Finally, a moment to myself. I let go of the nervous breath I had been holding in since the moment I entered the Boston Repository’s office. The fact that I haven’t seen Ezra yet sets another boulder on my anxiety. It would’ve been nice to see his face before chaos ensued.
He slipped out early this morning for his practice session. Though he did leave me a notewishing me all the best. The image of his cursive handwriting brings peace that washes over me in gentle waves.
That night a month ago was weird and completely out of the norm when it comes to the two of us. We didn’t argue, and we didn’t have sex. Two of the only things I’m comfortable doing with him. Though more such nights have followed since then.
Instead, it felt like each of us shed a layer to let the other one in and hoped they wouldn’t run away at the first sight of something real. Still, I can’t let my guard down. He’s a hockey player, and they’re notoriously famous for sleeping around and leaving a string of bad breakups and heartaches.
When a knock rings on the door for the waiting room, I quickly give myself one last look over. Checking that my pink colored suit is perfect and my hair is settled in a low bun at the nape of my neck, as a few strands frame my face.
It was Ezra who pushed me to stop hiding who I really am, just because they find a confident woman uncomfortable.
Looking at the woman in the mirror, no one would be able to tell that inside she’s running oncoffee with a spoonful of anxiety.
“You can do this, Kaeli!” I hype myself as I blow out a breath and head over for the interview.
The moment I swing the door open, Ezra’s face surprises me. I look at him, mouth agape, wondering what the hell he’s doing here where anyone could see us. And I ask him so. “What are you doing here?”
I seem to ask him that question a lot, as he tends to show up at places I don’t expect him to. Still not sure what to make of it.
His face transforms into a devastating smile as he bulldozes his way inside, shutting the door behind him with a click.
“Wanted to see your beautiful face,” he easily confesses, yanking my retreating figure close as his warm hands encircle my waist, his thick fingers pressing into the small of my back.
I try to wiggle out of his hold. “Are you out of your mind? Anyone could see us!” I hiss under my breath, my fists trying and spectacularly failing to push him away.
“Let them.” He shrugs.
My eyes flare at his nonchalance, to which he rolls his eyes. “I’m kidding, Kaeli. I made sure no one saw me come in. Now, will you please let metake what I came here for?”
“What?”
“This.” He tilts my face and invades my mouth with his hot and wet tongue. His hand reaches my neck while his lips plunder my mouth. Any sense of awareness I had about my surroundings dissipates faster than dust in autumn, and I liquefy with every press of his lips as my own turn pliant, releasing an unbidden moan.
He groans in satisfaction, adjusting his hold on me to coax more of those. My body buzzes with energy and anticipation instead of the nervous tremors. His soul-sucking seems like a good antidote for my overthinking.
I pull back when he doesn’t seem of the mind to stop and let me breathe. “Wow,” I say in a breathy whisper, my eyes fluttering open to see he’s not doing any better than me. And as if to prove me right, his hard length presses against my stomach. I giggle at his situation.
“Laugh all you want. You don’t have to walk around with an inflatable proof of being turned on, now do you?” he grunts, pouting at the unfairness.
“Sorry,” I sputter between my bouts of laughter. His features soften as he stares at me. “What?”
“You asked me why I was here. Well, this is it. I knew you might be feeling a little nervous. And what better way to forget about it than a kiss from me,” he grins, twinkle shining in his eyes.
My heart thuds at an unnatural pace at his thoughtfulness. He knew I needed a distraction, so he came all the way here for me. But I do get back at him for the last comment as my lips tilt up. “Oh, so humble and modest of you.”
He gives the strand falling on his forehead a little blow from the corner of his mouth. “That’s my specialty.”
I shake my head at his goofiness and feel much more ready to sit in the interview than before. So, I tell him that with a kiss. “Thank you.”
His hands tighten around my waist. “Anytime, Feather.”
There he goes again, using that nickname. I’ve no idea what it means, but it always causes the butterfly in my stomach to do acrobatics.
My gaze falls on the clock behind him on the wall, and I step out of his embrace. I spin him around and steer him toward the door. “Leave before someonefinds out.”
He swiveles around at the last second and presses his finger to his lips. “One last kiss to power me to sit through this obnoxious ordeal.”
I roll my eyes at him, yet I press my lips to his one last time. And then pulling back, I pat his chest. “Now, hurry!”
