Page 105 of Obsession

He looked away from me for a moment, then he took a breath and faced me once more. “Then why are you still here? Don’t you have someone you can stay with?”

“Just because I know people doesn’t mean I’m good at keeping them in my life.”

His eyes shuttered. “Evidently, we’re alike in that regard.”

“You push people away. I’m assuming a lot of it is because of your money. People want things from you all the time.”

His chin lifted.

I sighed. “Yeah, I thought so.”

“Well, if you canreadme so well, what is it you thought you were going to accomplish?”

“The minute I walked into your office, I knew nothing was going to go the way I thought. At first, I thought I could get to know you. That maybe I could figure out a way to make you understand my situation.”

He frowned.

“I didn’t say it was a good plan. But then I started to love what I was doing. Digging into your world, I saw your passion. I even understood it. There is so much more you can do with your glass.”

“So, you were going for what? Insider trading?”

“Oh, my God, Blake.” I moved into him, but he folded his arms and angled away from me. I grabbed his arms.

Was that really how he lived his life? The first thought was who was going to screw him over?

I looked up at him, my eyes narrowing at the obstinacy and the hurt there under the cool stare. I lifted my hands to his face. He tried to shake me off, but I wouldn’t be denied. Not now. “No, Blake. I just wanted to be part of your world. Then the vestibule happened and everything got so twisted.”

If I wanted him in my life, and I was pretty sure I did. More than I thought was even possible just a day ago. He made me insane, but he also made see exactly what I’d been missing.

Life.

I’d neverlivedas much as I had in the last month with him.

“Then I just wanted you, but I didn’t know how to tell you.” My throat tightened. “I didn’t even know how to tell myself.”

His shoulders heaved as he took deep breaths. I didn’t know what he was going to do. I closed my eyes, unwilling to sway him with tears. I only had words to convince him. “Please don’t leave.”

Please don’t leave me.

He dropped his arms to his sides. I swallowed the sob that wanted out so bad. I’d let him walk away. If he didn’t understand that everything I’d said was heartfelt, then that was his loss.

He lifted me up and crushed me to him. I opened my eyes and encircled his shoulders. “Blake?—”

“No more talking,” he said against my mouth.

Then there was nothing but his kiss, and him surrounding me. He walked through my workshop area, past my table to the corner of the room. He set me down next to the twin bed.

He looked down at it. “Really?”

“I’m tiny.”

“Truth,” he muttered. He shrugged out of his suit jacket and tossed it onto the chair at the end of my bed. He pulled me in front of him and coasted his fingertips over my shoulders. “I can’t even describe how bad I am at relationships.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“I don’t know why you want to be with me—” He held up a hand. “I’m not fishing for compliments, and I don’t even want to know why right now. I’m just thankful.” He cupped my face. “So goddamn thankful, because wanting you is the only thing I understand.”

I tipped my head into his hand. “I hope one day it’s more than just wanting me.”

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