Page 22 of My CEO Neighbor
Ted became aware that they were sitting very close together, Monica's knees pressed against his thighs, her face inches from his own.Her hands were soft against his skin, and she smelled like lavender, warm and feminine.
"Monica."
"What?"
"Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me."
"Yes, I do."Ted's hands found her wrists, his thumbs tracing over her pulse points."I haven't had one of those in years."
"A panic attack?"
"Feeling like I couldn't control what was happening to me."
Monica was quiet for a moment."How do you feel now?"
Ted took inventory: his breathing was steady, his heart rate was approaching normal, and the crushing anxiety had receded to manageable levels.But more than that, sitting in the darkness with Monica's hands on his face and her body warm against his, he felt something he couldn't immediately identify.
"Calm," he said, surprised by the truth of it.
"Good."
"And..."Ted paused, trying to find words for the unfamiliar sensation."Present.Like I'm actually here instead of thinking about seventeen other places I should be."
"That's meditation."
"That was a panic attack."
"Same difference, sometimes."
Ted laughed, a shaky sound that held more relief than humor."You have a very unconventional teaching style."
"I work with what I'm given."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, Monica's hands still framing Ted's face, his fingers still circling her wrists.Ted became aware of the warmth radiating from her body, the soft sound of her breathing, the way her hair had fallen forward to brush against his forehead.
"I want to kiss you."The admission escaped before Ted could stop it.It was completely inappropriate given their circumstances.But sitting in the darkness with Monica's hands on his skin and the taste of vulnerability still fresh in his mouth, appropriate felt less important than truthful.
Monica went very still."Ted..."
"I know it's a bad idea.I know we barely know each other, and we're trapped in an elevator, and tomorrow morning we'll go back to being neighbors who annoy each other.But I want to kiss you anyway."
Monica was quiet for a long moment, and Ted could feel the tension building between them like a held breath.When she spoke again, her voice was barely above a whisper.
"If we do this—if I let you kiss me—what happens tomorrow?"
"I don't know."
"That's not a very CEO-like answer."
"I'm not feeling very CEO-like right now."
Ted felt Monica lean closer, her breath warm against his lips."What are you feeling like?"
"Like a man who's spent three years forgetting how to be human, and you're reminding me."
Monica's sharp intake of breath made Ted's cock even harder.Her hands slid from his face to his shoulders, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.
