Page 99 of Through You
“You’re feeling very confident about your abilities.”
“I’m just a man who knows what he’s doing.” He raises a glass half-filled with wine. He swirls it first, then sniffs it. “I can get you wet without touching you. Mmm, I made you feel hot just now.”
“Oh yeah?”
I slip my foot out of my sandal and stretch it out under the table, just enough to place it on his thigh, not too far from his crotch. Artemis becomes visibly tense. He wasn’t expecting that. I give him an innocent smile.
“And I could give you an embarrassing erection. Don’t you ever forget that.”
“You really don’t like to give up control, huh?”
“That’s something you’ll have to earn.”
“Is that a challenge?”
Our gazes meet, and the intensity electrifies the air around us. The waitress shows up at our table with a friendly smile and asks if we’re ready to order, breaking the moment. I put my foot down and go back to behaving myself.
It’s going to be a long night.
Twenty-seven
My silence is your answer.
CLAUDIA
This is a whole new level of sexual tension.
The car ride home is quiet, and the magnetism between us is palpable. In all honesty, I’ve always prided myself on being able to rein in my impulses. But this is different; I’ve never wanted someone as much as Artemis. Maybe it’s built up over so many years, and the fact that there’s nothing standing in our way anymore makes it hard to resist the urge to rip his clothes off and . . .
I need to keep my imagination under control.
Artemis puts his hand on my bare thigh, and I jump when his warm palm makes contact with my skin. I watch him, but he keeps driving like nothing is happening. I can feel my heart hammering with every heavy breath I take. It’s as if all my senses are on high alert.
“How come you’re so quiet?” His voice sounds deeper in the car’s interior.
“Just thinking about how much you’ve grown.”
“And you haven’t seen it all.”
“Artemis!”
He laughs a little, giving him the appearance of a charming and naughty boy with a soft, scruffy beard that makes him look even sexier. The selfish person in me is glad he never shows this smile to the rest of the world. Artemis parks the car and we walk to the front door.
When we step into the house, we share an uncomfortable moment. There’s no awkwardness between us; it’s just that since we live in the same place, we don’t know what to do at this point.
How do we end the date and say good night? Or do we even have to? We come to a stop at the bottom of the stairs.
“I really had a great time with you tonight,” he says, making me smile.
“I had an okay time.” He raises an eyebrow. “I’m kidding. It was an amazing date, thank you.”
A heavy silence lingers and we look into each other’s eyes. I lick my lips and he looks away.
“Good night,” I finally blurt.
“Good night.”
I turn and start to walk away. I grimace, frustrated now that I’m out of his sight. Suddenly, I feel his hand on mine, turning me and pulling me toward him. Before I can blink, he lifts me up in his arms and walks us to the stairs. My heart is in my mouth, and I look at him. His neck is tense, his veins are popping out, and his breathing is a disaster.
