Best Friends With Benefits (Most Likely To) Read Online Free PDF Page B

scratching the back of his neck.
    She’d touched him there and knew his hair was stiff with gel, stiff like… She shook her head. She hated that the number of beds was even an issue. There was a reason people always said sex ruined friendships. It had to be true, if almost-sex made things this awkward.
    “Would you guys like a cot?” the lobby attendant asked.
    “It’s up to him,” Valerie finally said. If he could control himself so could she, but if he couldn’t…she was a goner.
    “No, it’s up to her,” Alec retorted, not looking at her. He stood up straighter, faced the desk.
    The lobby attendant swiveled his head from one of them to the other. “They’re free if that’s the issue.”
    Neither of them responded. Her throat burned. Her legs tingled, but there was nowhere to run. This was crazy. Though she knew it wasn’t all the almost-sex, it was just them being them. They made decisions together. Unlike some friendships she had with women who could be bossy or one-sided, she and Alec were equals.
    Now they couldn’t even make a simple choice about a crappy cot. They needed that cot, if for no other reason than to avoid similar standoffs.
    Is this how our weekend will be now?
    The lobby attendant typed on his keyboard. He went into the drawer at his desk and produced two key cards. He held one up in each hand. “Be sure to call down to the desk when you make up your minds,” he added with a huge fake smile.
    Smart-ass.
    They each reached for a key and headed toward the elevator. Alec paused at the newsstand; the gate was down but the light inside was still on.
    “Look.” He pointed at the magazines. His Rolling Stone cover was stacked five across on the rack.
    Even though staring at that cover had started this whole thing, she was thankful for the distraction now. “You didn’t tell them to stock extra for this weekend, did you?”
    He laughed. “No, but I’m betting my publicist did.”
    “Thought you needed to impress people even further with your fame?”
    “It didn’t impress you.”
    “You don’t need to impress me,” she responded quickly.
    “I know, but it doesn’t mean I won’t keep trying.” He winked and continued toward the elevator, leaving her to ponder the back of his leather jacket.
    Did he seriously care? He had millions of women worshipping him, so what was one more? Though considering she still couldn’t shake the tremble in her thighs, maybe she was closer to becoming a subject than she allowed herself to believe.
    They entered the elevator. The small space brought Valerie right back into the closet. The goose bumps already swarming her skin brought all their friends over for an out-of-control party. Unfortunately, they also invited stomach acid. Alec’s question echoed, beckoned.
    Do you want me to fuck you?
    “Sorry about the suite,” he said as they started to ascend.
    She straightened her stance and pushed the anxiety down. “It’s fine.”
    Their voices were far too calm. Maybe he was trying to appear nonchalant. She certainly was.
    “You seem upset about it.” He drew his lips in thoughtfully. “Or something.”
    Perhaps his composure wasn’t an act. His question might not be the only thing on his mind.
    “I told you it was fine.” She clutched her luggage tighter.
    Is he seriously okay? Maybe he could just screw her and leave with no consequences. But he hadn’t screwed her, because she couldn’t say the words. She swallowed, the stomach acid using her esophagus as a waterslide. She couldn’t even think the words.
    She couldn’t tell him she didn’t want a stupid cot, and she couldn’t say what he needed to hear in the closet. Even with him there telling her he wanted to hear it, she didn’t have the confidence to say the words. Besides, she wasn’t used to men talking to her like that, and it made her so hot it scared her.
    His phone dinged. He took it out and glanced at it. “My mom says hi.”
    Someone was inside her using her lungs as