Salvage

  ****

  Mmm. R.J.’s dream felt so real. The kisses trailing down his neck. The hand resting against his abs. The citrusy sweet scent of lemon invading all his senses.

  His dreams were never this vivid.

  R.J.’s eyes flashed open. He sucked in a hard breath. There she was. Denise seemed to sense that he was fully conscious. She looked up, those green eyes so full of passion. This couldn’t be real.

  “Am I still dreaming?”

  She smiled as seductive as a vixen. “Let’s see.”

  Denise kissed him. Her soft lips moved, urged his to keep up. He did.

  Oh, man. R.J. knew this was bad, but he couldn’t stop himself. Of its own volition, his arm found the smooth nape of Denise’s neck, pulled her closer. Her hand roamed underneath his shirt, touching, seeking.

  His body burned, wanting all of her. Her kiss, her touch just added more fuel to his growing fire. It had been so long since he felt this. No. He’d never felt anything like this. This connection so deep, so quick that it took his breath away.

  R.J. needed to make her his, needed to stake his claim so that the other guy…

  He ripped his mouth away from Denise’s, pushed her away with more force than he intended. He jumped off the couch, paced.

  He couldn’t look at her right now. He was still too full of desire and didn’t trust himself not to take it further.

  His heart and mind warred with each other. His mind was what gave him the boost to get away from Denise, told him she was vulnerable. She said earlier that she loved one man. That man wasn’t R.J. Probably would never be him.

  Right now, she was confused. The man Denise wanted didn’t want her and here he was, giving her comfort, befriending her. R.J. had too much pride to be the rebound guy. He wanted all of Denise, not a piece.

  But his heart told him she had feelings for him too. She had to have felt the bond, the spark between them. Hell, even Barkley felt it.

  “R.J.,” she started.

  “Don’t.”

  “Look at me. Please,” she begged.

  He couldn’t resist her. He spun around. She was still on the couch, looking at him with sorrowful eyes and lips swollen from kissing. R.J. cursed.

  “I’m sorry.” Her thick lashes lowered over her eyes. “I shouldn’t have done that. You weren’t ready.”

  He stared, incredulous. “I took advantage of you. I should be apologizing.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know what got into me. Our signals got crossed. I thought you liked me and—”

  “I do like you,” he interrupted. A lot.

  “Then why did you push me away?”

  He sighed. “Because you don’t want me. You want the other man and I won’t do that to you. I won’t use you. I respect you too much to play with your feelings.”

  Her voice was so soft, so earnest. “You weren’t using me.”

  Not yet, he thought. Had his brain not kicked in when it did, she’d be in his bedroom right about now. “Denise, I think you should leave. You have things you need to deal with and I’m making it worse. I really do like you, but… Yeah, you should leave.”

  Her hand went up to her throat and he prayed she wouldn’t cry. Like a soldier, she took a deep breath and steeled herself. “I think you are right. Thanks for the, um, shoulder.”

  Without another look at him, Denise grabbed her bag and walked out. Barkley whimpered along with R.J.’s heart. He patted Barkley on the head.

  “I know, boy, I thought she was a keeper too.”

  R.J. watched Denise get into her car and drive off. His head told him he did the right thing, but in his apartment alone with Barkley, his heart told him he made a huge mistake.