Sara Stone - Full Exposure

“We let you sleep in as long as we could.” She stepped into the room and held out the mug. “Coffee?”

“Thanks.” He stood, tucking his dress shirt back into his pants before accepting her offering. After she’d driven away, he’d returned to Nate’s side and spent the night in yesterday’s suit. But that was only one reason he felt as if the lines between dream and reality had blurred. He’d watched her drive away last night and assumed he’d lost her. And now she was standing in front of him with a cup of coffee.

Lifting the mug to his lips, he studied her. She’d traded her jeans and T-shirt for a red polka-dot sundress with buttons running down the front and sandals. But the young, feminine clothes bore a sharp contrast to the determination he saw in her brown eyes.

“You came back,” he said softly, unable to hide his awe. “I thought you were gone.”

“I needed to think,” she said. “And after I take Nate to school, we should talk.”

“Whatever you need,” he said. The idea of redefining this relationship, thrusting it back over the line, ripped at the raw, hurting place inside him. But he’d stand by those words and do as she asked. If it was in his power to help her, he would, no matter what it cost him.

AN HOUR LATER, Eric was sitting at the kitchen table, checking his email and notifying his assistant that he’d be arriving late this morning. He’d showered, shaved, and dressed for the day in a fresh suit, shoving his emotions aside as he went through the routine actions.

He’d called a few independent investigators, asking them to drop by his offices that afternoon. If the DOF insisted on blaming his crew, and Liam in particular, he wanted confirmation from an outside source before he let his best friend go.

“Is now a good time?”

He looked up. Georgia stood in the doorway, twirling her keys in her hand.

“Yes.” He closed the laptop and stood, heading toward her. “Did Nate get to school OK?”

She nodded but didn’t move from the doorway. “Were you planning to tell me about the fire investigation and Liam?”

Eric froze in the middle of his kitchen. “No. He asked me not to say anything. Not until we knew more. He didn’t want to worry you. Who told you?”

“Liam did.” She slipped the keys into a pocket hidden in her sundress and folded her arms across her chest. “I drove to his place last night. He thought you’d sent me to question him.”

His hands formed tight fists. “Did you tell him the truth?”

She cocked her head, studying him. “I explained about my nightmare, but I left you out of it. And I didn’t tell him about us. I couldn’t. Not when he told me you might fire him.”

“I’m hoping it won’t come to that.”

“Do you believe him? Do you think he is telling the truth about stopping the chainsaws before the fire restriction took effect?”

“I believe in his intentions,” Eric said slowly. “I know he meant to do the right thing and follow the law. But there is a chance he tried to push the crew, to fell one last tree, and got too close to the time limit.”

“No,” she said firmly. “He didn’t.”

“I hope you’re right.” He wanted to believe his best friend. But he couldn’t fudge the truth to protect him. Not when it came to a forest fire that had the potential to cost hundreds of people their lives, never mind the crews who’d worked around the clock to put out the blaze. It was one thing to overlook a spark. People made mistakes. It was another to violate the fire code. Even by a few minutes.

“Either way I’m hiring a private investigator to find out,” he said.

“And until you learn the truth, you don’t want to tell him about us.”

He looked into her brown eyes, so familiar, yet different. “Georgia, last night, you said yourself that this—us—it’s too much. And I think you’re right. I think you need more time to heal. I want to do what is best for you.”

He stepped closer, needing to touch her. But she moved to the side, out of his reach. “I’ll be there for you, as a friend,” he added. “Whatever you need. You have my word.”

“You’ll always be my friend, Eric,” she said. “But I want more. After I left here last night . . .”

He saw the far-off look in her eyes and his concern snowballed. What had she done after she’d run from him last night? The idea of her seeking another rush flat-out terrified him. More than anything he needed her safe.

“After I left, I realized that the nightmares, the fears, those might always be a part of me. Hopefully, they’ll fade. I don’t know. I’ll ask the shrink the next time I see him.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re going back to therapy?”

She nodded. “I have something to say. I’m ready to talk to him. And you know why? Because I’ve figured out how to live my life to the fullest.”

“How?”

“I’ve fallen in love with you. You’ve always been a good friend, Eric. But what we have, it is more than sex. I trust you. I feel safe with you. But most important, I’m happy when I’m with you. You’re my friend, I’ve loved you practically forever, and now I’m in love with you. What could be better than that?”

She’d fallen in love. Hope surged, but doubt rose quickly to greet it. “Georgia, after everything you’ve been through, after what you said last night, how can you be sure—”

“That I’m in love? I know what I feel, Eric. The guilt that I lived, the need to feel worthy, that is still there. It might never go away. Falling in love with you didn’t ‘fix’ me. I was never broken.

“The other night you told me that who I am is enough. And you were right. I deserve to move forward with my life. I want to live every day to the fullest loving you. I want to spend the nights making love to you—wild, crazy, kinky, whatever you want, Mr. Straightlaced. I want to build a future with you. And you don’t need to worry I’m going to bolt. I won’t. I told you last night I’m strong. I can do this. Please say yes, Eric. Tell me you meant what you said last night when you told me you loved me.”

“Georgia, it’s not that simple.” She’d spun a complete one-eighty in a matter of hours. He wanted to believe her words. But the idea of pushing her too far, of sending her running away again . . .

“Eric,” she demanded, “did you mean what you said last night?”

“Georgia, I’ve always loved you,” he said. “And now . . .”

“We’re more. We’re lovers,” she said softly. “Don’t be afraid, Eric. Not of this. Not of us.”

“That’s not it.” Wasn’t he supposed to be the one looking out for her fears? He didn’t want to walk away. But he had to. For her.

“Eric, watch my hands.”

He stepped back. “No, Georgia. We can’t.”

Georgia touched the top button on her dress, pushing it through the hole. Her hand dropped to the next one. He knew he should leave, but his feet remained rooted to the floor, unwilling to walk away from the woman who, right or wrong, had become necessary to his life.

She undid the next button and the one below that until the dress fell open, revealing the soft slopes of her breasts. Lifting her hands to her shoulders, she drew the fabric down her arms, slipping one arm out, followed by the next. She slid the dress down her body, releasing the fabric at her hips, allowing it to fall to the floor. Stepping out of the center, she reached behind her back and undid her bra. It fell away from her breasts, joining her dress on the floor. Her hands moved to her hips, stripping away her underwear as she closed the space between them.

“Georgia,” he said, his voice strained.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. Staring up into his eyes, she ran her fingers through his short hair. She’d always been beautiful. But there was something about the certainty of her movements and the way she touched him without hesitation. Georgia wasn’t holding back. She was offering him everything—her body, her touch, her love.

But he couldn’t take it.

“Georgia, we can’t do this,” he said, closing his eyes, resting his forehead against hers.

“Shh.” She placed one finger over his lips. “Let me love you, Eric. Here. Now. It’s just us. Marie’s off today. Nate’s at school. It’s just you and me.”

She arched up, capturing his mouth, kissing him deeply as he fought to hold back. But with every naked inch of her pressed against him, his willpower headed for the door. He’d figure this out. He swore he would. If he’d screwed up, he’d make amends and make damn certain he chose the right path forward.

He reached for her, running his hands up from her lower back. His mouth still locked on hers, taking everything she offered, he trailed his fingertips over her ribcage around to her chest.

Using his body, he guided her back to the wall beside the archway leading to the front room. He held her there. Kissing. Exploring. His palms brushed over her breasts, teasing and taunting.

Eric broke their kiss. Glancing down, he watched his rough hands move over her soft skin. She pressed her hands against the wall as if seeking support, and he moved his thigh between her legs. Georgia rubbed up against him, riding him, and hell, he wished he’d stripped out of his clothes.

“We’ll make this right, I promise.” His voice was a low growl and she moaned at the sound, arching into his touch. He traced small circles around her breasts.

“Georgia,” he murmured, lowering his mouth to her neck. He pinched her nipples between his thumb and forefinger. She cried out, grinding her hips against his thigh. He could feel her growing wet through the fabric of his pants. He wanted to make her come just like this.

“Eric,” she panted. “Eric, I—”

“Get your fucking hands off her!” The command came from the front door, punctuated by a slam.

Liam.

Every muscle in Eric’s body tensed. He heard footsteps rushing from the front door toward the archway leading to the kitchen and debated stepping away from Georgia. But Eric didn’t want her brother’s first punch to hit her. Liam would never do it on purpose. Still, fury could push a person past control. Eric stayed, his clothed body shielding Georgia’s naked one. If he moved, she’d be exposed.

Liam grabbed Eric’s arm and pulled him off Georgia, his anger adding to his strength.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Liam demanded. “She’s my sister!”

“Liam, please don’t do this,” Georgia said.

Liam ignored her, delivering a right hook to Eric’s face. His head swung back, and he felt blood pool in his mouth. Eric stumbled back a step and then steadied himself, preparing for the next hit, knowing he deserved every one.

GEORGIA SCRAMBLED TO find her dress. She had to stop her brother. Eric refused to fight back, taking each hit as if he’d earned a penalty for loving her.

“Stop, Liam.” She slipped her dress over her head, quickly buttoning up the front just enough to cover her chest. “This is not what it looks like.”

She raced forward and grabbed her brother’s arm. Liam stilled, unwilling to risk pushing her aside in order to hit his friend, the man she loved.

“It’s exactly what it looks like,” he said. “I trusted him and look what he fucking did.”

“He didn’t do anything,” she said.

Liam turned to her. “You were naked, Georgia. In the damn kitchen. He had his hands all over for you. When I asked him to give you a job, I expected my best friend to keep you safe. Look after you. Not seduce you.” Her brother’s eyes narrowed. “Is this why you wanted to leave last night? Did he force you?”

“What?” Her eyes widened. “No! It’s not like that. It’s never been like that.”

“Never?” Liam turned to Eric, baring his teeth like an angry animal intent on tearing something to shreds. “How long has this been going on?”

“A couple of weeks,” Georgia said. “Not that it is any of your business. And we were planning to tell you after the investigation.”

Her brother didn’t look at her, instead focusing on Eric. “You’ve been sleeping with my sister for weeks and you didn’t think to tell me because of some problem at work? What the hell? You’re my fucking best friend. I respected you, Eric. How could you lay a hand on her knowing what she has been through? She’s been back three months! Before that she was living in a war zone. And this is your way of helping her? I thought I could trust you to take care of her. But stripping her down and screwing her against the wall in broad daylight before she goes to pick up your kid? That’s how you repay decades of friendship and trust?”