Page 56 of Closer

A knock at the door catches my attention. Lil stands there, a plate of food in her hand. Fuck, how long have I been on this call?

“Hey, I gotta go.” I don’t wait for his response before hitting the ‘leave’ button.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Lil shifts on her feet, her eyes flicking to my laptop.

“No, it’s fine.” I close it, pushing it aside. “I’m done.”

She sets the plate down on the desk. “I thought you might be hungry. You’ve been in here for a while.” Please help me. She’s too adorable.

“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”

She tilts her head. “Everything okay?”

Now, yes. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“When have I ever wanted to talk about my problems?”

“You used to tell me everything.” Her voice softens on the words. “Before…”

Before I ruined us. I don’t want to hurt her ever again.

“I… I’ll leave then,” she says.

I reach out and grab her wrist before she can. “Don’t go.”

She pauses, her eyes meeting mine.

“C’mere, princess.” I tug gently, urging her closer.

She hesitates before stepping around the desk. As soon as she’s within reach, I pull her between my legs. I dig my fingers into the soft curves of her waist, relishing the feel of her and nuzzling my face into her stomach, breathing her in. Fuck, I’ve missed this. Missed her.

Her hands come to rest on my shoulders. “What are you doing?”

“Forgetting,” I mumble against her skin. Forgetting about the merger, about my father, about everything that isn’t her.

She relaxes into my touch, and her fingers find their way into my hair, scratching lightly at my scalp. A low groan escapes me.

“Forgetting what?” she asks softly.

I tilt my head back, meeting her eyes. “Everything that isn’t you.”

She bites her lip, her eyes flicking between mine. Fuck, I want to be the one biting that lip. Want to taste her, devour her, make her forget every other man who’s ever touched her. Erase them all until I’m the only one she remembers, the only one she craves.

Her eyes mirror my desire, the need, but also the fear, the doubt. She’s still holding back, still not fully letting me in. It’s my own damn fault, I know that. I hate that I put that there, that I made her doubt me, doubt us.

I slide my hands up her sides, skimming over her ribs until I’m cupping her face. “I’m sorry. For everything.”

Her eyes flutter close. “I know.”

“Do you? Do you really?” I need her to understand, to believe me. To not pretend.

Her eyes open, locking with mine. “I want to.”

It’s not a yes, but it’s not a no, either. It’s a chance, a sliver of hope. And I’ll fucking take it.

I pull her down, capturing her lips with mine. She melts into me, her arms winding around my neck as she straddles my lap. I grip her hips, holding her tight against me.

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