Page 19 of Unearthed Dreams
The thought was sobering.
Taking a big step back, I severed the contact between our gazes, between her hand and my arm. “I, uh, need to get back downstairs.”
She wrung her hands together, like she was trying to dull the ache that had erupted there. It must have been the same pain I felt at the loss of her touch.
“Oh, of course. I’m sorry for keeping you.”
“Don’t apologize.”
“Okay.”
We stood there staring again, neither wanting to leave the apartment, but likely knowing it was for the best.
“Let me at least pick up your books I knocked over. I’m such a klutz.” She turned, hurriedly trying to re-stack the toppled pile.
“Leave it.”
Her back snapped ramrod straight and she dropped the book she’d been holding to the floor. It let out a loudclunkin the quiet room. Once again, my tone had been harsher than intended, so it wasn’t surprising I’d startled her. Most days, it felt like every soft and gentle part of me had died right along with my cheating wife.
Chapter Seven
CHARLIE
Kai’s barkwas still echoing in my ears as I rushed down the stairs from the apartment above the bar. He was close behind, issuing more orders.
“Charlie, slow down. You’ll fall.”
“I’m fine.” I looked over my shoulder to speak the words, which was a mistake. My foot missed the next step and I pitched forward, only to be stopped and reeled back in by strong arms around my waist.
“I got you,” Kai whispered into my shoulder. Neither of us moved as he held me to him, my back to his chest, his arms still wrapped around me. Our chests were heaving, his breath fanning out across my neck and chest.
This man was lighting my insides up in ways I’d only ever read about in romance novels. There was a dull thump between my thighs and my skin was buzzing. It was somuch.
But just a few minutes ago, I was inches away from my very first kiss. Twenty-two years old and not only was I a virgin, but I’d never even been kissed. That’s what happened when youlived in a town of five hundred people and had three older brothers insisting that any boys in town stay far, far away from their baby sister.
By the time I’d gotten to college, I’d become so shy and awkward with the opposite sex that it seemed nearly impossible to have a full conversation, let alone anything more. Just like with Trevor.
Kai, for whatever reason, made it easy. He drew me in with his quiet demeanor; it was like he called out to that piece of my soul that craved gentle and simple peace. Then he snapped at me, and it reminded me all too quickly that I was way out of my depth here.
Now, with his arms wrapped around me, I felt that same peace settled over me again—like I was safe here, free to be me without the need to be loud or more than the quiet girl I was perfectly content being.
“Are you okay?” he asked, then he pressed his lips to the skin of my shoulder and I nearly melted into a puddle.
“I-I should go.”
He swallowed, then loosened his hold on me. His hands came to the tops of my arms to steady, one thumb brushing over the spot he just kissed. Almost like he was trying to erase it—or brand it into my skin.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have?—”
“It’s fine, really.” I started down the stairs again, slower this time, but eager to get some space and clarity about this whole confusing situation.
Frustration got the better of me, and by the time I made it to the bottom of the stairs, I whirled on him. He stopped on a dime, reeling back slightly so he didn’t bump into me like I’ddone to him twice today. Apparently, my brain had no filter today, because I asked exactly what was on my mind.
“What exactly are you sorry for? Almost kissing me? Barking at me like a jackass? Oractuallyputting your mouth on my skin?”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, but when it got caught in the bun near the crown of his head, he pulled out the elastic that kept it bound there. His white hair fell in unruly waves around his shoulders, only getting wilder as he ran both hands through the long strands. His roots were still darker—a shade that matched the short, neatly trimmed beard on his handsome face. Almost like the hair grew in dark but couldn’t hold on to its pigment for more than a few days.
He was, by far, the most attractive man I’d ever laid eyes on. Trevor and his nerd-hot couldn’t hold a candle to the rugged sex appeal of the man in front of me.
