking and thrusting. I want to capture her organsm in my hand. In my mouth. I want her to ride it out all the way to the end. I don’t stop until I feel her body start to relax. I hear a sigh escape her lips. Ohh baby, we’re not done yet.

  I get up from her bed.

  “What are you doing?” I hear her giggle behind me.

  “You asked me to make love to you.” I answer with a smirk. “That wasn’t love making. That was just foreplay.” Her eyes grow wide at my words and I slide back into bed with her. I take her face in my hands and my mouth finds hers once more. I kiss her slowly but deeply. Her lips are so soft and I keep imagining them wrapped around my cock. I feel it twitch in response. I want to be inside her so fucking badly.

  I pull her thighs apart with my hand and rub it up her center. She’s still wet. I smile in appreciation as I move between her legs. Bracing myself above her I look into her eyes. They are staring back at me wide and full of anticipation and desire. I bend down and softly take her bottom lip between my teeth as I sink slowly into her.

  “Ahh,” I moan louder than I was expecting. She’s so fucking tight and feels incredible. She arches herself pushing me deeper inside of her and I hear her breathing start to accelerate. Her mouth finds my neck and starts kissing and sucking as I thrust slowly but deeply into her. It feels like waves of electricity are being shot all over my body every time I enter her. I could never get enough of this feeling and I greedily want more. I squeeze and caress everywhere I can reach and her body trembles and reacts to my every touch.

  I take hold of one of her thighs and lift it higher allowing my cock to reach deeper inside of her. She moans in response tilting her head back. I fist my hands into the pillows using all the restraint I have to continue a slow, deep passionate rhythm. Her pussy is so wet that I slip into her with ease and she takes the entire length of me. As I pull out it feels like she tightens around me, trying to hold me inside of her.

  I feel her raise both her knees and push herself up against me meeting my thrust and filling her deeper than before. She wants more. I start panting as my stroke goes deeper and harder into her. I dig my toes into her mattress and push my entire length as far in as she can take it. I feel her body at the base of my dick as she takes in every inch of me. We both moan in unisone. I can feel her body trembling more as she builds. I keep my entire length inside of her and tilt my hips a few times looking for her g-spot.

  After the second tilt she gasps loudly and clutches my biceps in her hands and I know I’ve hit it. I continue rolling my hips hitting her spot repeatedly and the more she moves beneath me the higher I build in response until I can feel the sensation run down the length of my dick to my tip. Then I feel her body explode around me. Her pussy tightening and squeezing all over my cock and I completely lose control. I thrust into her as deep as I can one last time as I come with her. I hold it there until I feel her coming down from her orgasm. And then I collapse against her chest. Completely breathless and satisfied. Holy shit.

  I readjust so that I’m lying beside her and she lifts her head allowing me to tuck her under my arm. I pull her tightly to me and run my fingertips down her arm as we stare up at her ceiling. Both still trying to catch our breaths. There are a million things running through my mind. I want to tell her I love her. I want to tell her that she’s it for me. That I never want to lose her or let her go. Before I can get the words out, she rolls over and wraps her arms tightly around me and gives me a squeeze. Resting her head in the little nook of my should I hear her yawn.

  “Good night, Conner.”

  I smile lightly and kiss the top of her head. “Good night, Brooke.”

  Nine

  Brooke

  I wake up to a sliver of sunlight blaring through my blinds. I squint for a second then look around and find my bed empty. I can’t help but to feel a little frustrated. For once, just once, I’d like to wake up next to the man I slept with the night before. I start to wonder if I have terrible morning breath or something that I always seem to wake to an empty bed.

  I shake my hand through my unruly hair and lay back down. I replay each beautiful moment from last night in my mind. I picture the intensity in his dark blue eyes above me looking down as he thrust inside me for the first time, filling me completely. Making love to me. I picture him standing behind me whispering in my ear, “I want to make you forget every man who has ever come before this.” I smile to myself realizing he already did. Then I feel tears start to build in my eyes.

  As beautiful and perfect as last night was, it’s over now. And there’s nothing left to do but face it. Last night was a wonderful moment of weakness but it can’t happen again. The damage may already be done but if I want to get out of this hole I need to put down the shovel first. Things will only get harder from here if we don’t end it now. There’s not a single doubt in my mind that I love him. I love this man more than I could ever love anyone else but I know all too well, nothing lasts when it comes to Conner.

  I wipe away a stray tear that has escaped from my eye and slide out of bed. I quickly throw on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt and make my way downstairs. When I reach the bottom of the steps it smells like something is burning and I rush to my kitchen to find Conner at the stove flipping black disks in the air and
trying to catch them on plates. He’s wearing his boxers and a t-shirt. I look him up and down in appreciation. He always looks so sexy. Especially when he first wakes up and his hair is all messy and out of place. I can only assume that the black disks used to be pancakes and a laugh escapes my lips.

  He turns to me immediately with a big smile and holds up one of the plates.

  “I made breakfast.”

  I shake my head and laugh at him again. Stop being so fucking endearing and adorable!

  “Uh, how ‘bout cereal?” I offer pulling a box from the cupboard. He looks back at his food then smiles and nods.

  “Okay. Good call.”

  We each fill a bowl then he follows me into the living room and sits beside me on the couch. This is it. We need to talk about last night. I suck in a deep breath. He looks over at me and takes my chin, turning my face so he can check out my cheek again.

  “Looking better already.”

  “Yeah, I’m… I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  His eyes narrow to me.

  “What’s wrong?” he asks immediately.

  I look down at my cereal and dunk a few pieces under the milk with my spoon. Stop stalling, Brooke. I feel a lump start to form in my throat as I try to form the words.

  “Conner, I appreciate everything you did for me yesterday with Ian.” A smile grows on his face as I continue. “And last night was… unforgettable and perfect.” My words start to tremble as my eyes begin filling with tears again. I watch his smile disappear instantly and his eyes start searching mine.

  “But… this is exactly what I was afraid of Conner. I’ve fallen for you… hard. Head over heels. Touching the stars. Over the fence. There’s no coming back from this, kind of fallen for you.” His eyes turn softer and his smile starts to return. “And now I don’t know where we’re supposed to go from here.”

  ****

  Conner

  Her words wash through me and I feel elated. I want to hide the stupid grin that I know is on my face right now but it’s no use. She told me she loves me… again. I just don’t understand why she’s so confused right now. She still loves me. She clearly doesn’t want to be with Ian anymore. We can be together.