Page 16 of Just the Wrong Twin

On some level, he was still expecting everything to go sideways when Sonia unlocked the door to her apartment. But she smiled at him, then stepped inside, welcoming him with a gesture. Nate followed and closed the door, then locked it behind them. When he turned, she was watching him, her eyes bright.

“Here we are,” she said, sounding uncertain.

Nate would wait for her to make the first move.

He put the food box down on the kitchen counter and looked around as if he had all the time in the world.

Her place was bright but not sunny at this hour of the afternoon, and tidy. There was a single bed against the right wall. A wardrobe stood almost in the corner to the right and a dresser placed closer to the door did double-duty as a console table. He remembered the big window opposite the door, and the floral chair in front of it that looked like an ideal place to read. The kitchen was a compact galley built into the left wall, and there was an island counter with a pair of stools beside it. Beside the kitchen was a door to what had to be the bathroom. The ceiling was high with plaster moldings and a ceiling medallion, with a sparkly chandelier hanging from it. The floors were hardwood and Sonia had a red and gold kilim rug on the floor. It was small but cozy, just the way he remembered it, but brighter than it had been at night. He noticed now that there were strands of fairy lights all around the room close to the ceiling, at least three circuits of them.

“You said before that you liked my place,” Sonia said. She was closing the blinds, so he figured she had nosy neighbors on all sides. That made the room shadowy but not dark. “You asked about available units.”

“I didn’t see it much that night, but I did like it. Efficient but with a bit of style. Close to the club.” Which wasn’t of any importance any more. Nate refused to regret that things changed—he was looking forward to working with Pierce too much for that.

“It’s felt a bit small lately,” she admitted. “Especially having it be my entire world for three months.”

“I’ll bet.” He reached for the light switch on the reading lamp but she stopped him with a touch.

“I like it dark,” she whispered and Nate frowned.

She liked it dark and she liked it fast.

He had to wonder whether she liked sex at all.

Maybe that guy had left a legacy.

Sonia took off her hat and moved past him to the wardrobe. Nate was surrounded by a cloud of her perfume and everything tightened within him. He turned to watch her, not hiding his appreciation. She put her hat on a shelf in the wardrobe and he set his sunglasses on the table by the door, along with his car keys. She held up a hanger. “Give me your jacket,” she said and he did, watching her hang it up. She closed the wardrobe door and stood there facing it, as if she didn’t know what to do next.

Had she lost her nerve?

Nate could help with that.

* * *

Sonia hesitated.Once in her apartment, all of her old doubts assailed her—and they weren’t helped by the memory of her most recent encounter with Nick on Valentine’s Day. She was keenly aware of Nate behind her and how his presence seemed to fill her small apartment. When they got naked, would he take one look at her and run?

Or worse, laugh?

Sonia closed the wardrobe door, her heart thundering with the dread that he might be disappointed.

Then she felt Nate move closer.

Slowly.

Not like he was stalking her. More like he was savoring the moment.

Sonia glanced over her shoulder to find Nate close behind her, blocking out the light. She caught her breath as his fingertip landed on the back of her neck. He traced one of those little circles on her nape, his touch warm and leisurely. She shivered with pleasure.

“No rush,” he murmured, then touched his lips to the same spot. His kiss was as light as a butterfly and heated her to her toes. When he straightened, she knew he was watching her. She looked up to find his gaze warm, and she watched his lashes sweep down to hide his eyes. He slid his fingertip across her shoulders, easing her hair aside and over her shoulder.

“Like silk,” he said quietly, as if she was a marvel. Sonia could barely catch her breath when he smiled just a little bit. His finger slid down to the top of the zipper, making little circles all the way, his gaze following his gesture. Sonia was mesmerized, watching him as the heat grew between them. When his finger was at the top of her zipper, he flicked a glance back to her eyes. His eyes were all greeny-gold and his expression so intense that she couldn’t take a breath.

“Like some help?” he asked, his voice a low thrum.

“I can manage,” she whispered, breathless.

“Of course, you can. But I’d really like to help.” His smile flashed. “Some things are more fun together,” he murmured, then started to slide the zipper down. Sonia could feel the pad of his thumb against her spine and his breath on her shoulder and thought her bones might just melt.

When her back was bared to his view, Sonia tensed a little. She’d chosen lingerie that disguised her scars, a bra with a wide band and hip-hugger panties, but the very fact that Nate was so close and so attentive made her fear what he would see, even in the shadows.

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