Page 18 of Rufus

“I’ll do that.” He nodded. “But for now, I come bearing gifts. Well, gift.” He held up the bag in his hand.

From which Molly was able to discern the delicious aroma of Chinese food. Her empty stomach gave an appreciative rumble before she could politely refuse the “gift” by claiming not to be hungry.

Rufus raised a pointed brow. “Busy enough not to have time to eat, by the sound of it.”

She’d managed to grab a cinnamon bun to eat with her coffee this morning, but hadn’t felt like eating again after Darius had taken Honey away with him. She’d become really attached to the beautiful dog over the past couple of days. She knew Angus was going to miss her too.

“I bought enough food for two.” Rufus sounded uncertain whether she would welcome him joining her.

Probably because they both knew that Molly inviting him up to the privacy of her apartment to share the food wasn’t a good idea.

Except Molly wanted to do exactly that.

Ridiculous as it seemed, she’d missed Rufus these past two days. Which made it impossible for her to turn down the chance to spend more time with him now.

“I’m afraid I don’t have any news yet about your brother,” he told her regretfully. “But I promise you we intend to keep looking.”

“We?” she echoed sharply.

“My cousin, Linus, is the tech expert for Wynter Security. He would tell you he’s the best hacker there is,” he drawled. “But that’s probably because he is.”

Her eyes widened. “And you have him wasting his time doing stuff for me?—”

“Hey.” Rufus put the bag of food down on the reception desk before taking a step closer to her. He lifted his hand to place his palm gently against the heat of one of her cheeks. “Nothing to do with helping you find your brother is a waste of anyone’s time. Do you understand?”

She swallowed. “I’m not used to any of this.”

“People helping you?” he easily guessed. “Well, I suggest you get used to it, because I know Mia considers you as part of her family.”

She gave a shake of her head, only becoming aware of the tears in her eyes when the movement caused those tears to fall down her cheeks. She bowed her head. “I’m sorry for being so emotional.”

“I don’t want you to be sorry, I want— Fuck, Molly, what I want is you!” Rufus groaned as he tilted her face up, and his lips claimed hers.

CHAPTER SIX

The kiss they had shared at the hospital bore absolutely no resemblance to the way in which Rufus’s firm lips now devoured Molly’s.

Long-drawn-out kisses from lips that claimed and hands that restlessly caressed and aroused.

Both of them were breathing heavily by the time Rufus rested his forehead against hers. Molly could feel the evidence of his arousal pressing against her abdomen.

“I need to take a shower after being with the animals all day,” Molly finally murmured huskily.

“Can I join you?”

Could Rufus join her in the shower?

Could he take off his clothes and reveal all of that hard and muscular body to her avid gaze? Most especially that hard length throbbing so insistently against her.

“We can warm the food up later,” he encouraged.

Not that Molly needed much encouragement to accept Rufus taking a shower with her. Or doing anything with her, for that matter.

But if life had taught her anything, it was that she would pay a price for allowing herself any emotional closeness. No doubt in heartache when she was forced to leave London and everyone here she had come to care about, most especially Rufus, and start again elsewhere. She felt as if she had been running her whole life, and she couldn’t see that changing anytime soon.

But here and now?

“Yes, you can join me,” she accepted shyly.

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