Page 77 of Chemistry: The Chemist

“Sink or swim. Those are your only options. Whining isn’t.”

“I can’t swim very we–”

“You will before the day ends.”

I silenced her, wanting nothing more than to enjoy the two things that made me feel my best. Made all the voices disappear. Made me forget the demons I fought on a daily basis. Made everything okay.

Her arms rested on my shoulders as her hands gathered behind my head, pulling me closer to her. Legs wrapped around my waist. I used every ounce of resistance I could muster to keep from sliding into her. If I did, she’d never learn the lesson I sat out to teach.

SEVEN

As Chem’s grip around my neck tightened and our kiss deepened, the reality of our situation toyed with the moment. His tongue was down my throat, making my center throb and head spin. One hand was pressing against my trachea and the other was cupping my ass so firmly I thought he’d leave an imprint.

My God, Chem. I ached all over.

He’d primed and punished my flesh for the unknown all weekend long. As if he knew things I hadn’t revealed and was preparing me for the inevitable. It all felt so good, so final. So unfair.

I was severely intoxicated, struggling to keep my eyes open and my mouth closed because he’d soaked me with the sweetest, most pleasurable energy I’d ever experienced. Lust coated my skin. My features. Made both my head and heart heavy, because I knew eventually I’d be forced to break the heart that I wanted so badly.

“Be a good girl, Choc,” he warned with a finger.

“Promise.”

I didn’t recognize my voice as I responded. I swallowed the pain of it all, but he hadn’t missed the crackling. He never missed anything. His attention to detail was appalling.

“Don’t do that to me, baby,” he begged.

Chem didn’t beg. I’d learned this rather quickly. To hear his pleas was unsettling. My eyes welled, but I managed to smile in spite of.

“I ju– I just miss you already.” I lowered my head, swiping my face before he could see the tears fall from my eyes.

Because no matter how amazing he was, how much I’d enjoyed the last thirty-six hours with him, how hard I’d fallen, or how much I loathed his absence, I had a job to do. I had a case to solve. And he’d broken it without me knowing it, expecting it, or wanting it.

“Business calls.”

“What is it you do, Chem?”

Please say you’re into real estate. Own a restaurant. Own laundry mats. Into the oil trading business. Make clothes from scratch. Something. Anything but–

“I’m a Chemist, Eden.”

My chest caved. There was no denying it. The man I’d lost sleep over and had been studying the little we had on was standing in front of me, holding my heart in his hand.

“Wha–”

He wrapped his arms around me. I melted into his chest. He was safe. Felt safe. Safer than any space I’d ever been in. Safer than any person I’d ever encountered. Safer than any love I’d ever known because though we weren’t there yet, I knew people like Chem didn’t love often.

And when they did, they gave it everything and anything they had. That’s what I wanted. That’s exactly what I needed. Exactly what I deserved.

“Don’t worry yourself with my boring ass, very fucking uninteresting occupation. None of that matters. Just wipe those tears and let me go so I can get back to you.”

“Yeah?”

I looked up at him with curious eyes.

“Yes.”

He kissed me deep and then let me go, again. This time, I stepped off, knowing it was time to rip the bandages off and face my reality.

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