Excerpt of Friendly Seduction by Gillian Archer

She peeked up at his face. Judging by his stony expression, he probably wasn't in the mood tonight.

"Um, Marc?" she whispered before mentally slapping herself. There was no way he was going to hear her over—

"What, princess?" His growl vibrated the rock-hard chest beneath her ear.

"Where's Rob?" She cursed under her breath. That wasn't what she wanted to say.

Why did she go from confident She-Ra warrior to helpless Victorian virgin just because some tall, gorgeous man put his strong, firm arms around her? And his calloused fingers rubbed her exposed back in short, tantalizing circles, making her wonder what they would feel like when he parted her thighs and—

Stop. She shouldn't think that way about her best friend. Friend. Not the guy she was here to pick tonight to help her—

Wait a minute. Why hadn't he answered her?

"Marc?" Her head tilted back to meet his gaze and she searched his hazel eyes.

He seemed… conflicted. The muscles in his cheek flexed as he bit down, anger evident in the curl of his lips. But his eyes…they were sad. As if he had just lost his best friend.

"Oh God. Is he okay? What happened? He was just here!" She panicked at the thought of Rob hurt, in pain. The sexually induced haze cleared from her brain as she pulled away and looked around the room for his trademark auburn cropped hair.

"Sara, he's fine. He's just—"

"Right here," a deep voice finished behind her.

She knew that voice. Had heard it mature from a gorgeous alto to its current husky baritone. Sara sagged into Marc's arms as all the tension left her body. Rob was okay.

But that still didn't explain Marc's conflicted emotions. Or the tension the throbbing music couldn't mask. Something was up with the two most important men in her life. And she was literally caught in the middle.

"Mind if I cut in?" Rob's husky voice in her ear caused the tiny hairs on the back of her neck to vibrate as a shiver rocked her body.

God, his voice was hot.

"Actually, we're in the middle of—"

"No, I'd like to dance with you, Rob." She didn't know why there was so much tension between them but it was probably better if she separated them quickly. With the looks Marc was tossing over her shoulder, bloodshed was sure to follow.

"Looks like you're the better man, Rob. Congrats and all that." Marc pulled away from her before stomping over to the bar, grabbing her drink and taking up residence on the barstool.

"What's—" she gasped as Rob pulled her into his arms. From one hard chest to another. Wow, these guys smelled good. She cleared her throat. "Uh, what's up with you and Marc?" Sara tried to look into his blue eyes but couldn't get past his lips.

"Nothing. We're good."

Sara snorted. "Uh, yeah, I don't think so. Marc's not good. He just walked away like someone with their panties in a wad. You guys have a fight or something?"

"I didn't ask you to dance so we could talk about Marc." With that, Rob pulled her in close until her groin rubbed up against his jean-covered thigh.

Was that… He wasn't… He couldn't be! Sara couldn't believe she felt Rob's erection rubbing against her belly. It had to be just the fit of his jeans.

Yeah sure, the little voice in her head answered sarcastically. His jeans and the sock he hid in his pants.

Oh God.

But it couldn't be over her—Rob had never shown even the slightest hint he saw her as anything other than a friend. Crap, she was beginning to hate that word, friend. Lord knew she had a special ability to make any erection disappear. Just ask her ex.

He probably just got an erection from dancing with another girl and wanted some time to cool off before he went home with another woman. Like every other Friday night.

"Sara?" Rob murmured in her ear.

"Yeah?"

"If you get any stiffer, someone's gonna call the morgue."

Sara's lips curled. Normally Marc was the funny one but she appreciated Rob's effort to lighten the mood. But he had her beat in the stiffy competition. She gave in to his subtle demand and let her body melt into his. For once in her life she wanted to indulge in the fantasy of being with Rob. If only for one dance.

They moved to the smooth beat of the music. Heaven. Sheer heaven. Sara couldn't imagine a more perfect place to be than in Rob's arms. Unless it was in Marc's. She tensed at the thought. Shit, she couldn't even let herself pretend for one moment that this would last forever, since apparently she couldn't even choose between them in her fantasies.

She pulled back to get some distance from him. She needed to think and feeling his body against hers just confused her.

"What's wrong, darlin'?"

She tried not to whimper as Rob ran his thumb over her trembling lips. She couldn't help but think if only. If only Rob wanted her like she wanted him. If only he weren't her best friend. She'd give anything to throw caution to the wind and throw herself at him. If only she weren't afraid of the damage it would do to their friendship when he politely turned her down.

And that's what he would do. There was no way a man like Rob would even look twice at her if she hadn't been his friend since childhood. Short, chunky tomboys like her never drew the attention of guys like Rob. Or Marc.

If only.

She forced her lips into a semblance of a smile. "Nothing."