Page 57 of Beautiful Thing

Layla shrugs, getting this faraway look in her eyes. “Thailand maybe? I’ve heard about these elephant sanctuaries they have there, and I’ve always wanted to see them up close.” Her lips curve up at the corners. “What about you? Where do you want to go someday?”

“The Redwoods.”

“Oh, that totally fits your lumberjack vibe. If you ever go, I better get a picture of you standing in front of one of those giant trees.” Her gaze drifts to my chest and I like the way her eyes feel on me. “In your flannel shirt. The red one.”

“Maybe you could go with me,” I slip. Then I fumble. “I mean, you know, if anyone asks about our vacation plans, that’s what we should say.”

“Right. Of course.” She gives her head a little shake. “Okay, so we’ve covered the bases. We should be good to go, right?”

“Right…” I agree.

With a smile lingering on her lips, she gets up and starts taking our dishes to the sink. My eyes drop to her ass. It’s a hot ass. Especially in that dress.

As I watch the way she moves, I can’t help but think back to earlier at work when I cornered her against the filing cabinet. Jeez. Just thinking about how she felt up against me makes mehot and horny again.I reach down to discretely adjust myself under the table.

Immediately, I feel guilty. It’s not right to lust after her this way. But I just can’t help how attracted I am to her.

Grabbing some dirty plates, I follow her to the kitchen sink, standing right next to her. “Felix said we don’t look comfortable around each other. He said we look scared of each other.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Layla says tentatively. “We’ve never done—y’know?—couple stuff. Physical stuff.”

My gut clenches.Oh, we’ve never done any of it, but I’ve sure fantasized about it.“Right.”

Layla’s brows dip low. “Do you think we should…practice? I mean, just to, you know, get rid of some of the awkward energy between us?”

My eyes follow her tongue as it swipes across her bottom lip.Fuck—I want to kiss that mouth so bad. Butcasualis just not my style.I’ve got that whole no-kissing rule.

It’s times like this though that make me question all my convictions.

Layla stretches her hand across to me. I look down at it. Then I slowly reach my hand out, lacing my calloused fingers with her much softer ones.

My stomach is tight. I’m starting to sweat. Electricity moves between the two of us, like it’s trying to shock me to death.

We both stand there for the longest time, staring at our interlaced hands.

Then ever so slowly, I tighten my grip on her hand, pulling her closer and taking her in my arms. I almost moan out loud at the contact. She just feels so right.

“Y’know—we never did finish our dance the night of my birthday party, before you Cinderella’d it,” I say, surprised by how rough my voice sounds.

She smiles. “True.”

My hand gently finds the small of her back. “Is it okay to touch you here, Belle?”

Layla takes a stuttered breath. She nods. “Yes.”

Then she laces her arms around my neck, somehow drawing us closer together. Which I’m totally fucking fine with, by the way.

But when she accidentally brushes against my erection, she startles. We end up stepping all over each other’s feet.

“I’m—that’s—I’m sor—” I stutter.

“No. I…I like it.”

I blink. “Youlikeit?”

Layla shakes her head, redness climbing up her cheeks. “I mean…it’s okay…I don’t m-mind. I just…”

Instead of finishing whatever she was going to say, she just reels me back in, pulling me close.

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