Page 299 of The Blairville Legacies

“It's okay... I'm nervous, too,” he laughed and turned to me, leaning into the seat and looking so incredibly relaxed. “May I?” He pointed at my hands. “I don't want you to freeze and have any negative memories of our first meeting.”

I nodded, and again he took my hands in his.

Damn, this man was warm.

“Trust me, the only thing I'd remember negatively would be a kidnapping where I didn't get the promised hot chocolate by the fireplace and a history lesson from your philosophy books at the end.”

The words came easily from my lips. It was as if we were in the chat and even though I was nervous, I managed to beJ. And that felt...good.

Was that the effect of Gloria's serum?

“Does the kidnapped lady have any book wishes?”

“She'd like to know more about Atlantis.”

His smirk softened, and he looked down at our hands. And he hesitated...

“Are you all right?” I asked in uncertainty.

Had I said something wrong?

“I often have wild theories, J, whose origins I can't explain to you. You'd call me crazy...” he began and stroked my hand, lost in thought. “In real life, I think I'm someone you wouldn't like.”

My heart suddenly felt heavy. He had the same worries asIdid. And I highly doubted that I would ever be able to dislike this person in front of me.

“I'm shy in real life...” I revealed with hesitation, looking down with warm cheeks.

He paused. I felt his gaze on me, but glanced at his masculine hands.

He began to run his fingers over the back of my hand again, drawing patterns. Circles that turned into spirals. His warm skin felt so good on my own and I imagined them painting random patterns on other parts of my body too.

A tingling sensation ran over my skin.

I bit my lower lip.

He was my best friend.

I struggled with myself not to continue these thoughts, but I blushed. Luckily, it was dark.

“You know you can be anything with me that you're not allowed to be in your real life,” he said softly, extending his scope to my arm, which was resting on my bare knee in front of him. “I'm not judging you. Quite the opposite... I admire you for the woman you are.”

Woman. He saw a woman in the insecure girl in front of him.

“Erik...” I began, because I didn't want him to flatter me like that.

I didn't deserve words like that.

“I mean it.” He looked straight at me again. “You inspire me to do so much in my life, distract me from this painful reality.”

“I shouldn't.”

He shook his head slightly.

“Without you, J, I'd be lifeless inside,” he said quietly, almost without a sound.

I looked at him in question, but he probably couldn't see it, even though the warm lantern light from the parking lot was shining directly into my face. The masks took away both our expressions.

“There's no reason to,” I replied gently and placed my hands on his, which landed directly on my bare knee. His warmth almost drove me out of my mind, sending pleasant flashes up my thighs.

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