“It’s just lines.” I shrugged, trying not to make it a big deal. But he stepped forward, and somehow, my body twisted so we were facing one another.
I had no idea how it was that Onyx Trejo made me feel small when I was around him. Not in the bad way but in a good way. Too good of a way. Delicate. Feminine. I was completely captivated and frozen in place as his hand rose between us slowly, almost like he was trying not to scare me away. And when he cupped my face with such tenderness? A knot of emotion formed in my throat as anticipation and something else started to stir.
Stir?
Stirrings?
I didn’t have stirrings.
I wasn’t living in one of the historical romance novels Lola liked to push on me. And most definitely didn’t have stirrings where Onyx Trejo was involved. Because if I did, it would be the stupidest, worst idea on the face of the earth.
But here I was, like a dumdum who didn’t know any better, when she most certainly did, thinking about stirrings.
“We both know it’s not just lines. You’ve helped me build all this.”
“Onyx…” I whispered a little too softly for my liking. I cleared my throat. “You’re sweet, but you’re giving me too much credit,” I teased slightly. “We both know you had a great deal of help. Volunteers.”
“To carry things back and forth, clean up, paint the backgrounds before you started to make them come to life. We both know you’ve been doing the hard stuff.” I opened and shut my mouth then pressed my lips together, all while ignoring the way my face was probably beet red by now.
I shook my head, and a curl from the front bounced out of the loose ponytail I had my hair in. His eyes moved to the strand, and there was something in them, in the way he looked at it, then at me, that made my heart race.
“Your uncle knows it, too.” That… wasn’t what I’d expected, and maybe because he caught me off guard or I was really the world’s hugest nerd, I snorted. “You don’t believe me?” He asked, a warmth that felt like it was only directed at me shone in his dark gaze.
“Honestly?” He nodded. “After the year I’ve had… I think I believe in Santa Claus more than I believe my uncle actually wants to retire and hand over the place.” I sighed, running my fingers through my hair and swallowing. “Part of me thinks...”
“What?”
“That maybe he’s hoping one of my cousins will change their mind and come back to run the place. Keep it in the family.”
“Keep it in the…” His brows bunched. “Candy, you are his family.”
“You know what I mean.” I tried to slide out of his hold, but he didn’t let me. He simply held me in place, not that I tried all that hard as I shook my head. “I just mean… you know, one of his actual kids, not just the niece he got stuck with after—“ The words died on my tongue when his fingers caressed the end of my chin gently, lifting my head and making me realize I’d been looking away from him.
“He loves you like you’re one of his own.” I opened my mouth to argue, but he shot me a look that made me know better than to do that. “You’re talented with your hands, Candy. Shit, there is no way anyone I know could do even a fourth of a good job than what you’ve done. And in three days. We’re basically done because of you a lot earlier than anyone guessed we could be,” he complimented. My throat clogged up again.
“You’re just saying that.” I swallowed away the need to rest the tips of my fingers against his hard chest and push up on the tips of my toes to brush my lips against his.What would his mouth feel against mine? What would kissing Onyx ‘s kiss be like?
“You shouldn’t look at me like that.” His warning sounded magnificently raspy. My nipples stood at attention against the plain red sports bra I wore under my shirt. I forced myself to blink.
“Like what?” I asked in a breathy tone I hardly recognized. My body felt like it was lit from the inside out and yet slightly chilly.
“Like you want me to pick you up and place you on the edge of my worktable and kiss you until we both forget our names.”
“Oh… wow.” I licked my suddenly dry lips and heard the deep groan that escaped from him. He stepped closer and caressed my cheek a little firmer.
“Fuck, you’re beautiful.”
“I am?” I asked, swaying closer to him. His dark eyes beckoned me closer and closer. The idea of him lifting me up and setting me on the table flashed through my head, then a different idea popped up in my head. Sitting on his lap. Naked.
“Most beautiful woman ever.” God, it was so easy to let myself get lost in his grip.
“What are… what are you doing? I mean—“ I swallowed hard and tried to focus. “What’s going on here?” It felt like I’d stepped into the bestTwilight Zoneepisode ever made.
“What’s happening is what should have happened four months ago,” he said, leaning his head forward and dipping it just enough for our foreheads to touch.
“Onyx…” My lips parted, and my chest rose and fell, scraping against his.When did we get so close?
“About thirty seconds ago,” he answered, making me realize I’d said my thought out loud.
