Page 117 of Tempting All The Way

Standing, I loosen my tie and roll my neck. It cracks, relieving some of the built-up tension that’s taken residencethere. I make my way over to Bentley’s office and find it empty. The lights are out. She left and she didn’t come and see me first?

I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial her number. Just as I think it’s about to go to voicemail, the call connects. “Hello.” Her voice is strained.

“What’s wrong? Where are you?” I question her.

“Nothing’s wrong, and I’m at home,” she responds.

“Okay, great. I’m leaving the office now. I’ll be there in fifteen,” I tell her.

“No, I’m atmyhome, Nathan. Not yours,” she says.

Fuck, I really need to get her to agree to fucking move in with me already. “Why?” I ask, and try to keep the irritation out of my voice. She’s spent every night in my bed for the last few weeks.

“I needed to see my mum. I’ll see you tomorrow at work.”

I pull the phone away from my ear to confirm that she did in fact just disconnect the call. She hung up on me. What the fuck?

Maybe Xavier and Alistair were right and I did do something to piss her off. I send her a message.

Me:

Whatever I did, I’m sorry. Please come home.

The little typing bubbles appear on my screen, showing that she’s responding before they disappear and start again.

Bentley:

I’ll see you tomorrow.

That’s it.I’ll see you tomorrow?How the hell am I meant to get through the night without having her in my bed?

Turns out, I don’t fucking sleep without Bentley in my bed. I’ve been tossing and turning all night. Picking up my phone, I read the time: 2 a.m.

Fuck me, I’m going to be a mess tomorrow.

I pull up her name in my contacts and shoot her a message.

Me:

I don’t like you not being in my bed. I can’t fucking sleep without you, Bentley.

When I see the read notice automatically appear, I sit up. She’s awake too. I hit dial on her number.

“Hello,” she answers.

“Bentley, why are you awake?” I ask her.

“Because I have a demanding boss, who’s messaging me at two in the morning,” she says.

“Shit, I’m so sorry. Did I wake you?”

“No, I couldn’t sleep either.” She sighs into the phone.

“You can always come home,” I tell her. I figure if I continue to refer to my apartment ashome, it’ll sink in that this is in fact where she belongs.

“It’s the middle of the night,” she reminds me. “I’m not getting out of bed now. Just talk to me, tell me something, bore me until I fall asleep.”

“Bore you? Are you saying conversing with me isn’t exciting, Bentley? Fuck, I’ll have to up my game.”

---