More Than Friends Read Online Free PDF

was dark, and I didn’t have to face what I’d done. This
morning I have to.”
    Justin cupped
her shoulders with gentle hands. “Would you like to tell me what’s going on? You
can’t deny that last night was mind-blowing, yet you’re skulking off like we
did something dirty.”
    “How can you
not see that what we did was wrong?”
    “Everything
about last night felt right to me, so tell me which part was wrong, because I’m
having a hard as hell time figuring it out.” 
    “It doesn’t
matter what we feel. All that matters is that I do the right thing now.”
    “And walking
out on me is the right thing?”
    “Yes.”
    “I want to
date you and I know you feel something for me. I just can’t understand what’s
stopping you. Why are you trying to run away from me, Lily? Did I hurt you?”
His dark brows snapped together, a horrified expression shadowed his eyes. “Was
I too rough with you? Disappointed you? Is that why you can’t wait to get away
from me?”
    The last
thing he could ever do in bed was disappoint her. What was she meant to say? It’s
not you, it’s me. The sex was fantastic, but the girlfriend’s pact is
unbreakable . A pact she had good reason to guard. He’d never understand.
Men didn’t have the same depth of loyalty to each other.
    “Lily, answer
me.”
    For some
reason, the longer she spent in Justin’s presence the less she wanted to leave so,
if it meant she could get away quicker, she’d tell him. “You’re my best
friend’s ex, Justin. My loyalty lies with her.”
    “What’s that
supposed to mean?”
    “It means
that as long as you and Mel have a history, you and I can never date.” Lily
removed his hands from her shoulders, instantly missing the warmth. “Well...” Oh,
great, she was going to babble again, but she couldn’t stop herself from doing
just that. “We can date other people, just not each other. Not in this lifetime
while you and M—”
    “Lily!” He
grasped her upper arms and, for a second, she thought he intended to shake her.
He caressed her flesh with his thumbs.
    She met his
gaze, hating the pain she put in their blue depths. “Yes?”
    “Don’t.” He
rested his forehead on hers. “Don’t make light of this.”
    “I’m trying
to let you down gently.”
    He groaned. Lifting
his head, he released her. “This is light-years from the plans I had for us
today.” He stepped aside, offering her an unobstructed path to the exit.
    “Thank you.”
She slid the straps of her tote onto her shoulder. She shouldn’t feel this
bereaved after only one night with Justin, yet Lily’s heart ached for what she
could’ve had, and what she so badly wanted to take, but was deprived of by the
girlfriends’ bond of honour.
    “Does she
feel that same level of allegiance to you?” She only took a couple of steps
when Justin’s voice arrested her.
    Lily kept her
gaze on the apartment door. If she turned to face Justin, she wasn’t sure she’d
ever find the fortitude to leave. “Of course she does. She and I are best
friends. What you and I did was wrong, and I don’t know how I’m going to face
her.” Without a backward glance, she resumed her stride to the exit. Bile rose
into her throat. She knew how betrayed Mel would feel if she ever found out
Lily had slept with Justin.
    “Are you sure
about that?
    “Yes.” She
was almost at his apartment door and couldn’t wait to be on the other side.
    “Just answer
one question before you walk out that door. Do you regret last night?”
    Lily opened Justin’s
apartment door and stepped into the plush hallway. She glanced over her
shoulder at him. He looked as torn apart as she felt inside. Tears seared her
eyes, cocooning his image in a sad bubble she’d never forget.
    “No,” she
whispered, unable to hide the misery that squeezed her heart as she closed the
door behind her.
     
    *
* * *
     
    “Are you
okay?” Mel met her at the door, hugging her the minute she entered their
apartment. “I’ve