Page 79 of Enough
“I guess you were serious about wanting to come over for a meal after all.” I laugh.
He smirks and drops his head slightly. He strides over to the door and kicks off his shoes. He starts to remove his tie, and I can’t help but wonder what else about him might have changed. Like what’s under his shirt.
He motions to the jacket I’m still wearing. “Are you cold? I can turn up the heat.”
I glance down at his jacket and realize I have no excuse for still wearing it. “Oh, no. I’m actually a little warm now that you mention it.”
I slide it off my arms and it drops past my reach to the floor. As I turn in the stool to get it, I fail to notice Nick hurry past me to pick it up, and I accidently knee him in the eye.
I gasp as he stumbles back and grabs his face, bending at the waist.
I leap off the stool and reach out to him. “Oh God, Nick! Are you okay? I’m so sorry.”
He covers his eye with his hand and starts to laugh. “If you wanted to punch me, Ever, you could have at least let me stand up straight and take it like a man.”
I grit my teeth and cover my mouth with my hands in horror. “I’m so sorry. Does it hurt? Let me get you some ice.” I rush into the kitchen and grab a paper towel and ice from the freezer. He attempts to open his eye and look at me, but he squints instead.
I tap my hand on the barstool and he moves toward me. He sits down, and I stand in front of him. His thighs are open, and I fit in between them neatly.
“Let me see it.” He takes a slow breath and removes his hand from his face. I prepare myself for the worst, but I don’t see any immediate bruising. I place my ice-filled hand to his eye and he cringes slightly.
“Can you see?” I ask him worriedly.
“I see you,” he mumbles as he twists his head toward my neck. “You smell amazing.” His hands are resting uncomfortably on his thighs, and he’s pressing his palms into them as if there is somewhere else they’d rather be.
He leans forward slightly, and I reach up to gently rotate the ice into a better position. I place my other hand on the side of his face and scrunch my eyebrows together in apology. “I didn’t see you. I didn’t mean to hit you. You know that, right?”
He smiles. “Are you sure you didn’t knee me to get back at me for being an ass?”
I furrow my brows in concern and he bursts into laughter. “I’m fine, Ever. Don’t worry. Actually, it barely hurts at all. But I’m really enjoying the attention you’re giving me, so feel free to stand as close to me as possible and touch me all you want.”
I remove the ice from his eye and place my hands on my hips. “You’re not hurt? At all?”
He smiles and shrugs. I push his shoulder playfully with my hand and toss the ice on the counter behind him as I roll my eyes. I attempt to turn away, but he pulls me back toward him. He’s no longer squinting. In fact, his eyes are dark and smoldering into mine.
“Don’t go. It’s nice to have you so close to me.”
I brush some of his hair away from his brows. I trail my hand down the side of his face, and his hands leave his thighs and find their way to my hips. I gasp lightly and his eyes rise to mine.
“When I said I missed you, I wasn’t lying,” he whispers.
“I missed you too.” I say it almost on instinct, but it rings true after the words flow out.
He stands, and the space between us closes quickly. His chest is pressed to mine, and my hand falls from his face to his shoulder. I touch the collar of his shirt, and he bends his head to kiss my lips.
The minute they touch mine, a fire blazes inside. I don’t remember the last time I’ve been kissed this passionately, and my body responds whether I want it to or not.
He holds my hip firmly in place against his waist while he slides his right hand up my back and into my hair. He licks my tongue before he gently tugs on my lips with his. It creates a deep need for more, and I shift my arms around his neck. Heturns me and lifts me onto the stool as he presses his hips into me, causing my legs to open too widely for a woman in a dress.
The way his body feels against mine… I want more. More of him.
He stops suddenly and inches away from me, leaving me panting and needy.
“Shit! I’m doing it again, aren’t I? What is it about you that makes me lose all sense of reason?” His hands fly to the top of his head, and he backs away slowly in dire confusion.
“What?” I stammer.
“I just promised you I was in no rush, yet the minute you’re close to me I manhandle you like a hormonal teenager. I’m so sorry.”
