Page 47 of Dangerously Tempting

“I’m saying this because you deserve to find that love in someone else. You deserve to have someone love you and cherish you in the ways that I can’t. So if that’s what you need from me, just say the word.”

His chin wobbles, and he blinks furiously. “You might be right, but not yet, okay?”

“Okay,” I agree, and then grab his shoulder to yank him into a hug. He drops his face onto my shoulder, working to collect himself, and I pat his back.

When he steps back, he dabs under his eyes before sniffling. “Think they heard every word of that?”

It’s then I notice the silence from the other room and reach up to pinch the bridge of my nose. “Oh, I’m sure they caught most of it. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. There was always going to be a time to face the music. What better time than with an audience, one of which has already seen the most private parts of me. There’s nothing left to hide now.”

I can’t help the laugh that rips from my throat, and I try to cover it with a cough until Kat snorts in the other room, most likely trying to contain her own laughter. Everyone is laughing after that, and I’m relieved that even in an incredibly awkward situation, at least things didn’t end badly.

25

Amelia

Playlist: "Addicted To You," Avicii

Monday rolls around before I’m ready for it, and I want to throw my alarm clock out the window when it goes off. Jameson is already up and pulling his clothes on, so I push myself up to sitting with a groan and rub my eyes. Falling asleep against him all weekend is one of my favorite parts of him staying here and is not something that I’m ready to give up just yet. I don’t dare ask him if he’s feeling ready to go back to his apartment yet. I don’t want him to leave.

He crosses the room to press a kiss to my hair, ruffling the bird’s nest I’m sure my hair has become in my sleep. “Good morning, beautiful. I put the coffee on, so it’ll be ready for you when you get out of your shower.”

“Thank you.”

He nods, stepping away to finish dressing before he leaves the room.

I get up and jump in the shower, hurrying through my washing routine so that I can tell him goodbye properly. I dry off before stepping back out into the bedroom to my closet, slipping my panties and bra on before he comes back into the room. He holds out a cup of coffee and I melt.

“You know the way to a woman’s heart,” I say playfully and he smiles, pressing a kiss to my lips as he passes the cup over.

“Just this woman’s,” he responds with a wink. “I’ve gotta run, though. I’ll see you later?”

“I’ll probably be late tonight, but here,” I quickly dig my spare key out of its spot in the bowl on top of my dresser and push it into his hand. I don’t give him the chance to hesitate by offering it to him, because I know if he does it will break me.

He glances down at it, his lips parted, and for a moment he doesn’t say anything. Then he shakes his head, like he’s coming out of a daze, and smiles at me. “Okay. I’ll meet you here then.”

“Have a good day.”

“You too,” he replies, kissing me one more time. This one lingers, and I take the time to breath him in, knowing it’ll be a long day between this kiss and the next. He pulls away, pausing like he wants to say something else, but then shakes his head subtly again before stepping away.

“Bye,” he says softly.

“Goodbye,” I say, and watch him until he leaves the room.

When I hear the door close behind him, I let out a breath. Did I really just give him a key to my apartment like it was no big deal? I don’t regret it, but it’s probably something we should be discussing a bit more in depth instead of me just assuming he wants to keep staying here. I just worry how the conversation will end, because I’ve grown so attached to having him here, even though it’s only been a couple days.

It’s over and done with now regardless. I try not to let myself get all up in my head about it as I finish getting ready for work. I’m sure it will be fine.

That evening when I get home there’s an amazing smell in the air as I push through the door. I take a moment to make sure all the locks are latched before I head down the hall towards the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe to watch as Jameson moves around my kitchen cooking whatever the source of the delicious smell is.

The timer on the oven goes off and he quickly silences it before grabbing an oven mitt and pulling the oven door open. He leans down and pulls out whatever is inside, I bite my bottom lip as I watch the movement of his back muscles and then latch onto his butt in those jeans. Jeans were designed for asses like his, without a doubt.

It’s only when he rises up again, turning to put the pan on the cooling rack waiting on the island, that he sees me standing there. He smiles, his eyes knowing as he takes in the look on my face. He sets down what he’s holding, dropping the mitt beside it, and then crosses the room to me in a few easy strides.

It’s in that moment that it hits me. I want this forever. I want to come home to him every day, looking at me the same way he did just now. Happy to see me. Excited that I’m home. I don’t know if it’s possible to have that for a lifetime, but I want it all the same.

“Hello, beautiful.” He presses a kiss to my lips, pulling me against him for a hug. “How was your day?”

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