Page 93 of Look, Don't Touch

“Mmm.” He rasps. “I’ll remember that. Goodbye, Hailey.”

My insides turn to Jell-O. It solidifies quickly, realizing this is goodbye until I make a leap or even take a step toward him. I hate myself for calling my tattoo artist and not him. For choosing the safety of the needle and not the delicious peril of his arms.

Maybe I’m incapable of progress.

I give him a small wave. “Goodbye, Arlo.”

It’s been twelve minutes since I stowed my dick away, and I’m hard again. I know just the place to put it.

The limo’s door opens, and I step out. Late afternoon sun gleams off the side of my jet as it taxis to the carpet between us. It stops, the engines quiet, and a few minutes later, the door opens. Sana peers out and shoots a laser beam smile my way.

I give her my usual nod, but already my eyes scan the interior for a glimpse of Hailey. My palms rub together in an effort to appease this new desire to touch. It’s a foreign concept, but one I’m becoming quite fluent in for one person. And one person only.

Why can I touch her so easily, when she’s not the first person I’ve yearned to touch?

Maybe it’s her impenetrable walls. They force me to scale mine to catch a glimpse of what is on the other side of hers. She makes me leap in hopes that she follows.

When we said goodbye minutes ago, I saw her rebuilding the footholds I’d made. She’s scared. Me too, but I’m willing to risk everything for her. I just have to show her that the risk is worth the reward.

Then again, maybe it’s the euphoria of skin on skin. For so long, it was pain. Then the memories of that pain were so fresh, it marred any chance to experience that addictive kind of touch.

I am addicted to the feel of Hailey’s skin on mine. It’s all I think about. She is all I think about.

Natalia descends the stairs first. For the first time, I find her pretty silver hair in disarray and her eyes red-rimmed. My heart drops a notch.

Have I fucked up? Jumping to the conclusion that Hailey needed me to distract her. Leaping at the assumption that she’d like to see me when she returns.

Plinko’s box stalls in the doorway with Hailey’s arms wrapped around it. She bids adieu to my pilots and Hota, who caught a ride back. It might have been overkill, sending him the day before to secure their route and arrival, but I’ll risk being overzealous for her.

Her aunt reaches the bottom of the stairs and notices me. Her sorrow is slowly overshadowed by a wide grin and a small wave. I give one back and feel only a little bad that my dick was in that hand minutes ago.

Hailey descends the steps. Her eyes are locked on the metal treads, stepping carefully with her arms full. I drink her in like a perfectly aged bourbon. She goes down smooth and somehow leaves me breathless. Red hair cascades down her back in wild curls that my fingers itch to tangle inside. Her pale pink dress and the glorious curves of her body are hidden behind a brown and black houndstooth coat. But every step she takes reveals a hint of long leg that peeks out as she positions the low boot on the next tread. Every time she comes closer to me.

I discreetly adjust myself.

Nat is jarred by the box of Plinko in her back. She shuffles to the side and takes him from her niece at the same time Hailey’s confused expression shifts from the stairs, to her aunt, and then to me.

I don’t know what I expected from her. Perhaps, I hoped for a running leap into my arms. A little much for a man who didn’t touch anyone a couple of weeks ago. I’m nothing if not an optimist. She gives me a myriad of emotions in the span of two seconds.

Surprise. Joy. Fear. Confusion. Lust. Amusement. Sadness.

She settles on disbelief with her sweet lips slightly parted.

A buzz zips through me. She’s beautiful and a little broken, like me. I want to gather her pieces up, help her sort through them, examine them, and ease them back together.

If only she’ll let me.

I crook my finger at her.

She obeys.

Still, I push forward to meet her halfway. My need to be near her not allowing me to remain at the car. We stop with our shoes almost touching. Her stunning green eyes stare up at me. “Hi.” Her simple word whispers into the cool air.

Before I can restrain myself, my hands bracket hers. I lift them to my lips and drag kisses along her knuckles, the prominent eight, and then press her left palm to my cheek. The smile that blooms on her face is like sunlight to a frozen plain. New life sprouts within me.

My crew gasps. I ignore them.

“Hello, Hailey.” I shove the first two fingers of her right hand into my mouth. Her taste goes straight to my heads, both of them. I suck her fingers clean, and she shivers. “I’d like to see you all home, if you’ll let me.”

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