Graham quickly dropped his gaze and put his fork down, leaning back and threading his fingers together behind his neck. “Well, and you know how much it pains me to say this, you were right. This was fucking delicious.”
It was enough to break Claire out of her trance, and she grinned, finishing her last bite. “I’m glad you liked it.” She stood and gathered the containers to the middle of the table.
As he watched, he noticed a speck of whipped cream near the corner of her mouth.
“Claire.”
She didn’t look up. “Hmm?”
“Come here.”
Their gazes collided, and she straightened, moving to stand beside him.
Graham reached up and swiped his index finger across her lip, then brought it to his mouth, the creamy sweetness hitting his taste buds. His eyes didn’t leave hers as he lifted his hand once more, gently rubbing his thumb back and forth across her perfect, full lower lip. Her mouth parted and she leaned forward, her knee bumping his thigh.
“Fuck it,” she muttered, throwing one leg across his to straddle him.
Surprised, his hands went to her waist to steady her mere seconds before her lips crashed down on his. Her arms locked around his shoulders and she arched into him.
His mind went blank as her lips moved on his, his tongue sliding into the warmth of her mouth. Would he ever get over how perfect it felt to kiss her? How many friends slid into a dynamic shift as easily as they had? It wasn’t awkward, it wasn’t fumbling, it wasn’t weird.
It was perfect.
Wanting her soft, warm skin beneath his fingers more than he wanted another piece of that cheesecake, he slid one hand beneath the drawstring waist of her pants.
“Shit, I didn’t even change out of my scrubs,” she said, and leaned back to tug the top over her head.
Graham’s mouth dropped open at the expanse of bare skin and black bra suddenly in his face. He pressed his forehead to her collarbone, inhaling her sweet scent and releasing a groan. She grabbed his face and angled his lips back to hers.
He tried to lift up into her to ease the pressure building, and a bolt of pain shot down his leg.
He groaned, and not in a good way.
She pulled back. “What? Did I hurt you?”
“No.” He gritted his teeth, trying not to let it show. Because fuck his broken leg and the throbbing pain of putting even a tiny bit of weight on it—he did not want to stop where this was going.
“You’re lying.” She jumped off his lap, concern marring her brow. “Graham, stop staring at my chest and focus. Is it your leg?”
“But you have very, very nice breasts.”
“I know, but they’re not more important than your broken leg.”
“I disagree.”
Claire growled in frustration. “Graham Scott. Look at me right now or I’ll never take my top off for you again.”
His gaze snapped to her face.
“Men,” she muttered and crossed her arms. “Seriously, what happened?”
“I just put my weight on my feet for a second. Both of them. I wasn’t thinking. There was a sharp pain but it’s already fading.”
“Are you sure?”
“Promise.” He reached for her hand and tugged her close. “Get back over here.”
She shook her head. “I won’t risk you hurting yourself.”
“I lost my head for a second. I’ll be more careful.”
She lifted one hand and threaded her fingers through his hair, giving him a sad sort of smile. “Isn’t that the whole point? To lose your head? Maybe we should wait until you don’t have to worry about your leg.”
He ran both hands up her sides, his thumbs caressing each rib. Their gazes locked again and he swallowed. “Please, Claire. I’m going out of my mind over here. We don’t have to have sex if you think it’s too risky. But for the love of my sanity, please let me kiss you, and touch you, and make you feel good.”
She shivered beneath his palms and leaned into him. “Are, um…” He’d never heard her voice so breathy. More of that, please. “Are you sure?”
“Very.”
She hummed out a sigh when his hands moved higher still. Her chin lifted and her eyes slid shut. “Okay. But we’re going to your room where you’re off your feet.” She seemed to regain focus and grabbed his crutches, handing them over. “And I want to make you feel good, too.”
“I’ll allow it,” he managed.
She tossed him a saucy wink over her shoulder and crossed the room, hips swaying as she reached back to unclasp her bra before disappearing into the hallway.