Page 24 of This Time I'm Keeping You
“What are you doing?Back away,” she said as he moved into her space.Nick braced his hands on the countertop on either side of her, not touching but close.
“I told you I’d pick you up.”
“I didn’t have your number, and they had discharged me.”
“And that’s bullshit.”He leaned in closer, so their faces were inches apart.“You left because you were scared.”
She tried to scoff, but it came out like a choking sound.
“Scared of this.”He whispered the words softly, his mouth inches from hers.
Chapter10
She’d thought the kiss would be hot and hard; instead, it was soft.He took her lips on a sensual journey that soon had her biting back a moan.One of his hands moved to Poppy’s waist, and the other slid under her hair to stroke the skin above the sling.
Their bodies weren’t touching.He kept his distance because of her arm—Poppy knew that.But she was sure she was going to melt into a puddle right there in her kitchen.The man can kiss.
“I said I’d take you home because you told me there was no one else to pick you up.”He whispered the words against her lips.
“I-I’m not your responsibility, Nick.”She should pull back, but the hand on her neck was kneading her muscles now, and it felt so good.
“I don’t do things I don’t want to.”His lips took hers again.This kiss was harder, more insistent.
“We shouldn’t be doing this, Nick,” she said when he eased back an inch.
“We should and will—” His lips brushed hers again.“—but not until you’ve stopped hurting.”His hand slid slowly down her spine and briefly squeezed her ass, but then he pulled away.She felt like he’d branded her.Poppy’s entire body ached, but not from her fall.No, this was the need for more.
“We won’t,” Poppy managed to get out.“Ever.”
He just gave her that small smile she remembered from college.
“Coffee?”Emma, Nick’s sister, said, coming back into the room.Her eyes went from her brother to Poppy.
“I’ll make it,” Poppy said.
“How?You have your arm in a sling,” Nick said.“Let Em do it.She’s the lazy Atherton.It’ll be a change watching her do something.”
“Ha, funny.”Emma punched her brother in the arm as she passed him on her way to the coffee machine.“Did you tell her off about leaving the hospital?”
“Sure.Not convinced she listened, though,” Nick said, prowling around the room, which wasn’t big anyway but was now tiny with him in it.
“Do you have siblings, Poppy?”Emma asked.
“Em—”
“It’s okay, Nick.I had a brother.He died when I was younger,” Poppy said.
“I’m sorry.”This time Emma moved into her space, hugging her gently.“That must have really sucked.”
“Yeah, it did.”Poppy dropped into a seat after she was released.
These Athertons were overpowering.Open and emotional—something she’d never been.Poppy kept everything inside.She could only imagine what their family gatherings were like.
Her eyes found Nick again when Emma went back to making coffee.
Unshaved, he wore another faded T-shirt, but this time shorts that stopped a few inches above his knees.The man could throw on a sack and look hot, and he’d been the same in college.
Emma put a mug in front of both of them, and then sat.
