Page 53 of Imperfect Player

“No, but . . . ”

“Then come inside. I’m a gentleman, remember?”

“One hour,” she tells me, her finger pointed in my direction. “One hour and you get me a car home.”

“I’ll do you one better. I’ll drive you.”

With my hand on the small of her back, I lead Everly to the private elevator.

“Oh, your own elevator. Fancy.”

She giggles as she teases me.

When the elevator door dings and we arrive on my floor, Everly’s eyes widen. She seems to be entranced with the view before her.

Have to admit, so am I. I just don’t think we’re looking at the same things. She’s staring out at the skyline. The dark sky filled with stars. The tall, bright buildings.

“Wow.” The word comes out more like a breathless sound and sends an ache straight to my balls.

I’m in full agreement with her, but it’s not the skyline that’s impressing me. It’s the beautiful woman standing before it.

“This is amazing.”

“Yeah, it is.”

In fact, I’m certain it’s the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen. The light silhouetting her body against the window. Every curve coming into focus. Taunting me. Tempting me.

I remind myself what an asshole I am. How much I don’t deserve her. But no plea, no reason overshadows how much I like her, want her.

I come up behind her, my hands resting on her waist. Her body relaxes, melting into mine, her head falling back and resting on my chest.

“Today was a great day,” she tells me.

“Yeah, it was.”

My eyes drift closed as I hold onto her tighter. I’m tired of feeling like this. Tired of sad. Tired of depriving myself of things. Tired of not feeling good enough.

“You okay?” she asks.

“Always am when I’m with you.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.”

She turns in my arms, looking up at me with these emotional blue eyes. Fucked. I’m fucked.

“I don’t deserve you,” I tell her.

“I disagree.”

Of course she does.

I need to speak, to say something to deter her from what I see in her eyes. The emotion that matches my own. Something way beyond desire or sexual tension.

It’s there and it’s real and I can’t avoid it anymore.

My hands move to the sides of her face, my lips press to hers. When she accepts my kiss, deepens it, all bets are off.

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