Page 42 of Kept By The Agents

All these years, I'd kept this hope alive that he'd come back and realize he made a terrible mistake. He had come back, but hearing his reasons for leaving only convinced me that he didn't think he'd made a mistake. He didn't regret his choice. He didn't want a life with me. I hadn't listened to his words as closely once he told me why he'd gone all those years ago. They didn't matter. Anything nice he said was him just trying to ease the sting for me.

The sound of the door creaking open made me tense up. I didn't want to see anyone right now, but if it was Suave coming back for round two I wasn't going to be as nice this time. I asked for space and if he wasn't going to give it to me, I was going to get mean. Rolling, I prepared to yell at him.

Instead, I saw Weaver standing there, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world right now. I studied his face. His hair was tousled and he was shifting from foot to foot. Indecision marred his handsome face and his mouth formed a frown.

He cleared his throat. "I can sleep on the floor in the other room if you want to be alone."

That was what I thought I wanted, but seeing him standing there, suddenly I needed the company. So many years had passed with me going to sleep alone. I got up off the bed and walked over to him.

Panic crossed his face, but he held his ground. He put his arms up as though to ward me off, but I ignored the gesture.

Walking straight to him, I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in his chest. My lips lifted in a smile when I realized he still had his arms sticking straight out past me, as though he wasn't sure what to do with them.

He was warm and smelled of Old Spice and a scent that was uniquely him. It was nice and I inhaled deeply before letting out a shaky breath. "Andrew."

"Uh. Yeah?"

"Could you hug me please?"

There was a brief pause before he finally wrapped his arms around me.

I sighed in relief. It wasn't my usual go to, seeking comfort from another, but I needed it. "Tighter."

He squeezed me in his powerful arms and it made me feel warm and protected. It was stupid. He didn't owe me anything. He wasn't mine to seek protection and love from, but it didn't matter. I needed to feel connected to someone and he was kind. I sure as hell wasn't going to ask Brandon. He'd probably tell me to shake it off and deal with whatever was bothering me rather than let me wallow in self pity for a short time.

We stood that way for a long time. He didn't offer platitudes, or any words at all, he just held me and it helped. My tears dried up and I started to accept the reasons Suave had given me. In a way, they even made sense. We'd been so damn young. It still sucked that he'd made that decision alone, but it was so long ago that I was able to set some of my anger aside. Not that I was going to forgive him that easily. No. I planned to make him squirm a bit. It was what he deserved after all. I smiled against Weaver's chest. It was a bit of a malicious smile as I thought of all the ways I could make Suave's life miserable while we were stuck together.

But despite that, I knew I was going to be okay. I could move on and decide what to do with the rest of my life now that I'd laid that chapter of my history to rest. I would love that man until I was dust in the ground, but he'd helped me see that I couldn't wait around for him anymore. I couldn't live in the past where he'd once loved me. "Thanks." I pulled back enough to see Weaver's face.

Gone was the unease, and if I had to guess, I'd say he was enjoying the holding as much as I liked being held. Remembering what he'd said about his family, I wondered how many hugs he'd gotten growing up. Probably not enough. But that was only a guess based on how uncomfortable he seemed with contact.

"No problem. Want me to sleep next door?"

"If you don't mind, I'd rather you stayed." Gone was the need for isolation. The urge to feel needed and desired was gathering.

"That's-" he broke off with a strangled sound when I went up on my tip toes and pressed my mouth to his.

His lips were the only things soft about him. He'd gone rigid, arms still locked around me but otherwise unmoving.

Breaking off the kiss, my cheeks heated with embarrassment. "Sorry. I-" It was my turn to be speechless because he yanked me against him so hard it knocked the breath from me. Or maybe it was the way he was now kissing me that didn't allow for me to gulp in any air unless it was his. I didn't mind sharing. He was kissing me as though I was the most desirable woman on the planet. What woman didn't like that?

His mouth moved over mine and I happily opened and met his tongue. The need he was awakening inside of me was something I hadn't felt in years, and now twice in the last few days it had reared up inside of me. The only problem was that my desire had been stoked by two different men. I shoved aside that inconvenience and enjoyed the kiss from the man in front of me.

One of his hands cupped my cheek, making me feel worshiped and loved. His kiss had gentled, no longer demanding. It was coaxing and there was an answering tug inside my lower belly.

I pressed my body against him, delighting in the way my nipples scraped against hard muscle, making them bead tighter. My moan was low and needy as his tongue brushed against mine. My body was on fire and it had only taken a few kisses from Andrew. Panting against his mouth, I tugged at his shirt, trying to pull it off over his head. He raised his arms up, helping me, so I abandoned the fabric and flattened my palms on his abdomen.

He had probably been called a geek in high school with his glasses and love of computers, and he was, but he was a sexy one. His abs were ridged with muscle. It was a six pack that men all over America were in the gym striving for.

My hands smoothed downward toward the button on his pants. I wanted to touch everywhere at once. Eyes flashing up to his when he grasped my wrist, stopping me, I frowned. "What-"

"This isn't right."

Hurt cascaded over me for the second time that day. "Oh. I didn't mean- We don't have to if you don't want to." I tried to take a step back, but he still held my wrist.

"I want to." He scrubbed his free hand through his already mussed up hair. "But Suave-" He gave me a look so full of conflict, I actually felt a little bad for him.

But now anger was joining my embarrassment. "Suave made his decision years ago, Andrew. For both of us. I don't belong to him." I snatched my hand away from him and he released me.

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