Best Dating Rules, Tamie Dearen [literature books to read txt] 📗

dad, you wouldn’t feel bad when he wanted to do things for you. Like paying for Charlie’s college tuition.”

“But he isn’t really our dad.”

“I’m just saying, you should look at it from his perspective. He has money and he likes to spend it on the people he loves. Maybe sometimes you and Charlie might hurt his feelings when you don’t accept what he wants to give you.”

“Maybe.” The closer the car got to the apartment, the more she fidgeted. “Spencer, I’m not sure it’s a good idea for you to come upstairs.”

“I’d really like a cup of tea. Surely there’s no harm in that?”

“Okay, but you have to promise not to kiss me.”

“Okay, I promise.” But he wasn’t promising not to kiss her back if she started it.

Emily sat on the couch beside Spencer, drinking tea. They both had on shorts, and she was incredibly cognizant of where his muscled masculine leg pressed against her smooth skin. It was as if every nerve fiber was hypersensitive, firing rapid impulses to scramble her brain. He sat on her right side, holding his tea mug casually in his right hand, with his left arm around the back of the couch. She waited tensely for his hand to slip onto her shoulder, but he kept it on the couch. She didn’t know whether to be grateful or irritated. He was being good. He wasn’t trying to kiss her.

Spencer finished his tea and set it on the table next to him. Then he sat back and his hand rested on her leg. And oh-so-casually his fingers moved, gently caressing her skin. And all of her hypersensitive nerve endings started shooting off like fireworks. She put her hand on top of his to stop its movement. He smiled and interlaced their fingers.

“You know,” he said, “I could do this for hours.”

“Do what?”

“This. Just sitting together. Close. Enjoying your company.” He pulled her hand into his lap and turned her arm over, exposing her wrist. He toyed with the soft smooth skin, sliding his fingers up to the inside of her elbow. She felt her heart pounding inside her chest. He was doing it again, making her lose control. She stiffened, prepared to pull her hand away, when he released it and stood up.

“I’m going to get a refill. Would you like one?”

She stared at him, dazed and confused. He wasn’t trying to get past her defenses after all. “Uhmm, no thanks.”

He was gone for sixty seconds, pouring fresh hot water over the tea leaves. He returned and set his cup down. “I’ll let it steep.”

He rested his hand lightly on her leg, and she waited for his fingers to move. But his hand remained still. “This is nice,” he said, with a gentle smile. She waited for the light tickling motion to assault her senses, but his fingers didn’t budge. At last, she offered him her upturned wrist.

He grinned at her. “Do you like this?” Once again he began to delicately stroke the soft skin.

She let her head fall back against the couch and reveled in the tingling sensation that started on her arm and spread throughout her body. It was so nice. And she could stop him any time she wanted to. She was totally in control.

His fingers traveled up her bare arm and across her shoulder to her exposed neck, feathering the skin lightly with his fingertips.

“Mmmmm,” she moaned. “You... you won’t kiss me, right?”

He leaned over to whisper in her ear, “No... No, I won’t kiss you.” He nibbled her earlobe with his lips, and she squirmed in response. “But if you kiss me, I won’t stop you.” His soft breath in her ear sent shivers through her body. His lips skimmed from her ear down her neck.

His mouth felt so good. It would feel so good on her lips. And his mouth was so close. She turned her head toward him. Her mouth searched desperately for his, and his lips willingly accepted hers. His mouth tickled and teased, plying her lips with soft, gentle kisses. He pulled her shoulders, gradually moving backward until he was reclined against the couch and she was leaning across his body, greedily seeking his lips with hers. She wrapped her hands around his neck and pressed her mouth against his. The more frantically she kissed him, the more passionately he responded, deepening their kiss as he enfolded his arms around her back, pressing her against his chest.

A knock sounded at the door, and she jumped back wide-eyed and dismayed, wiping her swollen lips with the back of her hand. “Ohmygosh! Ohmygosh!” she whispered in frenzy.

“It’s okay. Calm down.” He pulled her hands down and set them in her lap. “Nothing happened, and we didn’t do anything wrong. You sit, and I’ll get the door.”

As he opened the door to let Charlie in, she tried to tell herself she was still in control. But she knew it wasn’t true. With every touch and every kiss she gave another piece of her heart. Already she’d be devastated when he moved on to another girl, as she knew he eventually would. Part of her wanted him to declare he would love her forever. Another part of her was absolutely terrified of hearing those words.

Charlie was startled when Spencer answered the door. She whipped around. “Goodnight, Josh. See you later.” She slipped in the door and tried to shut it, but it wouldn’t close. Josh’s foot was in the way.

He grinned. “You see? I told you Spencer would still be here. I get to come inside.”

“Spencer was just leaving,” said Emily.

“No I wasn’t. I was planning to heat some more water for tea. Decaf, anyone?”

“That sounds good,” said Josh.

Charlie sighed. She really needed to talk to her sister, without Josh around. He’d messed up her head tonight. He was just so... so something. What was it? He was arrogant and egotistical. But that was nothing new. He was overpowering—he maxed out her senses. And he didn’t act threatened by her.