Page 72 of Pride & Precedents

Back in the bedroom, he drops his sweat towel into the hamper by the dresser.

"Twelve hours." My eyes widen and he nods. "I know. That's unheard of for me."

I walk towards the bathroom and lean against the doorjamb. I'll cave without some space between us. Especially if he's going to sit on the bed, legs spread wide, and stare at me like a hungry wolf. Clearly, I'm not the only one feeling the heat.

"You said you wanted to talk when I finished the bar, so talk." I cross my arms when he stays silent, and he sighs.

"Yes, you're right. First, I want to say I'm sorry for kissing Naomi. Yes, she started it, but I should've ended it right away and I didn't." I raise my hands to stop him.

"As much as it pisses me off that you kissed her, that's not why I left. Well, that's not the main reason I left. You and I are just hanging out, right? We don't belong to each other."

Henry stands, and I can tell he's agitated by the bunch in his shoulders.

"All these years later, and I'm still making the same mistakes," he mutters to himself. He turns and looks me square in the eyes.

"If not for that bullshit with Naomi, I would've asked you that day. I thought it was clear after our night together; I want to be with you."

For the hundredth time in the last few weeks, one thought runs through my head:Fuck Naomi.I blow out a frustrated breath.

"If that's true, why the hell did you want to keep us a secret? I remember what you said. You said you wanted to wait to tell them until it was 'worth it'." I make air quotes. "I felt like such a bonehead because I thought we alreadywereworth it." His face is pained.

"I'm so sorry, Camila. I panicked. I was trying to save my job, and I lost everything anyway."

Unshed tears blur my eyes, and I wipe them away. Henry starts pacing.

"Weeks into my suspension, I haven't missed BBS&P once, but I've missed you every day." He takes my hands in his.

"I went back to Artuso Pastry Shop and bought about five black-and-white cookies. I got way too drunk when I went back to The Commodore, hoping I might run into you. I even started watching one of those K-dramas on Netflix because I know you love them.

"And I couldn't fucking sleep. I've never really been a good sleeper. Ever since high school, I just couldn't wind down. I had a tested system to get as much sleep as possible that worked for years. But then when we started hanging out, I noticed I didn't need any of that. Even the first night we kissed, I didn't even remember falling asleep." I give him a rueful smile and pat his hand.

"I think that might've been the alcohol," I interrupt, but he shakes his head.

"I thought so too, but then it happened again, the night after the file room. And after that first night in your apartment. And, of course, you know about the last time in your apartment." I turn to hide my blush.

"Something about you just…" He shrugs. "I don't know. It relaxes me. The world doesn't seem so heavy, like maybe I don't need all my rules and systems to make sense of everything."

I lower my eyes, at a loss for words. He tilts my chin up so we're face to face.

"Then, when you left, all that stopped. The tossing and turning was back, and even my system didn't work. I swam laps, I worked out until I couldn't stand, and I jerked off near constantly, but I could never sleep more than two hours at a time. It's you. The difference is you."

He kisses me with agonizing sweetness, and the tears spill down my face.

"After years at my side, I've finally found you. Please tell me I haven't lost you."

I kiss him again and press my forehead to his.That's one hell of a closing argument.

"You haven't lost me. I'm right here."

He nuzzles his nose against the tender spot behind my ear, and I shiver, pressing my breasts into his chest. We stumble backwards, kissing and groping our way into the bathroom.

I step back to ease my shirt over my head and stand before him, wearing nothing but my most seductive smile. His eyes blaze as he looks at me, chest rising with each labored breath.

"You weren't wearing any panties this whole time?"

I blink innocently, and his eyes burn even hotter before he shucks down his shorts and boxer briefs in one swoop. He pulls me in for another kiss, his tongue pushing into my mouth. I don't even care that he's sweaty. After a solid thirty seconds of making out, he pulls away and his voice is breathless against my face.

"Before things get out of hand," he pants, "would you be my date for my brother's wedding?" He lifts my hand and places gentle kisses on my fingers. "It's in two weeks."

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