Free The Dysfunctional Test by Kelly Moran Page B

his head. “Have you never done anything silly in your life? Wished on a star, laughed until it hurt, fallen in love?”
    She gave him a blank stare.
    He rose and walked to the French doors on her side of the bed. There was no rain to dance in, but there were stars. “Come here.”
    She sighed. “Okay, Troy. I get it. You’re a romantic. Never mind.”
    She didn’t get it. He held out his hand. “Come here, Camryn.”
    After an epic stare down, she resigned herself and stood.
    He opened the doors and stepped out onto the small balcony. He directed her to the railing to face the open expanse of the Hortons’ yard. Standing behind her, he locked her in place with his arms and held the railing in front of her. Resting his chin on the top of her head, he breathed deep. Cool, clean air. Pine. The night was significantly cooler than the day. When a breeze came, he smelled lemongrass, reminding him of the moment with her in his house just a few days before.
    “What are we doing, Troy?”
    Being silly . His mouth dropped to her ear. “Pick a star.”
    “Why?”
    “Just do it.”
    She must’ve sensed he wouldn’t let her go until she cooperated. She sighed and pointed above the mountains in the far distance. “That one. Can I go in now?”
    “No,” he said, smiling into her hair. So soft. “Make a wish. Out loud.”
    “No. This is stupid.”
    He grinned. “Make a wish, Camryn. For anything.”
    She crossed her arms over her chest, so he dropped his hold to her waist. Her T-shirt skimmed the elastic of her boxers, exposing a trace of skin beneath his thumbs.
    “Fine,” she said. “I wish I would find a job right away when we get back to Milwaukee.”
    Always work with her. Lemongrass filled his nose again, and it was starting to have an effect on him. He cleared his throat. “Pick another star. Make another wish.”
    “Troy…”
    “Camryn,” he shot back in the same dry tone.
    She pointed to their right, and her hair brushed his collarbone. “That one. I wish my family behaves the rest of this trip.”
    None of these wishes were for her. Not for something she wanted deep down in that place even she forgot about. A wish for something crazy and unrealistic. “Find another star. Close your eyes and wish to yourself. Something you’ve always wanted but didn’t think you’d get.”
    “Like world peace?”
    He bit his tongue and shook his head. “For you, Camryn. Make a wish for you. And don’t tell me what it is.”
    She looked up, exposing her neck, making her hair dance over his chest. His jaw clenched as everything south of his chest responded. To her. To Camryn of all people. His breath held. His thumbs brushed the soft, warm skin under her shirt.
    “Done,” she said after a few moments, and turned in his arms. “Can we go in…?”
    “Camryn,” he forced out, the thin strand of control tethering. Her eyes widened and looked at him. Hazel in a sea of blackness. He made a sound, part whimper, part moan. God, no . “I’m going to kiss you again.”
    “But no one’s here to see. It’s not necessary.”
    “No,” he whispered. “It isn’t necessary. Not at all.”
    Yet his mouth closed over hers anyway, and the faintness of her lips, the scent of her, had the insane part of him wanting more. More than he could give her. More than she would give him.
    Nothing had changed from this afternoon. Like a punch to the gut, the kiss shocked him. She shocked him. The sheer pleasure and torture. Her lips parted against his, and as she deepened the kiss this time, he pressed against her. Her fingers dug into his biceps, riling hunger to a whole new plane. His fingers spread over her sides, her tummy, so soft under his calloused hands.
    How could anyone think her cold? If he had less sense he’d take her right now. Right here under the moonlight with nothing but a breeze between them. If she hadn’t been the first person in his life to make him feel worthy of love, back when he was an awkward, scared kid