Had she told her family about the parent at school who was bugging her?

  “I wanted to find a new fitness routine. Not to mention getting out of the apartment more.” Her tone was bright. “Also, you know very well Umma and Abba have been bugging me to sign up again for years now.”

  Ah, so that was it? He doubted that was the entire reason.

  Eric dropped the towel in his backpack and headed toward the door.

  “Well, I think you will do well here. And Eric can help if you have any questions and I’m not available.”

  She turned and caught sight of him.

  “So I take it you two know each other?” Master Myeoung glanced between Eric and Hannah.

  “We do,” she said carefully. “He is friends with James.”

  “Ah. James.” The older man’s words turned dry. “I can’t say that I’m sad you two ended your relationship. But Eric is a good man.”

  Eric choked on a cough as Hannah gaped in clear shock. Clearly, her uncle hadn’t held much fondness for James.

  “Anyway, you two have a good night. I will see you in my next class.”

  Mr. Myeoung bowed and Eric acknowledged him with one in return, Hannah doing so as well.

  When he’d left, Eric glanced at Hannah with a slight smile. “Let me walk you out to your car?”

  She hesitated, but gave a small nod. “I’d appreciate that. Thank you.”

  They left the building together, silent but side by side. The sun had set an hour ago, and the smell of saltwater drifted inland from Puget Sound on the fall breeze.

  He stopped in front of her car and turned to her. “Was tonight uncomfortable?”

  She was quiet for a moment. “This is all a little surprising. I didn’t expect you to be here. I remember vaguely you said you took martial arts. I think you always just said you were going to work out. Or to class. I just never imagined it was Taekwondo—” she grimaced and lifted her gaze to his “—and with my uncle.”

  “Yeah. It’s a bit of a trip for me too,” he admitted. “I’ve looked up to Master Myeoung since I was a kid. Turns out I’ve been friends with his niece for years and had no clue.”

  “So weird.” She gave a soft laugh. “Anyway, I should go, I guess.”

  “Hey, do you want to have a drink?”

  “Like, now?” She cocked her head. “I don’t know. I need to shower. It’s getting late. And you have a girlfriend.”

  The way her eyes went wide and her cheeks darkened with a flush, he knew she hadn’t meant to say that last bit.

  “I don’t.”

  “You don’t what? Need to shower? I mean, not to be rude, but we got pretty sweaty in there and I can see the sweat stains on your uniform—”

  “Have a girlfriend.”

  Her lips parted and her brows drew together. She started to speak, but stopped. She bit her lip and glanced away, seeming to gather her thoughts.

  “Are you saying you broke up in the last week?”

  “No. I’m saying I never had a girlfriend. I lied when I said I was seeing someone.”

  And there it was, all on the line. Pride smashed on the ground beneath his feet.

  She glanced back to him and uncertainty clouded her eyes. “Why on earth would you lie about something like that?”

  Damn good question. “It just came out at the time. I was—” shit and here I go again “—having feelings for you I probably have no right to have. Saying I was seeing someone was a big fat roadblock to them.”

  He heard the slight hitch as her breath caught and saw the widening of her eyes in the glow of the streetlamp.

  Never had he felt so exposed. So vulnerable. He waited for her to brush him off. To laugh nervously and then get the hell out of Dodge.

  “I see.” She lowered her gaze and nodded. “Maybe we should have that drink. Talk about things.”

  Wait, what? What was happening? Was this for real?

  “But I really do need that shower.” Her nose wrinkled. “And you do too. Want to come to my apartment in about an hour?”

  It all sank in and a thrill hit him that she was telling him to come over.

  Don’t read anything into it, buddy. She also told you your smelly ass needs to shower.

  “Yeah. I’ll be there and can pick up some wine or something.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about that. I have plenty.” She hesitated. “But I wouldn’t be opposed to you grabbing some cheesecake.”

  Cheesecake? Huh. Okay.

  “Sure. Any particular kind?”

  “Anything with cream cheese. I am not picky when it comes to cheesecake.” She gave him a quick smile, her gaze considering now, before she dug into her backpack for her keys. “See you soon.”

  Before she could shut her door, she paused. “Wait. I guess I should be more up-front.”

  Damn. It had seemed a little too good to be true.

  “Okay.” He kept his expression neutral and willed the disappointment not to show on his face.

  “I guess I’m not a fan of raspberry cheesecake. But anything else goes.” She closed the door to her car with a quick wave, then drove off a moment later.

  A bubble of laughter escaped from his throat and he thrust his hand into his hair. She’d had to know what she was doing with that little comment. Going by her smile, she had.

  Now, he just had an hour to shower, look good, and find the best damn not-raspberry cheesecake in town.

  *

  Eric had feelings too.

  The thought raced around in her head as Hannah stood beneath the stream of water in the shower, shampooing the sweat from her hair.

  How crazy had it been to hear him say that?

  Then again, he hadn’t really said what kind of feelings, just that he’d had them.

  Surely, they wouldn’t be feelings like “I’m madly in love with you and want to be the father of your children” feelings. That would be utterly crazy.

  They were probably much more along the lines of “I think you’re hot and we should probably try getting it on” feelings.

  That certainly seemed more in tune with how a man would think. Not that she had much experience with men. Especially in the sexual department. Since the moment she’d lost her virginity to him in tenth grade, there’d only been James.

  James.

  She cringed, rinsing the shampoo from her hair.

  Had she somehow forgotten that Eric was James’s good friend?

  It doesn’t matter.

  She hardened her resolve. She owed no loyalty to James, or any of the lingering feelings he might have for her.

  Those had disappeared when he’d swapped saliva with another woman. Or, as she’d begun to realize, even before that.

  “So whatever happens between Eric and me is our business,” she whispered. “James is irrelevant at this point.”

  What did she want to happen?

  She conditioned her hair, playing out all kinds of scenarios. One left her a little more hot and bothered than she cared to admit.

  By the time she’d soaped and shaved her body, she was pretty sure what she wanted. The biggest question was—did she have the guts to go through with it?

  She rushed to blow-dry her hair, before getting dressed. She only hesitated a moment before pulling on a lacy purple bra and panty set. A comfortable green maxi dress and a hint of makeup meant she looked fairly good, but not “hitting the club to pick up a guy” good.

  By the time there was a knock on her door, her pulse was racing and her stomach was doing backflips.

  She sucked in a quick breath, smoothed the dress down her stomach, and swung it open.

  “Whoa.” The air left her lungs on a sigh.

  It was hard to say which was hotter—Eric in his jeans, polo shirt and wet spiky hair, or the box of variety cheesecake in his hand.

  The way his gaze traveled from her head to her toes made her realize the feeling might be mutual.

  “I didn’t want to be wrong on the cheesecake, so I got the sampler box. You can have leftovers all week.”

  She took the box from him and gave him an approving look. “You might just be the smartest man on the planet.”

  His smile faltered a bit as he stepped over the threshold and into her apartment, closing and locking the door behind him. “Or maybe the stupidest? I can’t decide.”

  She glanced at him over her shoulder as she placed the cheesecake in the fridge. “What makes you say that?” Though she had a pretty good idea what the answer was.

  James.

  “Nothing. Forget I said it.”

  But that was easier said than done, and now the memory of her ex lingered in the room between them.

  She summoned all her courage and sucked in a quick breath. “Look, Eric. I really appreciated your honesty when you told me you were having feelings. I’m not one for games.”

  “Neither am I.” He joined her in the kitchen, his muscled body so close she could smell the soap on him. “So how do you feel about me?”

  “There are . . .” She swallowed hard. “Also feelings of some sort.”

  Oh, that had been hard to admit. Embarrassing, and so achingly vulnerable to the possibility of rejection.

  “Yeah?” His voice dropped an octave on that one word. He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Can you describe these feelings?”

  She swallowed hard. “A little tingly all over. Especially where you’re touching me.”

  His fingers grazed the curve of her ear and she shivered.

  “Ah, I see what you mean.” His head lowered slightly, so their mouths were just inches apart. “Anything else?”

  Was this really about to happen? Was he going to kiss her?

  “I . . .” The feel of his breath warm on her lips drove any coherent thought from her mind. “What was the question?”

  His mouth curved into a knowing, confident smile, before he murmured, “It’s not important.”

  And then his mouth covered hers.

  Her knees nearly buckled with how sweet the first contact was. He used his mouth to explore hers. It was a skilled exploration. Soft. Sensual.

  It was weird. So weird to be kissing someone besides James, but she shoved that thought out of her just as quickly as it had come in.

  She reached out to grasp his shirt, needing to center herself as her mouth parted to his. The stroke of his tongue against hers had a soft moan gathering in her throat.

  Parts of her that hadn’t been awake for months—maybe even years—started to wake up again. Her breasts grew heavier, and the ache between her legs more demanding.

  She wanted this. She wanted him. Eric. It didn’t matter who he was. Right now he was a very attractive male, and her super out of practice sexual side was responding accordingly.

  Eric pulled her closer, deepening the kiss and stroking a hand down her back. When his fingers brushed low on her back, just above her bottom, her body clenched and she pressed herself hard against him with a gasp.

  She flattened her palms against his chest, acutely aware of how hard and defined his muscles were.

  His low groan sent a thrill of power through her. She was definitely affecting him as much as he was her.

  He tore his mouth from hers before pressing his forehead to hers.

  “Hannah . . .?”

  “Mmm-hmm?” She kissed the side of his neck, inhaling the clean scent of soap.

  “Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”

  Chapter Eight

  The emotions on her face ranged from genuine confusion to dazed passion. Eric had never before wished for the ability to kick himself in the balls, but he was kind of feeling the urge right now.

  Damn.

  It would sure cure the raging erection he was sporting, not to mention it was a form of self-punishment for calling this to a halt.

  “I’m sorry . . . what isn’t a good idea?” Her words were husky. She shook her head. “Kissing me?”

  He exhaled slowly, trying to calm his dick down. “Where kissing you could lead.”

  She paused and glanced down the hall. “Well, truthfully, I was hoping for my bedroom. But that seems to be a problem now?”

  And crap, if he wasn’t fully hard before, he sure was now. Eric shifted against the discomfort now straining against his jeans.

  “God, I want that more than anything, Hannah,” he muttered thickly, stroking the back of her neck and meeting her gaze. “But you’re James’s ex. There’s this whole damn Bro Code thing.”

  “Not like a literal one.” Her brows drew together in dismay.

  “Well, sort of, yeah. Guys have these rules with their friends. Hell, girls probably have them too. Rules about dating and sex. Don’t sleep with your friend’s ex is probably one of the biggest rules.”

  “So . . .” She paused, seeming to choose her words carefully. “You tell me that you have feelings for me. You come to my apartment with cheesecake and kiss me, only to immediately regret it because your conscience over this supposed ‘Bro Code’ kicks in?”

  Pretty much exactly that. He struggled to find the words, but with their bodies still pressed together and her breasts crushed to his chest, it was hard to stay solid in his resolve.

  “Listen.” She licked her lips and trailed her hands over his chest in a way that lifted every hair on his body with awareness. “James and I are over. I even spoke to him on the phone the other day and really explained that to him.”

  She’d finally answered one of his calls?

  “I know he’s a good friend of yours, but if we sleep together, it’s just sex. He never has to know it happened.” She shrugged. “It’s not like we’re going to end up together or anything.”

  Ouch. Why the hell did that cut to the bone?

  Yeah, he’d nursed a little crush on her for years. And, yeah, he’d fantasized more than once about her naked beneath him. But had he really imagined it could be more than that?

  The sharp pressure in his chest made him realize maybe he’d been hoping for more.

  But in reality, that couldn’t happen. James was still one of his best friends, and he’d be crushed if Eric got serious with his ex.

  “I’m going to be really honest with you, Eric.” She gave a husky laugh and lowered her lashes. “I’ve never had sex with anyone besides James. And even with him, it’s been a while. Like, long before we broke up.”

  Eric blinked in dismay as her words sank in. They hadn’t been sleeping together before they’d broken up?

  Eric hadn’t really thought about it before, but James and Hannah’s relationship with the opposite sex was limited to each other. They’d basically grown-up together. They’d only been active sexually with each other.

  No wonder James was taking it so hard.

  “I need to get back out there. Back on the horse, as they say. I have—” there was no denying the embarrassment that swept across her face now “—needs. Desires, as they say.”

  He bit back a groan and fought the temptation to claim her pink lips again, still swollen from his kiss.

  Would she be a shy lover? Bold?

  “I want to start having sex again. Preferably with you.”

  Okay, so she was probably on the bold side. There was no stopping the groan that escaped him now.

  “I trust you, Eric. We’re friends, right?”

  “Yeah.” Sure, and friends wanting to screw like bunnies was totally normal.

  “I’m also attracted to you. I kind of think my first time back in the game should be with someone I know and trust.” She bit her lip. “I don’t think I’d have the nerve to go out and pick up a guy at a bar or something.”

  Just the thought of her doing that made his blood hot for different reasons. An unfamiliar sense of jealousy pricked him, and he slid his fingers up the back of her neck and into her hair.

  He didn’t want some random guy being the one to help her get back in the game, as she’d put it.

  So if he had to choose between walking out of this apartment right now and keeping their status as just friends, or carrying her into that bedroom and rocking both of their worlds . . . well, he sure as hell was going to pick the second one.

  And he’d take that damn secret to the grave. James would never know.

  “I want you.” He tugged on her hair, lightly pulling her neck back so he could press his lips to the beating pulse on her neck. “I’ve always wanted you, Hannah.”

  She made a small gasp. From shock or pleasure, he couldn’t tell.

  “If you’re sure about this, then let’s go to your bedroom.”

  “Yes.” Her breathy whisper brushed his ear. “Down the hall to the right. I’m not sure I trust my legs to walk, though. You’ve turned them into mush.”

  His laugh was a half groan as he swept her into his arms and carried her down the hall.

  God, holding her like this felt so damn right. Her petite form and slight curves were just as amazing as he’d always imagined.

  He nudged her bedroom door open with his foot and took quick inventory of the room that was decorated in blues and greens. But mostly he focused on the bed.

  A full-sized bed with a green comforter that he could already envision her naked on. He set her down on the mattress and mentally planned how to get her out of that dress.

  Just the thought of what was under the dress, and what he was going to do—

  Shit.

  He didn’t have a condom.

  He didn’t have a fucking condom.

  Oh God, this wasn’t happening. Had he just cockblocked his own fantasy?

  And why would you have a condom, dumbass? It wasn’t like you thought you’d be sleeping with James’s ex-girlfriend tonight.

  She stared up at him, leaning back on her elbows with her mouth parted and need shining in her eyes.

  So, no sex. Which he was already telling his dick to prepare for. Not unless she had a condom. Which seemed like a long shot.

  Damn, this was going to suck.

  He crawled onto the bed beside her and reached out to cup her face, turning her face toward his.

  One thing was for certain—he vowed, while catching her lips in another kiss—he wouldn’t leave this apartment until she’d had at least one orgasm.