“Eh. Excuses, excuses. This is a rare thing, Rach. I have the night off this close to Christmas. Don’t push me away.”
I sighed, hating that he was right about being too busy at this time of the year. He seldom got off, and we used to be closer.
“Um…” I did my best not to glance at the area where Nate hid.Dammit!Disappointment rocked through me that I couldn’t have my time with him. He’d just given me my first orgasm, and I wasn’t done with him. But now… I couldn’t get rid of Brandon after he practically begged to stay.
“Well, uh…” I racked my brain to figure out a way to get Nate out of here. “Can you get the popcorn and candy from the kitchen, then?”
He smiled, putting the TV remote down and getting up. “Sure. You find the movie, okay?”
I nodded as he left the room. “Yep.”
The second he was out of sight, Nate shot to his feet and hurried to the door. “I love your brother,” he whispered, “but his timing is shitty.”
“I know, I know.” I urged him toward the door, peeking over my shoulder to make sure Brandon didn’t come back out.
Nate tugged me close, kissing me hard and fast, before smiling and slipping out of my apartment. I closed the door as quietly as possible, sighing at the wooden panel and wishing my night could end differently.
It didn’t. Brandon remained none the wiser, staying to watch the movie. I failed to pay attention, too stuck on missing Nate and wanting to finish what we’d started. He had. He’d set out to make me come, and I did, so quickly and strongly. But that kiss he’d given me with his hasty, secret exit felt like a promise of so much more.
And that was why the next day, at the office, I felt confused and worried when he didn’t show.
It was Friday, the last one before the holiday, and it seemed like everyone was in a mad rush to get as much done as possible. Me, included. Julie had me hopping all over, and no one could follow any instructions.
I could blame any clumsiness and slowness on how Nate left me feeling. Wowed by his mouth and fingers on me. Stunned that it could be that good to come with a man. I was full of hope, hunger, and excitement, but he wasn’t there.
Is he turned off about what Brandon said?
It couldn’t be sexy to hear that a woman had a juvenile crush on someone. I wanted to look mature and desirable like a woman. Not a silly, infatuated kid.
Even though it didn’t line up logically, I couldn’t help but fuss that Nate’s not showing up at work would mean that he didn’t want to face me, specifically. Nerves set in as I considered the possibility that something from last night might have made him change his mind about spending time with me.
No. He’s interested in more. He has to be.He wouldn’t have said what he said at the door and kissed me goodbye the way he had if he was changing his mind about me.
Right?
I sighed, locking my computer at the end of the day. At this rate, I would have to settle for a guessing game. I didn’t know what he was thinking or how he was reacting to getting me off last night. All I was provided with was the fact that he didn’t want to come into the office. And it felt like a horrible avoidance.
Down and confused, I rode the elevator to the first floor and concentrated on how I could reach out to him. If I wanted answers and guidance, all I had to do was contact him. A call or a text. We’d shared many of those for the sake of work over the last few weeks, but this would be different.
I couldn’t be confrontational. Nor could I be demanding. Crap, would calling him make me clingy? I wasn’t sure about the day-after kind of rules.
Maybe I can just say hi and?—
“Hi.”
I jumped at his greeting, almost like he'd read my mind. Stopping short in the lobby, I looked up at Nate standing there near the door.
Juan smiled next to him, decked out, of course, with another holiday tie that clashed with his bespoke doorman’s uniform of a suit.
I didn’t pay attention to him. I couldn’t. Nate was here, looking at me and starting a conversation.
Clearing my throat, flustered at how unexpectedly he’d shown up, I smiled. “Hi.”
Oh, my God.I could do better thanhi. This wasn’t high school. This nervousness was ridiculous. “Needed a day off?”
He shrugged. “I wanted to take some time off to prepare a few things.”
I walked closer, pulled toward him and wishing I could jump into his arms. “Oh?”