Page 33 of He Falls First

“Sorry,” he says, chin in his hand. “I’ve been stressed out about securing the company, and I guess it’s making me a little on edge. Nexus Tech is important to me. More than I’ve let on.”

He rubs his temples, eyes squeezed shut. My heart goes out to him. A silent part of me, the one that’s always been a sucker for the underdog, wants to reach out, to offer some kind of comfort.

“I know it’s a lot of pressure,” I say. “But you can get through this, and without making my life hell in the process. I believe in you, even if you are a stubborn ass sometimes.”

I nudge him playfully with my elbow, coaxing the hint of a smile from his tired face.

We sit in comfortable silence for a minute, the tension slowly easing from Hendrix’s frame.

“Look, I get that you’re stressed about securing the company and everything, but can we at least wait until I’ve settled in before diving into this whole ‘dating lessons’ thing?”

Hendrix hesitates for a moment, his jaw clenched as if he’s considering whether or not to argue further. Then he finally nods. “Alright.”

“Thanks,” I say, trying to suppress a relieved smile.

Maybe there’s hope for him yet. And as I watch him sitting there, something about the vulnerability in his posture tugs at my heartstrings—and another equally inconvenient body part.

Without thinking, I move to the bed, my hands finding their way to his broad shoulders. He tenses for a split second before relaxing into my touch. Slowly, I begin kneading the tight muscles along his neck and upper back, working to release the knots of stress.

Hendrix lets out a low groan, leaning into my ministrations. “That feels incredible,” he murmurs.

I increase the pressure, digging my thumbs into the tissue beside his shoulder blades. Hendrix inhales sharply at the spike of pain-pleasure, then melts beneath my fingers.

As I massage lower, my body presses against his back, our contact growing more intimate. Hendrix’s breath quickens almost imperceptibly. Heat blooms inside me, and I’m suddenly very aware of his muscular frame. It feels like we’re teetering on the edge of something irreversible, and for a moment, I want nothing more than to fall.

His breath catches when I hit a particularly stubborn knot, and I feel him lean ever so slightly into my touch. It’s an invitation, isn’t it? One I shouldn’t accept but find myself RSVPing ‘yes’ to, anyway. My hands glide over the fabric of his shirt, tracing the contours of his body in a way that’s definitely not in the job description.

Hendrix twists to face me, our faces just inches apart. His gaze drops to my lips before flicking back up to meet my eyes, dark with unconcealed desire.

My heart pounds wildly. This was not part of the plan, but I find myself leaning closer despite my better judgment…

Abruptly Hendrix pulls back, the spell broken. He stands quickly, raking a hand through his hair.

“I should, uh, let you get settled in, like you said,” he mutters, already heading for the door. Before I can respond, he disappears down the hall.

I’m left staring after him, heart still hammering. I press my fingertips to my lips, imagining what might have happened if Hendrix hadn’t pulled away.

I knew getting close was dangerous. Then again, at least I don’t have to worry about Hendrix falling for me first—because it’s clear that he’s not into me at all.

But I have to make sure. The next time this happens, this unmistakable pull between us, I’m going to find out if he feels it, too.

I’m going to find out if this is real.

Chapter 14

Hendrix

Isnap out of a dreamless sleep to a sound that grates against the silence of the house. There’s a soft rustling, like paper being shuffled, creeping from the direction of my office. My heart kicks up a notch. An intruder? In my fortress of tech and security? Impossible. But then again, so is the idea of Elizabeth in danger under my roof.

She’s my very first thought right now.

Something primal stirs within me, a protective beast roused by the mere thought of harm inching its way toward her. Security staff are just a button press away, yet I don’t reach for the phone. Instead, I roll out of bed, feet hitting the cold floor with a stealth I didn’t know I possessed.

I pad toward the office, knowing it should be impossible for an intruder to get in. But the faint noise persists. It’s got to be just one guy, and he’s no seasoned criminal. He’s probably not sure what he’s doing, if the tentative shuffling is anything to go by. I’m sure I can take him. My morning workout routine is more ferocious than most people’s bar fights.

I hold my breath, my hand closing around the doorknob. A rush of adrenaline pumps through me as I throw the door open, ready for a confrontation.

But instead of a masked villain, there stands Elizabeth, her soft hair falling over her shoulders as her head jerks up, looking as dangerous as a bunny rabbit caught mid-hop.

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