Page 291 of Eternal
I rolled my eyes and leaned back, his fingers were still on my leg, lightly tapping now, restless. Like they missed touching more of me, and that was exactly the problem.
Because as warm and real as this felt, I could already feel myself coiling inward again.
The panic creeping in like it always did after a good thing.
This doesn’t last, it never does. But then the silence got loud in my head again.
I shifted in my seat, glancing at the window. “I should probably get going.”
Damir’s brow arched. “Why?”
“I’m not here on vacation,” I said, standing up and brushing my hands over the t-shirt. “And I don’t know…”I don’t know if you want me to stay…
He didn’t move right away, he simply watched me like he knew what I was doing, knew the way panic and muscle memory made me run when something started to feel too good.
“You don’t have to rush off,” he said finally, voice low but careful. “We’re not on a timer.”
I nodded, already gathering my stuff. My bra was hanging from the back of the chair, my shorts were somewhere near the couch, and my stomach was knotting like I’d overstayed a welcome that never came.
“Are you going back to avoid Viktor’s interrogation?” he added with a smirk. “Because I’d love to hear that call.”
I scoffed, trying to play it cool. “He’s gonna kill me.”
Damir stood then. “Then stay here,breathe, and call him when you’re not blushing like you did something bad.” He took the bag from my hand, my jacket, my keys, even my phone, and he set them gently on the table like it was nothing.
Then he stepped closer and touched my cheek with the backs of his fingers, eyes gently pleading. “You don’t owe anyone an explanation, and I’m not kicking you out. Actually, I want to keep you here.”
I swallowed hard, pulse thudding. The steadiness of his gaze always caught me off-guard, he never looked at me like I was fragile.
“Stay,” he said again. “I’ll make dinner tonight.”
Why am I so scared to stay and let him make me happy for a few more hours?
“You’re doing that thing again,” he adds.
“What thing?”
“The one where you pretend this didn’t mean something.”
My throat tightened. “I’m not?—”
“You’re cute when you’re embarrassed,” he murmured, grinning. “But I already saw you naked,partner. No point hiding now.”
I laughed despite myself. “You’re insufferable.”
He leaned in, brushed his lips over my cheek, then the corner of my mouth. “And you’re still here.”
“I won’t be if you keep talking.”
“Bold of you to threaten the man who made you breakfast and made you come three times.”
I shoved him lightly, finally letting out a laugh that eased the knot in my chest. “I hate you.”
He kissed me again, quick, soft,heartbreakinglysoft. Then he stepped back. “Stay…”
I nodded slowly. “Okay.”
He smiled, that lazy, and utterly devastating smile. “Thank you.”
