Page 80 of Diamonds & Deception

He reaches out and touches a tendril of hair that has come loose from my messy bun. Gah! I wish I thought of changing out of Drake’s extra-large T-shirt and my leggings before he came home. Not that I had any idea when he’d be back. His hours are long and sporadic and go well into the dead of night.

I’m confused and hopeful and unsure of what his intentions are. If he wants me, I’m his, no hesitation. At least,I’mnot hesitant. I read it in his eyes as he drops his hand again. Drake rubs his hands up and down his thighs, his fingers tapping anxiously.

“I... I have an apology to make.”

“You?” I snap my head up. “I’m the one who lied to you, Drake. You’ve been nothing but kind and generous.”

He closes his eyes and shakes his head. “I wasn’t kind.”

I haven’t forgotten, and I don’t blame him.

Drake looks down at his hands in his lap. “I took advantage of you. I humiliated you and sexually ab—”

“No, you didn’t. You didn’t touch me anywhere inappropriate.”

“I brought in three men to scare you into telling the truth. That is inexcusable.”

“I understand.” Honestly, I don’t know why I’m so understanding. I hated him just as much as I hated myself. We both acted out of emotion and not ration.

“You can’t possibly understand that level of shame. I shielded your body with mine so they never saw anything or touched anything besides your forearms and calves. They agreed to it, but not willingly. They tried to talk me out of it but I was so...”

“Angry. Hurt. Betrayed.” I stand between his legs and cover his hands with mine. “I didn’t know you shielded my body from them, that they didn’t see me naked, and I still forgave you. We both hurt each other where we were most vulnerable, and I don’t believe we’ll ever do it again. That wasn’tyou,Drake. And my act, my lies, those weren’tme.The real me really, really likes the real you.”

He looks up and threads his fingers with mine. “The real me really, really likes you too.”

“Can we start over?”

“I’d like that.”

I release my fingers from his and hold out my hand. “My name is Nora Louise Winter. I’m a Pisces, originally from Glenmoore, Pennsylvania. I played softball in college and was valedictorian of my class. Nine years ago, I graduated from Boston College with a degree in journalism and a minor in communication. I work as a freelance investigative reporter for an online magazine in Philadelphia. And I’m incredibly attracted to math geeks.”

The smile on Drake’s mouth lights up his face, and my heart explodes in my chest.

“It’s nice to meet you, Nora Louise Winters from Philly. My name is Drake Matthews Reynolds.”

“Oh, that’s a sexy name.”

“It just so happens I’m a self-proclaimed math geek. I, too, graduated top of my class and earned myself a free ride to MIT. I grew up dirt poor and was raised by a single mother, never meeting my father. I don’t shy away from hard work. I set goals and reach them. All of them. And then make more. I’m a climber, but not for monetary gain but because I love playing with numbers.”

“Is that the only thing you like playing with?” I shimmy closer between his legs and rest my hands on his upper thighs.

“I’m calculating a few things right now.” He skims his hands up the sides of my legs and rests them on my hips.

“Oh?”

“Exactly. The number of times I can bring you to orgasm before you’re physically spent.”

“Do you have a guesstimate?”

“I don’t do guesstimates.” He snakes his arm around my waist and tugs me closer, his lips only an inch away from mine. “I make damn sure I can follow through on my calculations, and then I execute.”

“How many?” I whisper on his lips.

“How high can you count?”

Drake’s lips crash down on mine. I dive my fingers into his hair and tug him closer, his thighs slip off the desk as he pulls me into his chest. He traces my lips with his tongue, then darts into my mouth, licking, sucking, and nipping. I can’t get enough of him.

His fingers massage my back before making their way to my neck, then cup my face.

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