Page 25 of Losing Forever
He runs his hand through his hair where the strands are longer on top than they are on the sides and in the back. Like his eyes, I wish I could see the golden-brown locks fall in disarray.
“I wasn’t expecting you to say that,” he whispers with surprise. “Thank you.”
“You were honest, so I was honest.”
“Honesty.” He murmurs the word in a thoughtful tone. “I like that with you. In fact, I think we should start with that.”
“Start what?”
“Our friendship.”
“Oh. Okay.” I cross my arms, my insecurities flaring. “What kind of honesty are we talking about?” I’m not admitting I’m attracted to him.
“I didn’t sleep with Caitlyn tonight.”
Oh, God.I step back. “Why are you telling me this? I didn’t ask.”
“Noah said my going out with Caitlyn bothered you or that my bringing her home would. I want you to know the truth. We went out, but we didn’t have sex.”
I cringe and back up more, my hands raised in defense. “Please stop. I don’t want to hear this. Your personal life is none of my business.”
He eats up the distance between us. “It is your business. You, me, and Noah are running the Clearwater office. Caitlyn is our employee. I shouldn’t have asked her out. I won’t do it again.”
“Wait.” Something about his tone has my thoughts shifting in a different direction. “Do youlikeCaitlyn? Like, like her, like her?” Great choice of words.
“Yes, but only as a friend. We weren’t a good…fit.”
Oh, God. Is he referring to sex? As in they tried, but he didn’t fit? I cringe again, my upper lip curling as I retreat farther away from him.
He’s on me in a second, hooking his arm around my waist and anchoring me to him. “Will you please stop running from me? I’m trying to explain what happened.”
“Yes,” I snap. “And I don’t want to hear how you didn’tfitsexually.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“That’s what it sounded like.” I lean away and turn my nose. “And her smell is all over you, like you bathed in a bottle of Caitlyn No. 5.”
He releases me and tears off his shirt, tossing it around the corner near the entrance. In a heartbeat, he’s in front of me again, his hand around my waist, his chest bare. “I didn’t sleep with her because I didn’t want to. I couldn’t stop thinking about someone else.”
I feel his gaze hot on my face, but I don’t look up. My eyes have adjusted to the dark enough for me to see his hard pecs and the way they rise and fall with his heavier breathing.
He’s so broad, and built, and beautiful.Dare I peek at his stomach?I bet he has an eight-pack, considering he had a six-pack at the young age of fourteen.
This train of thought isn’t helpful. Neither is letting him hold me when he was out with Caitlyn earlier. He might not have slept with her, but he did enough to have her scent all over him. “You still smell like her.”
He exhales. “Want me to take my pants off, too?”
“No.” My cheeks heat at the thought. I turn my head. “Just move away.” I try to wriggle from his grasp.
“So you can run again? Not a chance.” He tightens his hold on my waist.
“What do you want from me?”
“I want you to understand why I went out with Caitlyn.”
“Why does it matter?” I huff and try shoving away.
“So you’ll understand when I screw up again.”
