Page 83 of The Confidentiality Clause
“I’m anxious that I’m going to push too far and upset you or make you worry about me. But I don’t want to lose any of my clients if I can help it. This is only a short-term thing, I swear.” I blink open my eyes and stare into her crystal blue irises.
“I know all of this.” A sweet smile lifts her lips. “I told you I didn’t expect everything to change overnight. I’m here for you in the in-between.”
I settle my hands on her hips. “You aren’t upset that I fell asleep at the office again?”
She brushes back my hair. That might be my favorite feeling. I glance at her lips. Second to kissing her.
“No, because I know what you’re working toward. I might still push you sometimes, or rather, pull you away.” She smirks. “But I know you have to work extra for a period of time to make this work.”
I breathe easier at her words. “Thank you.” The words fall short of everything I want them to convey, but it’s all I can come up with in the state I’m in.
“You’re welcome. Now–”she presses a kiss to my forehead–“let’s get you to bed. I’m driving.”
While sleep sounds amazing, the thought of moving when she’s in my arms is inconceivable. I slide a hand over the back of her neck and guide her lips to mine. She doesn’t resist or protest. I go slow, savoring each brush, touch, and breath. Her mouth opens at my prompting, and she lets out a soft sound as I explore. She tastes like sweet peppermint and feels like a dream I never want to wake up from.
I ground myself in the safety of being so deeply known by her. My fears, my desires, my flaws. I keep laying myself bare to Ariel, and she doesn’t shy away. No, she stands her ground. Sometimes with an attitude that heats my blood, and sometimes with a tender sweetness that steals my breath. But she doesn’t leave. I tighten my hold on her. She’s not going to leave.
Our lips part, and Ariel rests her forehead on mine. Neither of us says a word for a little while, as if we don’t want to leave this bubble we created. I know I don’t.
“You need to rest,” Ariel whispers, breaking the silence.
“I feel very rested right now,” I say and brush my lips against hers.
“You need to sleep.” She pulls her head back. Runs her thumbs gently beneath my eyes. “As handsome as you are with dark circles, I prefer you without them.”
I sigh. “Okay, okay. I’ll get some sleep.”
She gets up out of my lap, and I internally mourn the loss of her warmth. If only we were going home together. Then I could hold her all night. My chest aches with longing. I know it’s much too soon for that, but being with Ariel feels so natural that it makes me want to speed a little. Plus, it’s not like I just met her. We’ve known each other for years.
“I’ll drive you home, then I can pick you up in the morning.”
I stand up and stretch. “No, I’ll get a rideshare in the morning. I’ll probably be up earlier than you.”
She shoots me a stern look. “You’re sleeping a full eight hours, atminimum. Then I’m coming to get you and we’ll have breakfast together before you start back on work.”
“You’re very bossy tonight.” I grin and pull her to me again. “I like it.”
She rolls her eyes, but I can tell she’s holding back a smile. “Let’s go. Some of us actually like sleep.”
I chuckle and follow her out of my office. She wraps an arm around my waist and I throw one around her shoulder. We lean into each other as we get onto the elevator. I look at our warped reflection in the mirrored walls. It’s an image I never would have pictured for myself, but now that I have it, I don’t plan on losing it. Ever.
Chapter thirty-eight
Ariel Cambridge
I awake from a fitful sleep to the sound of pounding on my door. My hand slaps around my nightstand for my phone. I squint at the bright light burning my retinas and open the app that connects to my security camera. As it’s loading, I see that it’sfive in the morning. Who is at my house this early? Surely, a murderer wouldn’t knock first.
The video feed loads and displays Brock’s smirking face. So not a murderer, but a person who inspires it. I’m tempted to stay in bed and talk to him through the microphone in the camera, but I can yell at him better face to face. My back tightens as I force myself out of the warm cocoon I created in my bed. I wince and wrap one of my many blankets around me like a cape. I started my period yesterday, and I barely slept last night due to cramps and the fun dose of insomnia I’m plagued with at this time of the month.
Brock knocks again. I hope he has a will drafted. Sutton will forgive me. Probably. I stomp to my front door and whip it open. His eyebrows raise.
“Good morning, Duke.”
“Why?” I bite out.
He beams at me. “You love sunrise runs. Remember that time you forced me to go on one? Now I’m here to return the favor.”
“I decided to give up running. My new workout routine is throwing things at people who show up at my door at 5 AM.”
