Page 45 of The Deception: Hercules Valentine and I
“I’m sorry. You go first,” I say.
“No, you. I insist.”
“But I’ve already forgotten,” I reply absentmindedly. I close my eyes and shake my head. I can’t believe I said that.
“Are you always this hard on yourself?” Hercules asks.
I frown. “Why do you ask that?”
“You’re beating yourself up over not remembering what you were going to say. It's okay. You make me nervous too. I might be better at hiding it.” He chuckles.
“I make you nervous?” I'm certainly fishing. I want to hear him confirm it.
His lustful gaze leaves me temporarily breathless. I want a repeat performance of last night, but I’m trying to remain professional.
“Yes,” he whispers throatily.
His energy washes over me, and when I blink, my eyelids flutter. I want to apologize for this moment of uncontrollable lust, but his last comment about me being hard on myself still haunts me. I am hard on myself. Mostly, I feel as if Heartly and Xander’s perfectly little girl remains unblemished in their hearts and minds if she never defies them or makes mistakes.
My gaze is becoming more focused as I turn and concentrate on Hercules’s mouth. Kissing him was like the best kind of drug. I want more. Heartly and Xander’s daughter wants to make out feverishly with the enemy.
“Do you like hot dogs?” he asks.
“Hot dogs?”
Shit.The doors are open, and he’s watching me with his customary amused smirk that I find so sexy.
Kiss him, Paisley. Just do it.
I can't stop my feet. I exit the elevator, leaving another missed opportunity in my wake.
* * *
We walk outthrough a lobby made of glass and into a perfectly manicured private park that’s encased between walls of skyscrapers. I’ve said yes to hot dogs, but I’m still not fully present as I kick myself for not being bolder. Being fearful is exactly how I missed my opportunity with Hercules many moons ago. So far, our conversation has been pretty surfacy. I remarked on how the afternoon had warmed some. I even offered to give him his coat back. But Hercules refused. That made me happy. I love being wrapped up in his scent. The thought that I’m wearing something that belongs to him is still turning me on.
We smile warmly at each other before he uses his keycard to open a gate. Being by Hercules’s side feels natural, as usual. It’s hard to admit that we were possibly made for each other—especially since neither of us could ever take the other home for dinner without causing a ruckus.
“Thank you,” I say before I step onto a nearly empty sidewalk in an alley.
Hercules puts his hand on my back after he joins me on the sidewalk. My cells are acutely aware that he’s touching me again.What took him so long?
My heart is beating at a mile a minute as I spot a short and husky middle-aged man waving at us while manning his hot dog cart. “Herc! You almost missed me!” His voice echoes between the walls.
Hercules raises a hand. “Then, Benny, this is divine intervention.”
Benny readjusts the navy-blue beanie on top of his head as he observes us with keen eyes. “You want the same?” Now he’s watching me. I feel as though I’ve been pinned to a dissection plate and Benny is examining all of my parts but mostly my face.
“Yeah, and—” Hercules starts.
“Is this your girl?” Benny asks.
My head is spinning so fast that I feel like I’m going to pass out.Do we resemble an actual couple?Hercules is the sort of man who turns heads and inspires double takes. Up until two nights ago, I considered myself a socially starved nerd. And truth be told, even though Max has been keeping me locked up like Rapunzel in the castle tower, I never fought as hard for my freedom as I could have. I didn’t have to allow myself to be so easily convinced to neglect Eden and Jillian until our friendships fizzled out. I am clueless about why I ultimately complied with Max’s demands. I was miserable until I started at VTI. I haven't been this happy since before I graduated from college.
“Benny, come on. You’re going to scare her off,” Hercules retorts, his accent almost matching Benny’s.
That’s impossible.
“She’s wearing your coat. What the hell am I supposed to think? You’re beautiful, though,” he says to me. “He’d be damn lucky to have you.”
