Page 14 of Waiting Forever
He steps toward me, standing so close I have to tilt back my head to meet his gaze. “I’m not playing games. I didn’t think I said anythingout loud. I guess I did.”
“Yeah. You did, and you should keep your compliments to yourself. It’s not like you mean any of them.”
He gives a soft laugh and keeps his fingers locked on my wrist. “Why do you think I don’t mean them?”
“How about because every time you compliment me you disappear from my life? You just admitted you didn’t mean to say it ‘out loud’. You can’t even repeat what you said now.”
“You just told me not to.” His voice is a sexy whisper.
I force myself away and break his hold on me. “It doesn’t matter. You probably meant ‘beautiful like a little sister.’ You used to tell me I was pretty when I was a little girl.”
“Did I?” A teasing grin plays at his lips. He walks away again.
Argh.Not even thirty minutes with him, and already I want to smack the back of his head.
“Yes. You did.” I catch up to him.
“You worshiped me back then.”
“And now I’m all grown up.”
He looks me up and down, his gaze lingering on my breasts. “Yes, you are.”
His question in the elevator returns. “Why did you ask if I’m wearing a bra before?”
His eyes widen. He glances around and then inches as close as he can get with the suitcase between us. “You were drawing attention at the conveyer belt and again in the first elevator we took.”
“The one with the college guys?” I ask.
A derisive laugh escapes him. He straightens and shakes his head. “You noticed them? That’s nice.”
What’s his sudden problem? “I noticed them because one of the guys winked at me when he got on.”
He jerks his head my way. “The fucker winked at you, too?”
“Too? He winked at you also?” Interesting.
“No. He was checking out your tits. All the guys were. At the conveyer belt when you arched your back and stuck them out for all the world to see, your nipples were hard and any man within eyesight was staring. The guys in the elevator, too.”
Oh, God.Heat rushes up my neck to my face. I glance at my shirt. Sure enough, my nips are standing at attention. It’s the thin fabric of the shirt and the airport was freezing. I should have worn a tank top or a padded bra.
I wore a teal lace one because part of me wanted to feel sexy when I saw Nathan and because wearing attractive clothes isn’t on my to-do list these days, it was my only option. So much for dressing in an oversized T-shirt and no makeup so I don’t draw attention.
“I’m so embarrassed.” I turn away, hiding my face, and cover my chest with my arms. “I didn’t know. If I had, I would have covered myself. I don’t want people looking at me, not guys. To know they were checking out my—” I shiver and huddle in on myself, shamed and disgusted. Before the incident, I wouldn’t have cared, but now…
“Hey.” Nathan walks around to the front of me and puts his hands on my arms. “I didn’t mean to upset you. Shit.” He hisses and pulls me to his solid chest. His arms slide around my body, holding me tight. He kisses the top of my head. “I’m sorry, Kensi. I’m so sorry. I know you’ve been through something.”
I stiffen. He knows I’ve been through something, or he knows what thatsomethingis?
“I don’t know what it is,” Nathan continues, and I relax, “but I know you’re here for a reason, and you don’t want me to know why. I won’t press you. I promise I won’t, but I hope you can eventually trust me enough to tell me the truth.”
I don’t respond. I just keep my cheek pressed against his chest, loving the feel of his strong arms around me, the sound of his thumping heart, and the movement of his breathing. He smells like fresh laundry, and a hint of cologne, oak and orange.
I breathe him in, committing his scent to my memory. He’ll never be this close to me again. It dawns on me. I’m no longer insecure or tense. I feel warm and safe. A false peace that I can’t hope to rely on when my anxiety flares.
I force myself away from Nathan.
He resists at first, reluctant to let me go.
