Page 44 of Conspiracies and Chemistry

“I had a better partner than you did. Better advisers. I was lucky.” He stepped fully into my space.

His shoulder was so solid-looking and inviting. And after all that emotional vulnerability, I wanted to hide my face in it.

I’d told him how a workplace affair went terribly wrong. How it haunted me for a dozen years. I shouldn’t let myself fall, not again.

He hadn’t judged me for my massive mistake. He’d tried to rationalize what I’d done. And I was so tired of being alone, of never letting anyone in.

So I laid my cheek on his shoulder.

His other arm came around me, peeling me off the doorframe and offering me the kind of comfort I hadn’t felt in a long time. I relaxed into his body and let my hands rest on his hips.

“I didn’t know about all that,” he said into my hair. “I thought…”

“You thought what everyone else did. That I didn’t care.”

“But you did care. You still do. The foundation. All your other charitable causes. And now you’re doing something for people who are sick, to prevent their suffering.” He stroked my back, and I melted into him.

I turned up my face to meet his gaze. “I’m no hero, you know. I’ll always be trying to make up for what I didn’t do back then.”

“That’s all any of us can do. We do our best today.” He kissed my forehead, his lips lingering there until I felt my facial muscles relax.

“You’re an apologist,” I muttered.

“I’m a fucking supporter,” he said, moving his lips to my temple. “Haven’t you ever had one of those before?”

“Sure. My mom. My girlfriends, when I let them. But never a guy.”

“Let me be that guy, Tessa.”

I was tempted by the way he held me, protective and giving at the same time. He’d heard the worst of me and was unshaken. Maybe I could trust him to do the right thing, let myself go with him.

“Wait.” I pulled back a fraction. “What are your thoughts on universal healthcare?”

“What’s not to love about universal healthcare? I want everyone to have access to the tests and treatments we develop here. I don’t mind working through some red tape to get it to them.”

“My god, you’re perfect,” I murmured. I tipped up my face until only an inch of air separated our lips. “Kiss me.”

His lips crashed onto mine, his regular caution gone. This was nothing like our exploratory kiss in the hotel. His evening stubble rasped across my skin while his tongue invaded me, silky-soft but insistent.

I took it all and gave it right back. I raked his scalp with my short fingernails, tugging at the roots of his hair as I took my turn and tasted him. One of his hands left my back for a moment, then I heard the click of the door a moment before he pressed me against it.

“There’s no one else in the building,” I murmured, smiling against his lips.

“The cleaning staff could come in. Better safe than sorry.” He nipped my earlobe.

“God. Why is that so hot?” I slid my hand down the buttons of his lab coat and cupped the bulge at the front of his trousers.

Hissing, he grabbed my hand and pinned it to the supply closet door. His hand trembled like my pulse.

“Are we really doing this?” His breath gusted against my ear.

“Will you regret it if we do?”

He stared into my eyes so long I thought he’d say yes. He’d pull away, yank open the door, and run the way he had at the hotel in Vegas.

Instead, he dropped to his knees.

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