Page 103 of Honest With You

"How did I survive this long without you?"

“Jesse.” His name comes out in a plea. His eyes flash before they dip down to my lips, his head following slowly as if giving me time to tell him no.

My fingers curl around the fabric of his shirt. My brain and heart are both at odds with each other. I don’t want to say no nor do I want to let go, but I know the right thing is to keep it professional between us. Even though I’ve moved past what happened between us, we don’t have the best track record together. And it wouldn’t be right since I’m his boss now, and he is indisputably the best songwriter and producer I have. I can’t afford to mess that up for either one of us.

I let my hands fall off giving him pause. He steps back and tips my chin up.

I meet his questioning gaze with a resigned smile. “Neither one of us can afford distractions right now, Jesse. Especially not when everyone is just waiting for me to make a mistake.”

Jesse

"Let me guess. I'm your favorite mistake?" I tease, trying to lighten up the mood.

She smirks but it fades away when I lean over, letting my fingers caress her skin as I brush away the wisps of hair that have fallen on her forehead.

I can’t stop touching her.

Her hand comes up to clutch my wrist.

"You've always been my favorite memory, Jesse," she whispers, almost to herself.

It takes everything in me to stop myself from wrapping my arms around her to beg and plead for another goddamn chance. Being able to touch her like this but not do more is killing me to my core.

She wants me. I see it.

I want her. She knows it.

But I know she’s worried about our careers and that she thinks being together could be a detriment to it, but I honestly don’t give a fuck.

She’s worth it. I’d trade everything for another chance.

“I think by now you should know I’m willing to risk just about anything to be with you.”

Our foreheads touch and I step into her, pressing her body against the concrete railing of the bridge. Somehow, our hands intertwine between us and I can feel it happening. It’s like she personally gave me the key to unlock her heart from the prison of the last six years apart. Her restraint slips and crumbles in the minute space between us, and I take that opportunity to let go of her right hand to clasp her jaw. Finally… fucking finally, I taste those lips of hers that have been haunting me for years, taunting me for months.

And damn, is it better than I’ve fantasized about. It’s explosive.

It’s fate. It’s the sun and the moon meeting in the minutes between dusk and dawn. It’s fantasy meeting reality. It’s fixing every single fucking mistake I’ve ever made. It’s chasing all her doubts away. It’s everything.It’s us.

A strangled moan escapes her and it’s my undoing. Our hands untangle and hers dance up my chest. My now free hand wraps around her waist and I pull her off the ground and up against me so we’re chest to chest. Her arms intertwine around my neck and the hand that was grasping her jaw grabs hold of her hair and I pull, opening her to give me better access to her mouth.

I nip and she tugs and we pour everything into this damn kiss that was six years coming. Our tongues duel, teasing and tasting each other, relishing in the familiar we once knew.

And with every beat of her heart, mine answers.

I knew it the moment I laid eyes on her again and now she knows it too, I’m still so utterly in love with this girl.

She’s mine.

* * *

I watch Ava chew her bottom lip nervously from across the elevator.

We had gotten so carried away that a patrolling guard on a bike was flagged down by someone who complained. We were asked to leave citing public indecency.

We hurried back to the car, avoiding looking at each other for fear we would go at it again, and then I gave her the option.

I made her choose between lunch out or going back to the hotel.

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