Page 16 of Somebody to Save
“What do you want then?”
Her question was quiet, and I gritted my teeth at the distance she’d put between us. She was breathing hard but trying to hide it, and a sweet blush crept over her cheeks and down her neck. It almost perfectly matched the color of her hair and dress.
“Have dinner with me Friday night.”
“I can’t Friday.”
“Saturday, then.”
She choked out a short, disbelieving laugh and turned back to her computer screen. It was a nervous tic, something to keep her hands and mind busy while I was sitting in front of her. But I didn’t call her on it.
“You’re insane,” she muttered, eyes darting back over to me like she couldn’t help but look no matter how hard she tried. Itried not to smile at her little tells. The ones that showed me my presence affected her as much as hers impacted me.
“Why does wanting to take you out on a date make me insane?”
She worried her bottom lip between her teeth as she stood and walked toward the printer on the other side of the room that spit out a few pages. Okay, so she was actually working.
And I knew I had to take the opportunity to drive my point home. For the second she had her back turned, I stood, too, and waited at the edge of her desk. She froze when she saw me there, like she was trying to determine what my next move would be.
What I didn’t expect was for her to voluntarily close the distance between us.
She breathed deeply, squared her shoulders, and took a few measured steps as she straightened the papers in her hands. She stopped just short of a foot but close enough that she had to look up and I had to look down to maintain eye contact. Endless green eyes peered up at me, and fuck, I wanted to get lost in them. I wanted to watch them shutter with pleasure and roll back in her head again and again.
“I have two jobs, Beckett, and other…obligations that keep me busy. My free time is nearly nonexistent, and like I said, no more random hookups. That was out of character for me.” She swallowed and lifted her lips in a thoughtful, yet small smile. “So, I appreciate your effort, but I don’t think this is viable.”
I didn’t think before I moved, stepping into the little space she’d left between us and taking her face in my hands. The papers she still held squeezed between our bodies as I urged her to look back up at me.
She sucked in a sharp breath, and I was so happy to be close enough to see it. I understood why she might be saying no, but none of those reasons were good enough for me. If she didn’t want me or didn’t have the same feelings, I would take that. It would kill me, but I’d walk away.
But she didn’t have time? I’d fucking wait. Hell, I’d make time for us. I needed more hours in the day anyway.
“I don’t think you understand, Bubbles. Unless you tell me you don’t want this, that you don’t want to ever see me again, I’m not taking no for an answer. I will do whatever you need me to do. I will rearrange anything and everything I can to fit within your schedule. Just so I can see you again.”
My plan of not coming on too strong had apparently vanished, but she didn’t. Her eyes bounced between mine, like she was searching for sincerity. I gave it a moment for my words to sink in, and I felt like I was flying when she gave me a slight nod.
I stared at her mouth for long enough that she knew what was coming. I imagined what her full lips felt like beneath my own and nearly groaned at the memory. I dipped my head slowly, giving her ample time to pull away and watching for any sign that she didn’t want it.
Not seeing any, I pressed my lips to hers. Nothing had ever felt that good, thatright.And it was torture to pull away when she’d finally let herself succumb. But I’d already given her enough to think about.
I drew back as her eyes slowly opened. Running my thumb over that perfect lower lip, I knew I’d think about kissing her again until I got another chance.
And if I didn’t leave right then, I was bound to bend her over her desk, flip up her pretty little dress, and remind herwhyshe should say yes to me. So, I placed one final kiss on her forehead and buttoned my suit jacket as I walked to the door.
Opening it, I stopped for a second just to get one last look at her. Flushed cheeks, parted lips, heavy breaths.
“I’ll see you later, Addison.”
NINE
WORTH THE WAIT
Beckett
Sitting in the conference room,I tapped the tabletop with my pen and stared out the floor-to- ceiling windows to my right. Right next to our building, where we occupied the seventeenth floor, was the oldest church in the city, and from our conference room window, you could see the top of the steeple.
So lost in thought, I didn’t hear the door open or Natalie and my brother walk in. It wasn’t until they sat down across from me and Andrew cleared his throat loudly. I startled, and my pen dropped to the table.
“Hey, bro,” he said with a smile, and I rolled my eyes. Andrew was my little brother and my best friend, but he also annoyed the crap out of me. What else were little brothers for?
