Page 25 of Shattered
And just like that, we moved from talking about one thing to talking about something completely different. I had no question in my mind that Harper and I shared a mutual attraction. The difference between us was that I wanted to explore it and she was hell-bent on avoiding it.
I was proven right when she reached for another wing instead of answering me. Determined to get the most out of this time I had with her I scanned the pool tables to check if one was empty. Lady luck was on my side tonight because the table furthest to the back was, indeed, empty.
I'd imagined that it was going to take some convincing to get her to agree to a game or two but again she surprised me. If I thought I was going to have to take it easy on her I was wrong, the woman was kicking my ass.
"You're full of surprises."
Harper leaned her backside against the table and held the cue in both hands. The smile on her lips was carefree and wide and it took every ounce of restraint I had not to grab her and kiss her until all of her walls came crumbling down.
"…I used to waitress at a bar; I picked up a few things."
"I'd say. You're kinda messing with my game here."
It was such a cliché but the way her eyes sparkled could've lit up a damn room. It sure as hell was lighting up something inside me. "How exactly am I messing with your game?"
The opening I'd been waiting for all night finally presented itself. I grabbed onto it with both hands. In two easy strides, I closed the little distance there was between us. The subtle daisy scent that had been teasing me all night, intensified. As quickly as I could I removed the cue from her hands and placed it on the table behind her.
"See," I said as I leaned in. "I was hoping that I was going to be able to give you some pointers. At least then I'd have an excuse to get my hands on you."
The muscles in her throat worked as she swallowed hard and those pretty green eyes widened to their max. I just couldn't hold back anymore. My hand came up, and I brushed my fingertips over her cheek. "What are you so afraid of, Sugar?"
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to ask because her head jerked back and her eyes narrowed. "Please don't touch me." The slight wobble in her voice gave me a bit of hope though.
I lowered my hand but instead of stepping out of her space, I took a step closer. I was so close I could see the vein in her neck tick away at an alarming pace—it matched the thumping in my own chest. "You don't like me touching you?"
Harper's eyes dropped to my hand and her tongue snaked over her lips. "Like it? Yes." When her gaze reached mine again, it was filled with something that looked a hell of a lot like sadness. "Want it? No."
I was so stunned by her admission that I let her push me away. Hearing nothing but the sound of my heart beating in my ears I watched as Harper all but ran out of the bar. Or possibly as far away from me as she could get.
No! Oh hell no.
There was no way I was letting her walk out like this. Pushing my way through the frolicking patrons I rushed to the door through which Harper had just disappeared. With every step I took the sounds of the bar were replaced with the thundering sound of my heart.
In my whole life, I'd never been as relieved as I was the moment I spotted her on the sidewalk. Hugging herself, she just blankly stared at the passing traffic. I knew that whatever I did next would either bring her closer to me or push her away entirely.
"Harper," I kept my voice soft and steady as I approached her. When she turned to face me, the war she was fighting with herself was clear as day on her face.
"Everything." Her voice sounded as broken as she looked and wrapping her up my arms was all I wanted to do. But first, we needed to get on the same page.
"Come again, Sugar?"
Her shoulders rose and fell in a deep sigh. "You asked what I was afraid of. I'm afraid ofeverything, Logan."
I needed to touch her; I wrapped my fingers around her upper arms and stooped so I was able to look directly into those green pools of doubt. "I get it. But you never have to be afraid of me."
"How would I know that's the truth? People are good at deceiving each other. Good at making you believe it's okay to let your guard down and when you do, they hit you where it hurts the most."
I'd always had a suspicion that a man had been responsible for Harper being as skittish as she was, I was just proven right. I didn't like being right.
As I stared into her eyes, all of her doubts and fears became visible, I knew what I had to do. I just prayed that it didn't chase her away for good.
Moving my hands, I cupped her cheeks in my palms and tilted her head. "Then don't believe what I tell you, believe whatyoufeel." Before I had time to rethink it, I dropped my lips to hers and fused our mouths together. For the longest second, she remained stiff and unmoving.
My heart plummeted.
But just as I moved to pull away, a small breath blew over her lips and her fingers dug into my waist. Her lips became soft and yielding. I'd fantasized about kissing Harper so much; it had become my hobby. But no fantasy could ever compare to the real thing.
By tasting her lips, though, I'd screwed myself in the worst way possible. One little taste and already I was addicted.
