Page 62 of King of Justice

“Opportunism… materialism… were those on the list?”

She gave me a knowing smile. “I never accused you of those things.”

“Oh, we’re talking about me now?” Raising an eyebrow, I kept my eyes linked with hers.

Her smile became lazy. “Do you want to hear the rest of it or not?”

“Can’t wait,” I confessed, and meant it.

“Well.” She stood up, walking toward the sofa lounge corner. “You want everything good to happen to them, and nothing bad… ever. You know you enjoy their company, even when you have nothing to say to each other. When you’re mad at them, you can’t get your mind to even think about hurting them… not even slightly.”

“A bit unrealistic. Words can kill, you know.”

She turned around to face me. “And they would kill me before they ever touch you.”

There we were again, talking about me. I loved the blush that took over her cheeks. The way she lowered her gaze like a coy little woman, staring at the rug on the floor. Leaving my glass on the desk, I walked over to her and grabbed the one in her hand, taking it away as well and setting it aside.

“Look at me,” I whispered, and she did. Shifting, she leisurely moved so that her weight rested against my chest and kissed my chin.

As her lips made their way up to mine, I let out a low grunt while my hand slid down to the small of her back. Feeling the heat take over with a cloud around my mind, I felt the tips of my fingers digging tighter. But we couldn’t conclude every conversation like this. “I do have a meeting,” I murmured into her lips.

“How about a quickie?” she whispered before she pushed herself up, kissing my eyelids.

“Hmm.” Fidgeting in my stance, I felt my body react to her touch. She then began to follow an invisible trail with her lips moving downward, leaving sweet kisses down the middle of my chest, just between the buttons of my shirt. No, no, no, Nathan. Get a grip. Have the talk. Tell her how you feel. “Stop!” I blurted out.

She straightened up, and I opened my eyes to see her lips ask, “Why?”

“Because we can’t go on running from every tough situation by taking off our clothes.”

It seemed like my words hit hard, because she stared at me with wide eyes and trembling lips. I waited for her to cuss at me, call me names and storm out, slamming the door behind her.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she went over to the sofa and slowly sat down, crossing her legs while her eyes remained on mine, challenging. “You want to talk, so talk.” She made it sound like an order.

“How do you feel about me?”

“Are you seeking validation now?”

“Would you like me to start?” A smirk pulled up the corner of my lips. “Would that make you feel like this is a safe zone?”

“I’m not scared.”

“You’re insecure about something, and I can’t figure out what it is.”

“You’re way off.”

I slowly shook my head. “What can I do? I’m blinded by my feelings.”

Licking her lips, she raised an eyebrow while her eyes examined me from the shoes up. “What feelings?”

“I refuse to dance around this any longer, Sophie.”

She shot up, leaning forward while her hands clenched into fists. “Then say it!”

“I want to be with you, okay?” As soon as the words left my mouth, it was as though a massive weight had been lifted off my chest. I knew it was stupid to claim such a thing after a short time, but this was Sophie, and she had bravely owned several stupid things since I’d met her. It was time I adopted the same courage. “I feel… like I’m falling for you. And I know it’s soon. And I know it’s stupid. And I’m aware of all our differences and I… I don’t care about them.” I shrugged. “They don’t bother me at all—”

She stood in front of me, eyes welling up, lips pressed together. Her gaze was begging me to draw the words out of her, but I didn’t know how. The only thing I wanted to do was to take her in my arms, so I did. I pulled her in and encircled her with my arms as tightly as I could, feeling her small body merge with mine.

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