Her fork pauses halfway to her mouth, as if she’s slightly caught off guard by my change of conversation. I don’t want to talk about the past with another woman, I want to talk about the future with the one in front of me.
She finishes the succulent bite and nods.
I slice off another piece of scallop. “Do you still feel that way?”
Her back straightens. “Yes.”
“And how do you feel about us?”
Kelly chuckles. “Oh, are we doing performance reviews tonight?”
I smile. “Maybe.”
“I feel very optimistic about our future . . . I’m very happy with you.” She wipes her hands on her napkin. “Sometimes it’s like I’m looked at by so many people, but you’re the only one who sees me. The things you say, the way you touch . . . I can’t explain it. It goes so much deeper than a physical level, though. You’ve been around for some of the most important events of my life, and in many ways, I can’t imagine a life without you. Like we’re—I don’t know.”
Soul mates.That’s the word she’s searching for. “But . . .”
But?
“I can’t help but wonder what our relationship might be like under different circumstances, you know?”
Fuck, I’m letting her down.
“I’m working on it,” I say. It’s a weak excuse. I haven’t solved this problem yet the way I promised her I would.
She reaches across the table for me, but her smile is sad. “I know you are. This just seems to be . . . a lot. Even tonight, you’re taking me out as a distraction. You made a special reservation at a nice restaurant just so we could forget about our reality. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. You shouldn’t have to do that. It’s not fair that you have to bear this burden too.”
“We’re not talking about that tonight, remember?”
She nods, silently chewing. She doesn’t have to talk about it for me to know it’s in her thoughts.
“We are going to get through this.” I thread her fingers with mine. “If it ever does become a burden, if I become too much?—”
“You won’t.”
I’m a man of reason, but Kelly has me believing in more. We’re fated. It’s time to go on the offensive; no more waiting for his next move. I’ll search every dark corner until I find who has made her question our future. Her stalker’s expiration is up.
When we get back to the loft, Kelly gives Odin a treat. I swear that dog has gained ten pounds since I brought him home.
“You’re going to spoil that dog.”
“Good.” She winks at me from over her shoulder, then returns her gaze to the dog. “You could use some spoiling, huh, Odie?”
I can barely stand to watch her for one more second in that dress; as soon as the lock clicks behind us, I pull down the zipper. We’re both done resisting. The tension is too high. She heads toward the stairs, with me stalking behind her. I shrug off my jacket, letting it fall to the ground, then get to work removing my cuff links. They clatter to the floor at our feet.
Kelly spins at the noise, spotting the shiny silver pieces on the floor, then begins unbuttoning my shirt with too many fucking buttons.
I loop my fingers under the delicate straps of her dress and slip them off her shoulders. As soon as she nudges my shirt down my arms, her hands drop to her sides, and the expensive fabric pools around her ankles. She’s left standing before me in nothing but a strapless bra that pushes her tits up and a scrap of underwear.Fucking hell.
I hook my foot around the upholstered ottoman at my side and drag it in front of me.
“Get on your knees,” I say, unzipping my pants. She kneels on the ottoman, and I stand in front of her as she frantically shoves down my boxer briefs.
“What if someone’s taking pictures?”
I squeeze the back of her neck before sliding my hand below her shoulder blades, unclasping her bra. The cups fall away as she frees my stiff and aching cock. Those piercings of hers get me every time.
“Let ’em watch.”
