Tyler watched the smile disappear from Rose’s face, dazed by her beauty. Her dark eyes sent a clear message. It wasn’t his best friend staring at him, but a woman who wanted him. After all this time, would she finally give in? Today, of all days, when he’d least expect it, and when he hadn’t tried one of his many stunts to seduce her?
His pulse picked up, and his skin started to burn around his neck where Rose laced her hands. Suddenly, Tyler realized where they were. In her room, on the bed, already half-naked and on top of each other.
Rose’s face was only inches away from his own—one breath away. Tyler leaned in closer as if to kiss her and felt her body stiffen on his legs, but she didn’t move away. Nor did she make any motion to get up. Rose’s eyes widened, and she inhaled sharply, but she didn’t retreat.
Tyler didn’t need any more hints. This was his opportunity; he would not waste this chance and give Rose time to think about what was happening or to change her mind. He bent her backward and pressed his lips to hers.
***
Afterward, Tyler lay in Rose’s bed. He was staring at the ceiling mesmerized by what had just happened, and cherishing the weight of her body on his chest as she slept. Tyler trailed a finger down her neck, to her shoulder, and down her arm. Rose shivered without waking up, and then her breathing relaxed again.
Tyler was stunned by what had just happened between them. Finally, he understood what making love meant as opposed to having sex. Everything happened spontaneously with no inhibitions. Even if it was their first time together, they knew each other too well to be shy. At least in the passion of the moment. And making love to Rose had been unique, explosive, and urgent, like taking that first breath of air after being underwater for a long time. Why had they waited so long? The last ten years seemed like a total waste of time now. But that was over. Everything would change now.
Guilt tightened his chest, the same sensation that ripped through Tyler whenever he cheated on any of his girlfriends. With Georgiana, he’d honestly thought things would be different. His girlfriend was cool, never too clingy, and—except for the subject of Rose staying with him—they never argued about anything. And now Tyler could see Georgiana had been right all along. She’d picked up on something he’d been blind to.
He’d have to break up with her at once. Tyler wasn’t looking forward to that “friendly” chat. He was sure Georgiana would not make it easy for him. But there was no space left in his life for her, not now that his friendship with Rose had transformed into something new, something better…
Could it be possible he’d been in love with his best friend all these years without ever realizing it? Was this why he’d cheated in all his previous relationships? Because he’d never loved any of the girls he’d dated?
Tyler had always been attracted to Rose. But he’d always assumed it was a natural I-am-a-boy-you-are-a-girl kind of attraction. Nothing more. Today, he was no longer sure about anything. All the air had left his lungs and his heart wouldn’t stop racing. Whenever he had a flashback of the past hour, his stomach contracted as if plunging down a steep rollercoaster ride. Was this what being in love felt like?
The L-word sent a thrill of fear down his spine. This was Rose in his arms; he couldn’t screw this one up. He had to be cautious and take it slow, one day at a time. He looked down at her. Rose was snuggled against him, her head resting on his chest, her eyes closed. He brushed the hair away from her face to have a clear view of her beautiful, serene features as she slept.
Yep, he was in trouble.