Page 94 of Destined To Fall

“Sure, no worries. Please, just come right on in.”

I disregard his facetious tone as I clear the entryway and remove my coat, draping it over one of his barstools in the kitchen. Why, I don’t know. I have no intention of staying.

“Why are you here at two in the morning, Vivienne?” His tone is gruff, curt even.

“I finished work and—”

“Some of us have real jobs that require sleep to be fresh-faced and ready to go at seven a.m.”Ouch.“Sorry,” he cringes,“that was a little uncalled for. I was trying to sleep, Viv.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” I smirk, taking in his appearance for the first time, relieved to find he put on a robe before answering the door. His bare feet are having enough of an impact on my racing heart. A naked chest—now that I couldn’t handle. It doesn’t stop me from picturing it, though.Damn it.

“Something amusing?”

“I’m still surprised you don’t sleep nude.”

He tilts his head, the corner of his mouth twitching.“Do you think about me naked a lot?”

I scoff.

God, he has no idea. I keep my gaze on his face and fight the urge to roam my eyes down the length of him to his long, toned feet. He chuckles to himself, no doubt noticing me squirm under his probing eyes, and heads to the kitchen.

“So, Vivienne.” My name rolls off his tongue like silk over skin, sending an involuntary chill down my spine.“To what do I owe the pleasure of your company at this ungodly hour? You’re not one for social calls, not to mention we aren’t exactly on speaking terms. Drink?” His curt tone is smoother than molten steel.

“No. I mean, no thank you.”

“Tea, then?”

“Yeah, okay.”

By the time Jeremy hands me the steaming cup of amber liquid, all the fight has seeped out of me, making me agitated. I can’t sit still. I’m so on edge. Myfoot is twitching with every erratic heartbeat. Ican’tremember the last time my body was so attuned to someone else’s presence. I can sense him. Every minuscule movement stirs the air around him, around me, making my pulse buzz along my skin, every cell in my body wanting nothing more than to jump him. I try telling myself it’s because I can’t have him, and that’s the only reason I want him, but it’s becoming a losing battle.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d presume you were high, or coming down.”

I pause.“What?”

“You’re…electric. Your whole body is twitching. Are you high?”

“No.”

Yet I’m wondering if that’s true. I feel drugged, out of control, and dirty. So dirty, my stomach turns with the awareness of someone else’s scent lingering on me.Why am I here? God, what is wrong with me?

“But I’ve clearly lost my mind.” I shake my head.“I’m sorry.I shouldn’t have woken you. You were right. You have a real job. I need to go.”

“Viv, I didn’t mean it like that.”

I give Jeremy a weak smile and reach for my coat, but before I can make my way to the door, Jeremy puts himself in my path.

“Hey. Stop.”

I try to sidestep him, but he reaches for my arm, and I flinch. The hurt that flashes across his face cuts me to the quick.

“Shit,” I mutter, emotions boiling under the surface. I’m seconds from bursting into freaking tears.What the hell?I swallow hard and try for an explanation.“It’s not like that. It’s definitely not like that.” I’ve never needed someone to touch me more. I’m not foolish enough to say that aloud, thankfully. The corners of his eyes crinkle as he stares at me, and I avert my gaze, embarrassed for the first time.“I came straight from…work.”

The unspoken words hang in the air like fog. Neither one of us says anything, the minutes ticking by. I chance a look up. Mygaze finds his, and the last thing I expect to see is looking back at me. There’s no disgust or anger in his expression. Just plain curiosity. The longer I stare at him, the more agitated I become.

“What are you looking at me like that for?”

His lip curves up in a knowing smirk, and I glower.

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