Page 84 of Greed
She refilled their glasses and gave him eyes until he drank his, and she drank hers.
“I’m still confused, and my brain is going a million miles an hour.” She leaned against the kitchen island. She cast her eye over his living room. “But from where I’m standing, I don’t see stolen items. All I can see is how many people you’ve helped.”
He went to lean next to her. “But I took things that didn’t belong to me.”
“To balance out the fact you were saving lives.”
They stared at his modern metallic fridge. He could feel the iron atoms reach for him, but he ignored them, instead turning his attention to her at his side.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
She shifted to face him side-on. Their eyes were inches apart.
Her body heat mixed with his and felt just as warming as the vodka. Her feminine scent climbed into his body and set hooks into him. There was a hint of soap, but that was all. It was enough to trigger his own body’s reaction, sending a surge of endorphins rushing through his system. He felt relaxed and aroused at the same time.
Wanting to get close to her, but not wanting to hurt her again, he gripped the stone bench.
“When I left you in that stairwell, I was afraid I’d already tipped my balance somehow. It was… a low point of my life. I was so ashamed for my actions. After doing so well to put your past behind you, you deserve someone better than me.”
“Do you really think that?”
“My life is forever steeped in crime. Being near me will always put you in danger.”
“But is that what you want? For me to not be with you?”
“Lilo.” His eyes fluttered from the force of his emotions. “I want you. All of you. Any way I can have you.”
She stared at her feet for a while, thinking.
“I get it,” she whispered. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m upset that you left me, but I get it. You didn’t want to hurt me intentionally, and… I forgive you. Just don’t do it again.” She added, pouting playfully, but then with a self-deprecating smile, dipped her head and shook it. “I’m an idiot. That was me trying to lighten the mood. Just tell me to shut up.”
He took a shuddering breath. “Thank you.”
“For shutting up?”
He laughed. “For forgiving me. And I will never do it again. I promise.”
At his laughter, she froze and stared at him until silence pounded between them.
“Lilo?” he tested, unsure.
“You’re beautiful when you laugh,” she murmured, and tugged his glasses from his face. “You don’t really need these, do you?”
He shook his head.
“I still have so many questions. Like, is Griffin your real name, and do all of your family have powers, and how come you got the metal moving ability, and where did it come from? Is it like an alien invention sort of thing, or are you from the future, or something crazy like that, and also, most of all”—she turned serious, eyes intense as her hand moved swiftly to the back of his neck in a firm grip—“what happens now… between us?”
He licked his lips and saw her do the same. He wanted so badly to kiss her, but was afraid… “Only one answer can take care of all our questions.”
She gasped and stepped back.
“You watchedCasablanca,” she exclaimed.
“Three times.”
“Three times!”
“Correct.”
