Page 32 of False Assumptions

She stilled. And she tugged on his arm, pulling his hand out of her pants. He kept it on her belly, and she let him, her fingers still wrapped around his wrist. When her eyes opened, they looked almost sad. Not the hazy, lust-drunk look he’d been hoping for.

“Evan.” His name was a plea on her lips. But not the, “I need you to fuck my brains out right now,” kind of plea he wanted. No. Instead she said, “We have to stop.”

He swallowed. Disentangled his wrist from her grip. “I’m sorry. I thought—You let me—I’m sorry. I must’ve read things wrong.” He took a step back, looking around for his shirt. “Um, I’ll go then.”

“Wait, no. Evan, please.”

Shirt in hand, he stood. She had one arm across her breasts, but she held the other out to him. “You don’t have to go. Don’t leave like this, at least. You didn’t misread anything. I like you. I’m just not ready—yet. For that.” Her eyes looked back and forth between his. “Is this an all or nothing deal? If we don’t have sex tonight, it’s over?”

Stepping back in front of her, he gripped her face in both hands. “God, no. No. I thought—when you said no, I took that as never. I’m not used to waiting.”

She let out a shuddery laugh. “And I’m not used to moving this fast. It’s only been twenty-four hours since you first kissed me. I’m still trying to catch up to the fact that you want to be more than friends.”

He smoothed his thumb over her lips and kissed her again. “Do you want me to finish you off? I know you were getting close.”

“No.” She wrapped her fingers around his wrists again, tugging his hands away from her face. “I was getting close, but no. Let’s not do that right now.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind.” He was disappointed she’d turned down his offer. Even if he went home with blue balls and had to jerk it in the shower, that didn’t mean he needed to leave her aching and needy.

“I’m sure. It wouldn’t be right for me to let you do that when I’m not able to reciprocate. Yet.”

Her eyes were full of promise when they met his. And that gave him more hope that his feelings weren’t one sided. He still had a hard time figuring her out. She’d go along with him and make him think they were on the same page, and then do this to him. But he could give her time. Even if it might kill him and give his right hand more of a workout than he’d prefer.

“Okay.”

She pushed on his chest, and he stepped back, letting her slide from the counter. Finding her shirt on the floor, she scooped it up and slipped it over her head, making him sigh as she covered her perfect breasts. At least he had a pretty good chance of seeing them again. It was just a matter of when.

“When can I see you again?”

She gave him that narrow-eyed stare she was so good at.

He grinned. “That’s not what I meant. I like spending time with you. I mean, if you wanna do more than hang out, I’m up for that. But I’ll take whatever I can get.”

“Mmhmm.” Her eyes fell to his crotch. “I’m sure you are up for that.”

Laughing, he pulled his shirt back on, doing up the buttons, then reaching down to adjust himself unashamedly. No point trying to hide something so obvious. But the unintentional sigh that escaped from her when he buttoned his shirt made him smile. She didn’t like him covering his chest anymore than he liked her covering hers. Good to know.

After he picked up his jacket, he took her in his arms again. “I am going to go now, though.” He looked her over, taking in her tousled hair, flushed cheeks, and bright eyes. “You’re far too tempting like this, and I can’t promise to be good if I stay.”

He kissed her before she could respond, long and slow, savoring it, savoring her. Part of him was glad she stopped him. Their first time needed to be in a bed. Not hard and fast on the kitchen counter like it would’ve been otherwise. He wanted to take his time mapping every inch of her with his hands and his mouth. And denial only added to the anticipation, making it even better in the end.

So he would wait.

“Call me when you get up tomorrow, okay? We’ll get lunch or something. Sound good?”

She nodded, still looking dazed from his kiss. Good. That’s how he wanted her. With one final kiss, he stepped back and let himself out.

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