Page 13 of Fate

I lift my hand to my mouth and then shuffle around him. “Um, yes. So, uh, what are you doing here?” Sizzles of recognition and excitement whip along the surface of myskin.

Neither Chase nor Gillian have said a word. Both are standing quietly across the kitchen, leaning against the cabinets. Gigi looks like she’s been stunned stupid, whereas Chase has the biggest shit-eating grin on hisface.

Jesus. Now he’s never going to stop hounding me about his cousin.

“Business concept we’ve been volleying back and forth.”

I nod and make myself busy by getting a cup of coffee. Without thinking, I go to grab the carafe with my right hand. I barely get the pot out when it starts to drop. Carson’s fast, though. He wraps a hand around mine holding the handle. Shoot. I haven’t tried to use that hand for something that heavy in a long time. His presence has knocked me off-kilter.

“Let me get that,” he says, plastering himself against my back. Carson never did have space issues, especially when it came to me. The closer the better, he always toldme.

Together we pour the liquid into two cups I imagine were left out for us. He leans firmly against my behind. I can feel the outline of his pelvis and package against my ass and the warm strength of his chest against my back. God, I’ve missed this. Being close to him. To a living, breathing person. I close my eyes, soaking in every ounce of his presence and committing the sensations to my memory. I’ll need it later.

Once he puts the carafe back in the coffeemaker, he inhales deeply against my neck. Shivers ripple along my spine, and a long-forgotten fire smolders between my thighs.

“Christ, Sweetcheeks. I’ve missed your scent. Only it’s different…sunshine and…” He shifts my hair over to the side and rubs his nose along myneck.

The hairs on my nape stand at attention and my knees weaken. I brace myself up against the counter, fingers clenching the granite. He wraps both his hands over mine. The second he touches my scarred flesh, I stiffen.

He breathes against me, as if touching my scars doesn’t faze him. Stunned, I stand unmoving.

“Coconuts. You smell of coconuts.”

I bite into my lip and pray he steps back before I internally combust, or alternatively, burst into a puddle of tears. “Coconut oil. It’s good for the scars.”

“Mmm, I like it. Suits you.” He trails his nose up my neck once again and kisses my temple. Then he grabs his cup of coffee and backs away. I can hear his footsteps getting father away until the sound of chair legs skidding across the floor registers. He may be ten feet away now, but the impression of his warm body still resonates against my backside.

I close my eyes and calm my raging heart, allowing my brain to come back online.

Gillian comes over to me, plops a teaspoon of sugar into my coffee, and pours some of the homemade vanilla creamer Bentley makes especially for her into my cup. The spoon tinkling against the sides of the glass brings me back to reality.

“Over him, are you?” Gigi accuses.

“Yes,” I hiss and sip my coffee. The soothing vanilla and hot coffee ease the lusty beast inside me as I stare at Carson and Chase laughing it up while digging into their breakfast.

“What are you going todo?”

I jerk my head back. “Nothing. It’s over. We’re over.” I remind her as much as myself.

Gigi’s eyebrows rise up into her hairline. “You could have fooled me with the way he was pressed up against you, sniffing you. My God, that was so hot! Scenting you like that.” She fans her face dramatically.

I shake my head and hide behind my cup. She leans her shoulder against mine. “He’s yours for the taking, youknow.”

If only that weretrue.

“It’s not meant to be,” I say with finality.

“Only because you won’t letit.”

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