“It was all right,” he said and then moved his arm topoint to the passenger side of the car. “Here, get in. I left it running so we don’t bake Sarge in the car.”
I followed him as he opened the passenger side door to let me in.
“Thanks,” I told him and decided I would be the one to make the first move.
I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the mouth. Even though I really wanted more, I knew Dorothy was likely watching us from the front lobby, and I didn’t feel like giving her a show.
I pulled back from the kiss and got into the passenger seat, allowing Hector to close my door. I was immediately assaulted by dog licks and sniffs on my head and face.
I laughed, turning to face him and scratching his head. “Well, hello to you too, Sarge.”
His feet tapped excitedly on the back seat as he panted near my face.
“Leave her alone, Sarge,” Hector said as he slid into his own seat and put his seat belt on.
I did the same as we pulled out of the parking lot.
We decided to grab some takeout for dinner since we had Sarge with us and then made our way back to my place.
Once we got there, Sarge was very excited to check out a new place. The moment we walked into my apartment, he sniffed his way through my space as though he was on the hunt for something amazing.
An hour later, after eating and taking Sarge for a quickwalk around the building, we were ready to snuggle up on the couch to watch a movie.
I had an L-shaped couch, and Hector was on the long side with his legs stretched out facing the TV. I sat down next to him, my left arm grazing his slightly before he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me in closer, all but fusing me to his right side.
“Thank you,” I told him softly.
He turned his head and looked down at me. “For what?”
“I feel bad making you stay the night because I freaked out being here by myself, but I’m also really glad because you make me feel safe.”
He stared at me for a few moments. “I’m glad I make you feel safer, and I’m happy to do it,” he said, taking his hand that wasn’t wrapped around me and using it to push one of my loose curls back from my face. “But we’ll get you back to where you feel good to stay here alone if you want. It’s natural to feel what you’re feeling, so don’t feel guilty about it. You’re strong and resilient. You’ll get there.”
God, for a man who was usually a grump and mostly quiet, he always seemed to know the perfect thing to say to me.
Wanting to show my gratitude in something other than words, I leaned over and kissed him. I meant for it to be a simple quick kiss, but as often was the case with Hector, that was impossible. He had this magnetic forcethat was sometimes overwhelming and beyond my ability to ignore.
As the kiss intensified, Hector’s hands began to roam over my body in soft, slow movements that both tickled and teased my senses.
He broke the kiss first, pulling back just enough to speak, but close enough that I could feel his breath on my lips. “Christ, Iris. I can’t be around you and not touch you.”
“I like when you touch me,” I told him, hoping he’d touch me some more and kiss me again.
He grinned at my response before shaking his head back and forth.“Damn, woman. I got two hard-ons at work today thinking about you. You’re addictive, and I’m not sure I like it. But I also can’t help myself.”
“So, what are you gonna do about it?” I said, getting up from the couch and walking toward my hallway, adding a little sway to my hips in the process.
I turned to look back at him and smiled. “I think I’m ready for bed. What about you?”
The words were no sooner out of my mouth than three raps on the door sounded. I sucked in a startled breath as I stumbled back a step, knocking into the wall behind me.
Sarge barked as Hector popped up from the couch immediately and came to me. “You okay?”
Still catching my breath, all I could do was nod in response for a moment.
“You expecting anyone?” he asked quietly.
“N—No,” I said, stammering over my words as my heart jackhammered inside me. “Sorry for overreacting I just wasn’t expecting that.”
