Jules Bennett - Best Friends…To Lovers

Jenna was starting to wonder if she’d made a mistake. Too late for hindsight now.

“I had the necklace made for Laney on her twenty-first birthday.” The simple explanation made her feel utterly foolish...as she should because she had zero hold over this man.

“You were jealous,” he stated.

Jenna quirked a brow. “I was not. I expect you to remember what we’re doing this week and what your role is.”

Like a panther to its prey, Mac stalked across the room, his eyes locked onto hers. “Oh, I remember exactly what I’m doing here this week. The question is, do you?”

He stopped within a breath of her. His hands came up, tugging her arms loose until they fell to her sides, then he closed that final sliver of space. She had to tip her head up to look at him.

“Do I what?”

A muscle ticked in his jaw as he slid his hand up her arm, curled his fingers over her shoulder and replied, “Do you remember what our roles are? Seems to me you may have slipped into the position of my lover a bit too easily. Makes me wonder if you really do want to take advantage of this situation.”

Unable to think of some witty, snappy comeback, Jenna skirted around him and headed to the fridge. Grabbing the flowers, she unwrapped the layers of tissue and laid everything out on the kitchen table.

“We’re not lovers, Mac.” Her hands were shaking, but hopefully if she kept them busy, Mac wouldn’t notice. “We’re friends. Don’t read into this.”

In a flash, Mac reached out and gripped her hand. “This? Are you referring to your shaky hands or the fact you can’t look me in the eye when you lie? Or maybe you wonder what it would be like if we did sleep together and you’re afraid to admit it out loud.”

Without looking up, she jerked her hand back and attempted to separate the bundle of lilacs. “I’ve wondered,” she admitted. “Of course I have, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let it happen.”

When he said nothing, when silence filled the air like an unwanted third party, Jenna dropped the flowers and rested her palms flat on the table. With a heavy sigh, she dropped her head between her shoulders.

“Mac, after this week I still want you to be my best friend. No matter what you say, no matter what you may think is a good idea now, if we slept together we couldn’t take it back.”

Mac cupped her chin and turned her head. Jenna forced her eyes on his, because appearing weak was not an option.

“When I sleep with you, I won’t want to take it back.”

Jenna gasped at all the veiled promises in that statement. A reply was impossible as Mac slid his mouth over hers, but not in a demanding way like last time. No, this kiss was slower, seductive, yet more commanding.

The power she’d thought she possessed where Mac was concerned vanished the second his lips silently demanded all of her attention.

When he pressed his palm flat against her back, Jenna fell against his solid, defined chest. Instinctively, her arms looped around his neck, her fingers threaded through his coarse hair. Mac lifted his mouth from hers for the briefest of moments before changing the angle and going back in for more.

More urgent now, he reached behind her. Tissue paper rustled and a second later he gripped her waist with his hands, lifting her to the edge of the table. On every level she knew this was a mistake. Mac was used to this, to taking what he wanted when he wanted it. Jenna was more of a thinker, a planner...a dreamer. She couldn’t afford to be selfish and live directly in the moment. There would be consequences for every single action.

But right now, with his lips covering hers, then roaming along her jaw, Jenna tipped her head back and arched her body, consequences be damned.

“You taste so damn good,” he muttered against her skin.

Jenna continued to clutch the back of his shirt, battling herself as to whether she should push him away or let this glorious moment continue. How could she ignore this inferno raging between them? She’d never felt so alive, so out of control and on the verge of something utterly blissful.

The pounding on her bungalow door brought every tantalizing thought to a halt. Mac’s lips froze on the hollow part of her neck.

“Expecting company?” he asked, his voice husky.

Unable to speak, Jenna loosened her grip and shook her head.

Mac’s intense, dark gaze raked over her body as he slowly pulled away. Jenna realized her legs were spread wide to accommodate his body, her dress hiked up high on her thighs. Jenna jerked the hem down and hopped off the table. Mac moved across the room just as more pounding shook the door.

When he yanked the door open with more force than necessary, Jenna caught Martin’s angry gaze. His eyes darted from Jenna to Mac and back to her. Well, this is what she wanted...wasn’t it? She wanted him to see that she and Mac were serious. There couldn’t be any doubt as to what they’d been doing...or about to do. Her hair was tousled all around her shoulders, most likely her face was flushed and Mac was breathing a bit harder than usual. Her body was still very much tingling from the encounter.

Oh, mercy, had she honestly been about to have sex with her best friend on the kitchen table? Keep it classy, Jenna.

“Sorry, this is a party for two,” Mac said as he started to close the door.

Martin put his hand up, blocking the action. “Jenna. I need to speak with you. Alone.”

“You won’t be seeing my fiancée alone. Ever.” Mac’s voice had taken on a deadly, menacing tone, quite different from the sexy rasp he’d delivered only moments ago.

“Get the hell out of the way.”

Jenna stepped forward, placed a hand on Mac’s back and glared at Martin. “Whatever you want to say, do it quick.”

Mac tensed beneath her palm, but since this wasn’t a real relationship, she wasn’t about to let him ride to her rescue this time. Jenna could handle her own problems.

“Give me another chance. I know we can work this out.” Martin’s eyes seemed to implore her. “You don’t want to marry this guy. He’ll ruin you.”

Before she could stop him, Mac launched forward and fisted Martin’s shirt. “Get the hell out of here.”

Mac shoved him back out onto the deck leading to the bungalow. Jenna knew enough about Mac to know this was not the time to step in. He was angry, he was taking charge and he wouldn’t want her to intervene, even if this situation was all about her.

Martin knocked Mac’s hands away and took another step back. “You’d rather take a shot with this criminal than give me a second chance?” Martin asked. “That’s not the Jenna I know.”

Normally, Jenna wouldn’t side with a guy who was so aggressive, but she knew Mac. This was for show. He was only going along with her request to make their relationship look authentic. Wasn’t he?

He wasn’t about to unleash his rage here. Surely not. Mac definitely had a temper, but since none of this was real, perhaps he’d keep himself in check.

“You need to go,” she told Martin.

Once again his eyes darted between her and Mac before settling on her. “I hope you come around before it’s too late. The rumors surrounding his family are enough—”

Mac punched Martin in the face, sending Martin’s head flying back. Martin stumbled as he reached up to feel his jaw. Jenna gasped, gripping the door. Clearly Mac’s restraint had snapped.

“He just proved my point,” Martin spat out before turning and stomping away. “This isn’t what you need, Jenna.”

Despite the heat, a shiver rippled through her. Mac had gone too far, in more ways than one. Her body still trembled from having his mouth and hands all over her. Their relationship had crossed the friendship line because there was no way she could erase that memory. Then he’d gone and assaulted Martin. Granted, Martin was goading Mac on purpose, but Mac had lost his temper...an O’Shea family trait.