Page 73 of Check the Halls
Another pause.
“You promise you won’t look?”
I swallow. “I promise.”
The door opens before I have the chance to steel myself against the sight of her. God, she’s gorgeous. My eyes scan her face like it’s trying to make a core memory. Her intelligent blue eyes that always seem to be asking a question. The scattering of freckles on her nose and cheeks. Those full lips that can alter a man’s brain chemistry when they curve upwards.
Her beauty hits so hard because every part of her is paired with memories. When I stare at her mouth, I can still taste her. When I see the freckles on her face, I’m reminded of the ones she has in other places. Places I want to see again more than anything. Looking into her eyes, I remember how they look when she’s happy, turned on, and devastated.
“Please try not to rip the dress.” Her voice has a breathless quality and she’s flushed, probably from trying to free herself from the dress for several minutes.
“I won’t.” If she knew how badly I wanted to tear the dress from her perfect body, I would not be entrusted with the job.
Maddy turns around and I have to bite back a curse. I thought the dress was flattering from the front, but the view from behind could send a man into cardiac arrest. I mean, Christ. Her ass is a goddamn work of art.
With great difficulty, I tear my eyes away from her body and focus on the task at hand. She’s right—the dress is a bit too small, the fabric stretching to accommodate her curves on both sides. I slip my fingers into the space between the zipper and her back and the moment my fingers graze her soft skin, I’m hard.
I may have to ask her to return the favour and close her eyes once I’m done or risk her seeing my erection.
It doesn’t help that I can feel her heart beating rapidly against my hand. That the skin around my fingers broke out into goosebumps the moment I made contact.
Drawing the material together as much as I can with one hand, I take the handle of the zipper in my other hand. It takes a few moments of gently coaxing it up and down before I manage to get it past the point of resistanceand it glides down Maddy’s back. True to my word, I close my eyes before I see anything I shouldn’t.
“Thank you,” I hear her say. “I can breathe.”
I can’t.
“No problem,” my voice is like gravel. “I’ll let you get changed. Do you want me to give you a lift back to work?”
She doesn’t answer right away and with my eyes closed, I can’t very well read her expression to see what’s going on in her head.
After what seems like an eternity, she says, “No, I’m good. But thank you for the offer. And thanks for freeing me from my silk prison.”
“Anytime.” I clear my throat. “Not that I’m volunteering to help you get undressed anytime, I just mean anytime you need anything, Madness. You know I’ll be there.”
It’s not lost on me that I must look like an idiot standing here with my eyes closed. I’d give anything to see the expression on her face, but I keep my eyes glued shut as promised.
She’s quiet for so long that I wonder if she’s slipped away and left me to talk to myself. After what feels like an eternity, she speaks.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Anything,” I answer.
“You don’t have to answer.”
“I said anything and I meant it. Ask away.”
Another long pause.
“What was the news?” She asks softly.
“What news?”
“The news you got a year ago that you didn’t want to hear? What was it?”
Suddenly I’m grateful that my eyes are closed. I don’t think I could look at her right now and get the words out.
“I found out you were getting married,” I tell her, honestly. “I saw a post on your Instagram that your…that Derek tagged you in. I didn’t take the news well. Even though we hadn’t been together for so long, I never got over you. Seeing that you moved on…I decided to try to do the same.”
