Not the Friend with Benefits: A BBW New Adult Serial Romance (Not the Hot Chick series Book 3) Read Online Free
way."
"Really. I'm the one who's been dragging my heels. I just figured that out."
"How come?"
"I don't know."
"He doesn't turn you on?"
"Yeah, he does." She thought of their kiss outside the coffeehouse and remembered how it had warmed her down to her toes.
But it wasn't like the blaze she'd experienced with Cam.
There you go again, comparing the two of them. What's the point?
Yes, she and Cam had enjoyed two hot hookups. Sex with him had been like a sheet of flame, flaring up, consuming her, and burning out. Her attraction to Drew felt like glowing coals that could be fed to maintain a steady, long-burning fire.
Her thing with Cam had been intense, but could never be sustained.
Oh, get over yourself. You put Cam in the friend zone, but he never asked to be anywhere else, did he? Sure, he'd be happy enough to get busy now and then, but he's never shown any interest in having a serious romance with you.
Why should he? He was young, horny, and free. He had too many options, too many girls hitting on him. She would never feel completely at ease. She and Drew could build something together. With him, there was a chance for a future.
"I know what your problem is, little Layla."
Cam's unexpected remark startled her. She'd been so mired in her dilemma, she'd forgotten he was right there beside her. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. Same old song. You're overthinking it."
He'd told her that once before, when she'd been struggling with the decision to get with him the first time. "You think?"
"Oh, yeah." He folded his arms across his middle and leaned back, his expression so smug she wanted to kick him. "You're going round and round in your head. What if I do this, what if he wants that, what'll happen if I …" He puffed a sound of disgust and flicked his fingers to show what he thought of her doubts. "The hell with it. Stop futzing around. You know what you want. Go for it."
Was it really that easy?
He plowed ahead, steamrolling her uncertainty. "Listen, I know who I'm talking to. Underneath that proper little schoolteacher veneer is a wild woman. I got the scratches on my back to prove it."
The remark was so casually inappropriate, she burst out laughing. "Be quiet. I never scratched you."
He gave her an alligator grin, all teeth. "Claw marks, baby. You were Sheena, Queen of the Jungle!"
Recalling that time, a thrill zinged through her. A sexual thrill that swirled in her belly and warmed parts lower down, creating an ache so intense she bit her lip to stifle a moan. So wrong in this place, with parents and their little kids skating by, innocently enjoying the day.
She swatted him with her glove, punishing him for putting her in this predicament. "Stop. You're out of control."
"No. You were out of control." He grew serious. "Really. If you want the guy, make your move. You sure weren't shy with me."
No, she hadn't been. Not once they got started, and certainly not their second time, when she practically dragged him into the storeroom of the Shamrock.
She stared at him. Make your move. What if she made a move right now, grabbed Cam, and planted a big, wet one on him, right in front of everybody?
And make a fool of yourself? Are you crazy? You'll never be enough for Cam. And hello, have you forgotten about Drew?
Drew. Smart, sweet Drew, who was perfect for her. What was she waiting for? Some bolt of lightning to hit her? Some message written in the sky saying He's the one ? Why was she sitting here fantasizing about Cam, who was all wrong?
She and Cam could never be more than friends. Anything else would lead to heartbreak— her heartbreak.
But he spoke the truth about her dithering, not making up her mind. She was standing in her own way. Holding on to those flimsy dreams of Cam might lose her the chance of happiness with Drew. "You're absolutely right."
"Hell, yeah, I'm right. So what are you waiting for? Get your ass in gear and give the poor guy some."
Instead of the lip-lock she'd imagined moments before, she gave
"Really. I'm the one who's been dragging my heels. I just figured that out."
"How come?"
"I don't know."
"He doesn't turn you on?"
"Yeah, he does." She thought of their kiss outside the coffeehouse and remembered how it had warmed her down to her toes.
But it wasn't like the blaze she'd experienced with Cam.
There you go again, comparing the two of them. What's the point?
Yes, she and Cam had enjoyed two hot hookups. Sex with him had been like a sheet of flame, flaring up, consuming her, and burning out. Her attraction to Drew felt like glowing coals that could be fed to maintain a steady, long-burning fire.
Her thing with Cam had been intense, but could never be sustained.
Oh, get over yourself. You put Cam in the friend zone, but he never asked to be anywhere else, did he? Sure, he'd be happy enough to get busy now and then, but he's never shown any interest in having a serious romance with you.
Why should he? He was young, horny, and free. He had too many options, too many girls hitting on him. She would never feel completely at ease. She and Drew could build something together. With him, there was a chance for a future.
"I know what your problem is, little Layla."
Cam's unexpected remark startled her. She'd been so mired in her dilemma, she'd forgotten he was right there beside her. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. Same old song. You're overthinking it."
He'd told her that once before, when she'd been struggling with the decision to get with him the first time. "You think?"
"Oh, yeah." He folded his arms across his middle and leaned back, his expression so smug she wanted to kick him. "You're going round and round in your head. What if I do this, what if he wants that, what'll happen if I …" He puffed a sound of disgust and flicked his fingers to show what he thought of her doubts. "The hell with it. Stop futzing around. You know what you want. Go for it."
Was it really that easy?
He plowed ahead, steamrolling her uncertainty. "Listen, I know who I'm talking to. Underneath that proper little schoolteacher veneer is a wild woman. I got the scratches on my back to prove it."
The remark was so casually inappropriate, she burst out laughing. "Be quiet. I never scratched you."
He gave her an alligator grin, all teeth. "Claw marks, baby. You were Sheena, Queen of the Jungle!"
Recalling that time, a thrill zinged through her. A sexual thrill that swirled in her belly and warmed parts lower down, creating an ache so intense she bit her lip to stifle a moan. So wrong in this place, with parents and their little kids skating by, innocently enjoying the day.
She swatted him with her glove, punishing him for putting her in this predicament. "Stop. You're out of control."
"No. You were out of control." He grew serious. "Really. If you want the guy, make your move. You sure weren't shy with me."
No, she hadn't been. Not once they got started, and certainly not their second time, when she practically dragged him into the storeroom of the Shamrock.
She stared at him. Make your move. What if she made a move right now, grabbed Cam, and planted a big, wet one on him, right in front of everybody?
And make a fool of yourself? Are you crazy? You'll never be enough for Cam. And hello, have you forgotten about Drew?
Drew. Smart, sweet Drew, who was perfect for her. What was she waiting for? Some bolt of lightning to hit her? Some message written in the sky saying He's the one ? Why was she sitting here fantasizing about Cam, who was all wrong?
She and Cam could never be more than friends. Anything else would lead to heartbreak— her heartbreak.
But he spoke the truth about her dithering, not making up her mind. She was standing in her own way. Holding on to those flimsy dreams of Cam might lose her the chance of happiness with Drew. "You're absolutely right."
"Hell, yeah, I'm right. So what are you waiting for? Get your ass in gear and give the poor guy some."
Instead of the lip-lock she'd imagined moments before, she gave
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