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From the way she talks, I know she already looked into the subject, probably another way for her to tell me she'll spend only the most necessary amount of time in my company and not a second longer than that, but I’m not buying it. I contribute in my own way, giving comments and opinions when necessary and by writing down all we agree on for later stages of the project.

“You know…” I look at the way her eyes yet again go to the plate with cookies. The few rare ones my stomach spared. “You can come and take one if you want. I'm sure your Mom meant for us to share them.”

I push the plate a little bit in her direction. “Come on, little one,” I taunt her. “You know you want one.”

Amelia looks between the plate and me. She's nibbling at her lip and playing with her fingers in her lap nervously.

“I don't bite.” I like to see her flustered. Her nervousness makes me calm down. My heartbeat evens, and the sweat dries off my hands.

“Just one,” she agrees finally. With the notebook and pen in her hand, she comes closer to me and sits on the other end of the carpet, leaving way too much space between us.

Amelia takes one cookie and bites into it, moaning softly.

My eyes are glued to her face and I can't look away. My body reacts to her and there is no stopping it. Shifting slightly, I let my notebook fall in my lap. I watch how her eyes close just for a few seconds and how she enjoys the damn cookie like it's the best meal in the whole fucking world.

She opens her eyes and catches me staring at her. “What's wrong?” Her cheeks become that rosy shade of hers again. “Do I have crumbs left in the corner of my mouth or what?”

“You-,” I start but have to stop myself and clear my throat before continuing. “No... actually yes. Yes, you do.”

“No, or yes?” she looks at me confused and wipes the corner of her mouth.

“Yes,” I confirm decisively, shifting a bit closer to her. “You have something there. I couldn't see it because of the low light.”

“Ohh. Did I get it?” She wipes at her mouth again giving me the opportunity to come another bit closer to her, just enough to have her in my reach.

“Hmm ... I'm not sure.”

I lean closer to her, so close that I'm in her personal space and can feel her sweet scent surround me. It's all over her room actually, but it smells slightly different on her.

Light, sweet, addicting.

The palm of my hand cups her cheek, and I feel her go still beneath my touch. Softly, so slowly, I let my thumb glide over her skin, getting rid of imaginary crumbs on her face.

“That was one damn good cookie,” I utter in low voice, trying not to startle her.

“Yeah,” she whispers. “My favorite. Chocolate chip cookies with cherries and a bit of chopped almonds.”

“Yeah, damn fine cookies,” I agree, looking down at her. Cookies are the last thing on my mind. My other hand finds its way to her hand and I interlace our fingers.

“What are you doing, Derek?”

I chuckle and let my thumb slide over her lower lip. They are soft and pink and they part a bit with my touch.

“I'm going to kiss you.” I lean into her and whisper in her ear, giving her a fair warning, a chance to move away on time or to say no.

My hot breath touches her skin, and she shivers under me. I look at Amelia from the corner of my eye to reassure myself that she isn't scared this time. I want her to want this. I want her to want me. “And this time there is no running away or crying.”

Amelia

His lips touch my cheek.

I know he’s trouble. I know I shouldn't have listened to him and stayed sitting where I was. I should have simply taken the cookie and gone back to sit at the desk.

Maintaining the distance between us is imperative if I want to prevent this thing from happening. But the way he looks at me, he knows what he’s doing. He knows I can't resist the pull he has over me. Sometimes I wonder if this is all some crazy dream.

Like a sleepwalker, I go to him. And then in a matter of seconds, we come closer and closer and closer. Then finally, he is in front of me, his hands on me. And those hypnotizing blue eyes stare into mine.

And then his lips are on my skin.

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