Page 65 of You Rock My World
I sigh against his chest, letting the warmth of him seep in. “You two are the same in my mind. I even have the visual of you in full armor to go with the fantasies.”
“Mmm… I want to hear in detail about these fantasies, but first, car keys.” He extends his hand, palm up, expectant.
I hesitate, glancing at the door. “Dorian, I shouldn’t stay. I have other clients.”
His expression doesn’t change. “Who, if I’m not mistaken, were reassigned?”
“Yes, but?—”
“No buts. Give me an hour, please?”
The way he sayspleasedissolves my spine.
Defeated, I go back to my chair, snatch my keys from my bag, and toss them to him. He catches them effortlessly, already moving.
Dorian vanishes down the hall, reappearing minutes later with a satisfied look. “My driver is taking your car for a spin. He’s an expert at shaking a tail. Ned will know if anyone’s been following you.”
I blink. “Are all your employees ex-special forces?”
“What? No, don’t be ridiculous. Some of them were in the CIA.”
I want to keep the banter flowing and the mood light, but my brain is throwing every red flag it can find at me.
Dorian notices instantly. “Uh-oh. Am I in trouble? What’d I do?”
“Nothing, but… can we talk?”
He tilts his head, studying me. “Yeah, but not here.”
He slides his hands in his jeans pockets and guides me to what can only be described as a cozier alternative to the main living room. With oversized armchairs, a deep-set couch, and a central coffee table stacked high with books about musicians, it feels less of a showroom and more like a private space.
Dorian gestures to the couch, and we sit side by side but facing each other.
“What is it?” he asks.
“It’s about Billie.” Gosh, we spend more time discussing her than we do us, but I need to get my doubts off my chest.
“Billie. Of course.” Dorian shifts, that hardness returning to his posture. “What about her?”
I look in his beautiful, expressive eyes, willing myself to be brave. “The way she makes you angry… it’s visceral. And the only people who have that power over us are the ones we love…” I pause, holding his gaze. “Are you… is there any part of you that’s still in love with her?”
His knees bounce as he stares past me. Dorian presses his lips together, and I fear he won’t answer. But then, he rubs a hand over his jaw. “Josie, come on.” He shakes his head. “That’s not—” He stops himself. “You think I want that?”
“Wanting it and feeling it aren’t the same thing.”
His fingers tap restlessly against his knee, a quick, uneven rhythm. “She broke me. I should hate her.” His voice drops and becomes conflicted, like he’s fighting with himself. “But on some level…” He trails off, then looks at me, guilt heavy in his eyes. “I can’t pretend Billie didn’t matter once. That she didn’t shape parts of me.” His gaze is steadier now, less torn. “She is my past, Josie. A messy, complicated past that I can’t erase.” He reaches for my hand. “But that’s all she is—past.”
“Are you sure? Because I can’t let myself fall for you if you aren’t over her.”
“I am.” He shifts closer, his knee brushing mine. “I don’t know how to explain it, but when I’m with you, she’s not even a thought in my head.” He chortles out a small, breathy laugh. “You make me want to move forward, Josie. Not look back.”
The words settle something inside me. The alarms finally go quiet.
Dorian searches my face. “You believe me?”
I nod, smiling, because I do. “Can I ask another question before we get to the fun stuff?”
He pushes my hair back on my shoulder and leans in. “What fun stuff?”
