This only made him suck harder making her tingly in the most private of places. Her back arched instinctively as his hands finally made their way down under her cardigan.

His touch was so gentle and slow it drove her insane. She wanted to tell him to stop, she knew she should but the feel of his hand against the burning flesh of her abdomen made it impossible.

“My,” he whispered in between sucking her neck and she shushed him before he’d begin to talking again. “My Roni.” The words were gasped and he went at her neck even harder now.

She gulped hard trying not to put too much thought into what he’d just said. Her entire body was on fire now feeling his lips and tongue sucking her neck. He brought his mouth back to her lips and kissed her so deep she was drowning in his taste and she loved it.

His body slid over hers. There was no hiding how badly he wanted her too. This only made her heart beat even harder. The only shred of hope that Veronica clung to now that this wouldn’t go any further was the fact that they were still fully dressed and the door wasn’t locked. Surely, he wouldn’t take the chance of someone walking in on them.

Those were the only things she could count on at this point, because the feel of his hard body against hers, the taste of his mouth, the smell of his masculinity mixed with the cologne that nearly did her in when she smelled it on him earlier made it impossible for her to put two words together much less come up with any reason why she shouldn’t beg him to do to her what she’d been dreaming about for months now. Her hands roamed his big strong back wildly. She was drunk with the anticipation of feeling him inside her.

He slowed his kisses and pulled away to look at her as the DJ outside began the countdown to the New Year over the mic. When they got down to one and heard the cheers, Noah smiled and Veronica smiled back still barely able to catch her breath. She couldn’t think of a more perfect way to ring in the New Year.

“Happy New Year,” he whispered and without giving her time to respond he kissed Veronica very slowly prolonging it as it got deeper and deeper driving her absolutely crazy. Then he stopped to gaze at her for a moment. “I love you.”

Those three words paralyzed her instantly, and she prayed he didn’t feel the erratic change of pace her heart suddenly took. Okay maybe she could think of a reason why they shouldn’t do this. The same reason she’d had all along. Nothing but heartache could come of this. But for the longest time she’d been worried about her own heartache not his. Unbelievably she was even more sure now that this would be a huge mistake.

CHAPTER 19

Noah actually heard Roni gulp and felt his own gut tighten. Fuck! Too soon! Maybe it was too soon but there was no way he could hold it in anymore. He had to tell her.

“Noah,” she placed her open palm against his chest and for the first time since they’d begun kissing he felt her pull away. “I think maybe you’re confusing things.”

Now it was Noah who pulled away. “What?”

“I’m feeling things, too,” she said sitting up slightly. “But we have to be realistic and I don’t want you confusing the feelings you have for me as your good friend for anything more. I’m sorry,” she said adding insult to injury as she began to move off the bed.

“Hold on.” He reached out and held her arm, feeling the pounding in his head start up again. “First of all don’t be sorry about anything and whatever you do do not take back what just happened here between us.”

“I’m not taking it back. I’m just saying maybe you’re confusing this—”

“I’m not confusing a damn thing.” Noah straightened out too quickly, immediately regretting it as the dizzy spell hit him.

“Are you okay?” Roni moved closer to him again and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Don’t do this, Roni. Don’t make this less than what it is. You’re feeling it, too. Don’t try to deny it.”

Her wide eyes blinked a few times, but she didn’t pull away. “I won’t deny I’m feeling something. I’d have to be a corpse not to. What I’m saying is if we do this, it changes everything.”

“I want it to.” Unable to hold back any longer he kissed her lips softly again. “Don’t you?”

“No! Don’t you see? You’re already saying things that will ultimately ruin our friendship. You’re not in love with me, Noah. You may think you are right now—”

“Look,” he said trying desperately to not sound as angry as her last statement made him. “Maybe you’re not there yet. Maybe you never will be, but do me a favor, don’t tell me what I’m feeling okay? Because I f**king know what I’m feeling and that’s that I’m in love with you.”

She tried pulling away but he held her tight. “I don’t wanna lose you, Noah.”

“You won’t,” he whispered, leaning his forehead against hers.

“How can we continue to be friends if you’re in love with me?”

“Why couldn’t we?” His head wasn’t the only thing that pounded now so did his heart. Her words were sucking the life out of him and he didn’t understand what she was so damn afraid of. “Couples should be friends first.”

She shook her head adding to the growing fear in the pit of his stomach. “We’re in two completely different stages of our lives and always will be. I wouldn’t dream of asking you to skip past anything just because I’ve done it already.” She pulled back and looked him straight in the eyes. “I’m all for staying friends but if we continue to do this, there are some things I’m sure we wouldn’t be able to handle.”