Forbidden Touch: A Best Friends To Lovers Romance - Iona Rose (free ebook reader .txt) 📗

and give me the benefit of doubt. Give me a chance to explain. That’s how relationships work. People talk.”

She stared at me and then looked away.

I knew she was thinking about my past but she needed to erase that if we were to have a chance.

“I’m trying Blaze,” she said softly.

My heart melted. “I know you are. For the record, I never slept with Daphne.”

Relief came over her features.

“You never have to worry about me. There’s no other woman for me, apart from you, Hot Sauce. Only you.”

Tears flooded her eyes. She nodded. “Okay.”

The door flung open without warning and Mason walked in. He pointed a finger at me. “Why are you always nosing around here?”

I jumped to my feet. “I’m the one who should be asking you that, Mason. What do you want with Brooke? She’s not interested in you, has she told you that?”

He made as if to grab my shirt but I was too fast for him. I caught his hands and twisted them around his back. Pricks like Mason made me glad I had done karate for seven years and was a black belt.

“Blaze please,” Brooke pleaded and stood between us, forcing me to take a step back.

Mason straightened his shirt, all the while trying to stare me down.

Unfortunately, for him, he’d picked the wrong person to bully. I wasn’t frightened of him. We were at the same level in terms of organizational structure.

“This is not the place for personal matters and he knows it!” Mason shouted and then beat a hasty retreat before I could respond.

“If you don’t do something about him, I will,” I said to Brooke.

“Please, I told you, I can handle him. Look I need to get back to work,” Brooke said.

I looked at her. This wouldn’t be the end of it. “Fine.” I waited a beat. “Dinner at my place? To make up for yesterday?”

Her features softened. “I’d love to.”

I didn’t trust Mason but I also knew there wasn’t much he could do to Brooke at work. I gave her a quick kiss and went back to my office.

We didn’t go home together that evening. Brooke said she wanted to go home first after which she would come to my place. That suited me as it gave me time to pass by the grocery store and grab a few things for dinner.

I got home and hopped into the shower before I began to cook.

By the time Brooke came around, dinner was ready and at the table. “I like you in an apron,” she said, her gaze sliding over me.

“I thought you would,” I flirted back and leaned forward to kiss her. I inhaled her scent appreciatively. “You smell good enough to eat.”

“So do you,” Brooke shrugged out of her sweater.

“You look gorgeous too, by the way.” I liked her in sleeveless tops and dresses. I loved seeing as much of her skin as possible. “Dinner is ready.”

“Awesome,” she said. “Smells yummy.”

A few minutes later, we were seated at the kitchen table eating grilled steaks and salad.

“This should be your specialty,” Brooke said as she licked sauce from her upper lip.

“I have a better idea,” I said, my mind already on the things I wanted to do to her.

Brooke rolled her eyes and fought back a smile.

The smile won. My heart galloped in my chest. The woman seated in front of me was the only one I needed for the rest of my life. I loved Brooke. Not the casual kind of love, not the one you could easily find a replacement for. No. My love for her was all encompassing, leaving no space for a plan B. We had to work. We had to fight for us. There was no turning back for me.

“What?” Brooke said.

I took her hand over the table. “Let’s go to bed.” I needed her in my arms. I needed to still the doubt in my mind and reassure myself that Brooke was mine.

She glanced at the table. “What about the dishes? Shouldn’t we clean them first?”

“I’ll take care of them later,” I said.

She made as if to say something but she must have seen something in my eyes because she closed her mouth and stood. “Let’s go.”

I took her hand and led her to my bedroom. I shut the world behind us and pulled her into my arms. I went straight for her neck and trailed soft kisses along her sensitive skin. Her body molded into mine as if it was a liquid form. My hands roamed her curves but it wasn’t enough. I needed to feel her skin under my fingers. “I need you naked.”

“I love it when you’re commanding.” She stepped back, away from me and proceeded to remove her clothes.

I did the same without taking my eyes away from her.

When we were both naked, we faced each other, the attraction between us flammable.

I took her hand and laid her down on the bed. I covered her body with mine and kissed her to my heart’s content. I supported my body with my elbows and looked down at her. “I love you Brooke Mathews. Love as in love.”

She wriggled under me.

I’d come to realize the thought of us falling in love frightened Brooke. Well, it was too late. It had already happened and she would just have to get used to it. There was no rush. Before she could protest, I covered her mouth with mine and kissed her senseless.

Brooke ran her fingers over my chest, teasing my nipples and kneading my muscles.

I flipped us around until she was on top of me. I reached for her breasts and cupped them. “Perfect,” I murmured as I took a nipple into my mouth.

She reached for my cock and arranged it, so it lay between her legs grazing against her pussy. She rocked back and forth, her hand still between us, keeping my cock where she wanted it. “I need you inside,” Brooke moaned as she sat up. She rested her palms