Page 77 of The Front Runner
Stefan:Part of my charm. You love it.
Anxiety coils in my gut at the mention of the L word. The only thing I’ve loved in recent memory is my job. And my girlfriends at the ranch. Maybe the odd horse. Loving something is a distraction, a time commitment, a risk. And I’m not a big risk taker—especially not when everything I’ve worked my ass off for is in jeopardy. My career, my independence, mysanity.
I take a deep, centering breath and text back.
Mira:I’m coming in.
Stefan:Door’s open. I’m in my office. Take a right at the kitchen.
With a small shake of my head, I twist the knob and step into the impressive house. I kick my boots off and walk back toward Stefan’s office that I peeked at last time I was over. My mouth goes dry when I enter his space.
He’s leaned back in his chair, one foot casually slung over his knee as he looks through the contents of a brown folder with a wall full of books behind him. He’s sexy wearing a simple white dress shirt with cuff links that glint in the light, the veins in his hands bulging in the most mouth-watering way. I sometimes get lost staring at his hands when he’s fucking me, the way they flex when he grips the sheets and drives into me harder. I never knew such a generic part of a man’s body could be so distracting.
I hear a low rumble, a chuckle, and my eyes snap up to his face. Which is honestly no less hot. He studies me with head quirked and his fingers in a loose fist pressed against his soft lips. And he’s wearing those fucking glasses. Like he knows the whole hot professor thing has been an ongoing fantasy for me.
I’m instantly wet. I’m thoroughly ruined. I should tell him it’s been nice knowing him and get the hell out of here before I spontaneously combust like the sex-crazed maniac I’ve become.
“What’s going through that beautiful head of yours right now, Mira?”
“I haven’t heard from you in almost two days.”
“I had meetings at the track today. Was there something you needed me for?” One side of his mouth tips up knowingly.Fucker.
“No.”
I engage him in some sort of staring contest. I refuse to drop his gaze, but it’s doing funny things to my insides standing here, staring at him in the quiet office. Especially when he looks likethat.
“Okay. So, you’re here because?”
“Are you serious?” I hiss at him, stepping close enough that my thighs butt up against the wide oak desk. “You fucked my brains out. Like I am literally brainless now. You told me my hands belong in yours for crying out loud. I can’t stop thinking about it. And about you. And it’s all driving me crazy. What am I supposed to do now? I haven’t heard from you at all. And I just need to know what this is so I can organize my life accordingly. And that’s what I came here to ask you, but you’re sitting there looking like Professor Pornstar.”
Stefan’s face slowly transforms from amused to serious, his gaze turning heated toward the end of my rant.
“You’ve made it abundantly clear you don’t want a clingy man-child in your life. Which is perfect because I don’t want to be that. I love how fiercely independent you are. You were working these past two days, and so was I. I fully intended to call you when I finished what I was doing here.”
I sniff, feeling foolish and realizing he’s right. I have said that. I do want that kind of relationship.Didwant.
But he ruined my brain. And now I’m obsessed.
“Well.” I roll my eyes. “You don’t have to go radio silent. Especially after everything that happened over the weekend. How am I supposed to discern what that means? How am I supposed to know you’re not off dating other women?” I sigh and stare up at the ceiling, hating how completely inexperienced I sound. “This is fucking annoying. You’ve put a curse on me. You’re all I think about.”
He laughs and leans forward, elbows propped on the edge of his desk. “Mira.”
I press my lips together not wanting to look at him. But the silence stretches between us, he’s waiting for eye contact. I give in, dropping my gaze to his. He’s back to looking amused. Which honestly kind of pisses me off.
“What?”
“When? When on earth am I supposed to see all these other women? I’ve spent almost every free moment I have for the last several weeks with you.”
I blink at him.
“I sleep. I work. I workout. I run the farm. I obsessively check on Loki. I try to keep my sister on the straight and narrow. And then I either spend my free time with you or thinking about you. You’ve put aspellon me.You’reallIthink about.”
My heart lurches in my chest.
“I… I didn’t think of it like that. Everything just feels so uncertain.”
His grin turns wicked. Knowing.
