Page 64 of The Thorne at My Side
Then I hear a "oof" exhale and peek an eye open to see a puppy walking around on Austin's stomach. The pup turns a circle and plops down for a rest.
I smile and when Austin turns his head towards mine we share a moment.
There is undoubtedly a connection between us. An understanding of what we’ve been to each other. My mind smiles because I can sit back and appreciate him and I can be glad for what we shared. I can let go of Austin Thorne.
Elle gently calls us back to awareness and I watch Austin’s biceps fire as he picks up the puppy and holds him overhead like they’re playing airplane. My eyes drink in his chiseled chest, the dip above his hip bones, the hard planes of muscle that slant into his waistband.
My head might be, but I don’t know if my body will ever be ready to let go of Austin Thorne.
So how do you feel?” Austin asks as we file out of the room. Sam is busy cuddling with a puppy and pestering the handlers for adoption information.
“Oh, good, I mean it wasn’t much of a workout but I do feel more relaxed.”
“More relaxed than after an hour with me?” He asks quietly near my ear and my knees nearly give out as scenes from his hotel room replay in my mind.
Austin stays close as I gather my things. He holds my water bottle for me while I put my sweatshirt on. When I resurface I catch him watching me and a blush rushes in across my face and neck. I have shared the most intimate moments of my life with this man and the look in his eyes tells me there could be more if I ask for it.
The idea sends my nerve endings into a frenzy.
He holds open the door for me as we step out of the studio.
“I’ll, umm, see you around,” I rush the words as I hook my thumb over my shoulder. I wince when I realize I’m pointing in the wrong direction. Apparently all my mental energy is being diverted to tampering my desire for him.
Austin’s eyes dance with humor.
“I’ll walk with you,” he says as he indicates the correct way over his shoulder. He smirks and then pops an elbow out for me to take. It feels like the only option at that point is to latch on and hope for the best.
“So MC, what are your plans for the rest of the day?” Austin asks as we turn the corner.
“This was my excitement for the day. After this it’s laundry and tidying up my apartment.”
“Cleaning up the whiteboard?” He teases and I smile.
“Probably, Senator Quinn has a busy week ahead.”
He nods but doesn’t respond. We fall into a companionable quiet. Two blocks later the late morning sky gets darker as a storm rolls in. We agree to get coffee at Sunrise when we reach my block when suddenly the sky bursts with cold, heavy rain and Austin pulls me further down the blockwith him until we find a shop awning to shelter under.
He takes his phone out of his pocket and sends a quick text. “Greg will be here in a few minutes, I’ll take you home.”
“Oh, that’s okay, I’ll be alright,” I tell him because the wet waffle shirt version of Austin Thorne should be on the national security watch list. It’s a danger to women everywhere.
A shiver racks my body and Austin pulls me in closer. His cooled sweat scent blends with the rain and I want to open mouth kiss every inch of his skin to try and consume as much of it as I can. His hand slowly circles from the small of my back up my spine and I shiver again.
“Maggie,” Austin whispers and I look up at him. Droplets hang heavy on the lenses of his glasses and it’s like I’m looking at him through a window. I reach up and gently slide the frames from his face and watch his eyes slowly close and reopen to focus on me.
We study each other on the sidewalk, under an awning, in the frigid October rain. I’m searching for answers to questions no one can answer.
Can Austin be the man I need at my side?
Is my physical attraction to him tricking my brain into believing it could be more?
What do I do about DCFox?
It’s the last question and the sound of a car pulling up to the curb that has me blinking and stepping back. I put his glasses into his hand and he slides them on as he ushers me to the car. The cold raindrops hit my face and serve as little reminders that I need to stick to my initial plan to end whatever this is with Austin.
When he slides in behind me he tells his driver to go to my place and with a quick nod in the mirror we pull away from thecurb and merge into traffic. The trip will be short. I only have to survive a few minutes without looking, touching, or kissing him.
Totally possible.
