“Good, ’cause I’m not.” She shifts in her chair before propping her feet on the desk. She’s wearing a powder blue tank top, jean shorts, and a pair of cowboy boots. Her hair is in the messy bun I’ve been envisioning, and it makes me smile. Her face, free from all traces of makeup, practically glows. “In fact, I feel pretty kick ass this morning.”
I’ve never wanted her more.
All my unease is gone, replaced by a happiness I only seem to experience when she’s around. I straighten, step into her office, and close the door behind me, flicking the lock. “Is that so?”
“Uh-huh.”
Everything about her has loosened, and satisfaction settles deep in my sternum because I’m the cause of it. I finally fucked all the tension out of her, and I’m not going to lie, it fills me with a kind of arrogant pride.
I walk over to her.
She swivels in her chair, her eyes more mischievous than I’ve ever seen them. I was right to wait for her to come to me. I knew I was, but I like confirmation.
I lean down and put my hands on the arms of her chair. “You know how you want me to be overcome with passion and take you like you’re my own personal toy to use at my disposal?”
A smile flickers across her features. “I don’t think I remember saying that.”
I shrug. “I’m just being more direct about it.”
“I see. Well, then, yes, I do recall that.”
I pick her up in one swoop and plop her on the desk, right on top of all her papers. “Today’s your lucky day.”
She fists her hands into my shirt and tugs me close. “Excellent.”
I wrap my hand around her neck and lean in to kiss her, but stop short.
She blinks those molten eyes at me.
Before I deliver, I find I need to say something. I brush my thumb over her lower lip. “You’re so beautiful.”
There’s a slight shake of her head, but she says nothing as her thighs squeeze around me.
“Yes.” I tighten my hold on the nape of her neck. “Fucking gorgeous.”
Her arms snake around me, everything about her soft and open. “Thank you.”
Something tickles at the back of my throat, wanting to be exposed, revealed to this unexpected woman. My gaze flickers over her face. “I didn’t like that you were gone.”
She bites her lower lip. “I had things I needed to take care of for tonight.”
“I understand.” I brush my mouth over hers. “But I still didn’t like it. I wanted to feel your skin.”
Her expression flickers. “I would have stayed if I could.”
“I know.” I put my arm around her waist and pull her closer. I’m not a man that articulates feelings. I’m not even sure the last time I had any, and now that I want to say something significant, I struggle for the words. “You don’t make me feel like anyone else does.”
Her brow furrows, because of course I’ve made a mess of it.
I try again. “My whole life, no matter how smooth things were sailing along, I felt restless. But when I’m with you, I don’t feel that.”
Her eyes get bright, like she might cry. Although I can’t imagine why she would, considering how clumsy I made it.
But instead of crying, she wraps her legs around me. “Come here.”
And I do.
Cat