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She turned toward him with a smile. “I don’t think the movie you wanted to watch starts for another half hour.”

“That’s okay. We can always use the time to catch up. It’s been a while.” He returned her smile. “So whatcha been doing?

“Working. What’ve you been doing?” she replied with a raised eyebrow.

“Working. Well, that covered a lot. What’s new in your life? Had any showings?”

“Nope, not since last winter.”

“I’m sure Richard is probably cooking something up for the end of summer here.”

“And I’m sure that’s the last thing on his mind right now.”

Okay. Something was going on there, a little trouble in paradise. Mac’s gaze traveled down her arm to the hand holding her wine glass. Aha, no ring. Unsure of where to start, he put an arm around Darcy’s shoulders. “What’s going on, Darc? You know you can talk to me. What’d the creep do?”

A chuckle quickly transformed to soft sobs that lasted a few minutes. Mac turned her in his arms and wrapped her in his embrace.

“Oh, for God’s sake, why I am I crying over him? He is a creep,” she agreed, pulling away and looking up at him.

Tears trailed down from stormy green eyes over her cheeks. Her lips parted slightly and her breath was a bit labored from crying. He pulled his arms from around her and cupped her face with his hands. Using his thumbs to whisk the wetness from her face, he leaned over and kissed her mouth gently. It lasted only a short minute, but the soft lips and her light indrawn gasp made his cock respond quickly. He shifted slightly and drew back.

“What’d he do to you, baby?”

With a sigh, she answered, “You’ll find out anyway. If not from me, from your mother, who’ll get the scoop from mine.” She inhaled deeply. “He cheated on me.”

Anger surged up as Mac saw the misery etched on her face. Keeping a rein on it, he managed to ask, “Do you just suspect? Or did he admit it?”

“He didn’t have to admit it!” Suddenly she stood, walked around the coffee table and paced the floor in front of the TV. “I caught him. With them!”

Holy Hanna. “Them?”

She stopped and stared at him, wide-eyed. “Yes, he was in bed with two women. Apparently cheating on me wasn’t enough. He had to go the extra mile. I shouldn’t be surprised, really. He always talked about wanting to try a…a threesome.” The word came out in a weak whisper before her voice rose again. “Of course, he would try anything to spice up my lackluster performance.”

“What are you talking about?” Mac rose off the sofa and went to stand next to her, to take her hands.

“Richard was all too happy to lay the blame at my feet. I’m not exciting enough in bed for him, so he had to get it elsewhere. There. Now, you know what’s new in my life. My humiliations. Everything.” She tried to pull away from him, but he held fast.

“Stop it, Darc. His cheating is on him. Not you. Don’t listen or believe his lies. He’s trying to justify what he was doing. He’s scum, and you’re better than that.” He pulled her into his arms and smoothed a hand down her ponytail.

A sniff and a small chuckle escaped her as she laid her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You never did like him.”

“Damn right I didn’t, and turns out for good reason.”

He closed his eyes and began to sway, moving them in a slow, music-less dance. He ran his hands down from the soft bare skin of her shoulders and upper back to the fabric clad hollow of her lower back, resting just above the slight curve of her ass. He felt her breathe deeply before pressing closer to him, tightening her grip on his waist. How far did he push her? God, he wanted her, but did she feel the same or was it just comfort she wanted? From a friend?

“He called me frigid. Cold.” Her voice was a whisper dancing across his neck. She leaned back, her belly pressed firmer against his hardening length as she arched her back to see in his eyes. “I don’t feel frigid or cold with you, Mac.”

“Shhhh,” he murmured. “Forget what he said. He’s an idiot.”

“Will you kiss me?”

Oh God. How the hell would a friend answer? “Darc, make sure you really want something before asking.”

“Please, Mac, I really want you to kiss me. Just a kiss.”

“That’s the thing. It wouldn’t be just a kiss. It’d go further, and if you don’t want that, you better back up.”

“You want more?” Her eyes widened and her voice was breathless.

He groaned. “Honey, proof of that is digging in your belly right now.”

The surprise on her face disappointed him. Now it’d be awkward. He’d have to pretend this never happened. Pretend he didn’t want her and that he was just good ol’ pal Mac, just like always.

She pulled her arms away from his waist. He began to step back when she reached up and touched his neck. “I want more, too. Please.”

“You got it, baby,” he murmured as he cupped her ass, lifted and nestled her against his erection. His mouth found hers. He coaxed her lips open and delved his tongue inside the wet heat. She tasted so sweet and intoxicating, his head spun. A moan escaped her as he stopped the kiss. “Wrap your legs around me.”

Heat coiled as she shifted her hips, cradling him in the apex of her thighs. No woman had ever gotten him this hard, this fast. He scanned the room and eyed the couch before raising an eyebrow at her.

Shaking her head, she motioned toward the hallway. “My room.”

He couldn’t believe this was actually happening. Finally. At least they were assured privacy. Her parents would be gone for a while yet and hers was the only bedroom on this floor.

He strode down the hall until he came to her bedroom door. He stopped and looked at Darcy questioningly. “Last chance. Once we go in, too late, there’s no turning back.”

She played with the curls at the nape of his neck. “Already too late. Go in.”