“Then let me take some of the weight.”
Faith resisted for as long as she could. As if her body was at war with what her head wanted. Then she slowly melted into him, and he moved them deeper into the shadows. She pressed her cheek against his chest. Let his strong arms gather her closer than she’d been with a man in months.
And it felt heavenly. She felt as though she had a protector — someone who could slay the dragons that lurked at the corners of this new world she’d found herself in. It was a pipe dream, of course. But one she was going to enjoy. At least as long as the song allowed her to.
She closed her eyes. Smiled to herself when his hand wandered lower to rest at the small of her back while the other settled along the side of her neck. He moved easy for a man his size, and as the words of longing, love, and heartbreak washed over her, she felt tears at the corners of her eyes. Her throat felt like it was full of unsaid things, and there was a big old knot at the back of it when the song finally ended. After a few moments, Gus stopped moving.
His arms stayed where they were for a heartbeat longer, and then he allowed her to step out of his embrace.
With eyes downcast, she struggled for something clever to say. But how could she talk when her vocal cords were incapable of working properly? When she was on the verge of tears and had no idea how to stop them?
“Hey, are you okay?” His voice was rough and low. When he reached for her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, she wanted to melt into him once more, which was crazy. He lived across the hall from her in a home that housed temporary lodgers. He was temporary.
“I’m just tired,” she said slowly.
His hand moved to her chin, and he gently prodded until she had no choice but to look up at him.
“Let me walk you home.”
“But you just got here,” she said, resisting the urge to rest her cheek in the palm of his hand.
“I got my dance. I’m good to go.”
She considered his offer and slowly stepped away from his touch. She needed some space. Gus seemed to understand that, and the two of them began to walk away from the street dance. They headed back down Main which would eventually take them to Cedar, the cul de sac Lawson House called home.
Night sounds filled the gaps in their limited conversation — crickets and the occasional owl — and by the time they reached the house, Faith was no longer relaxed. In fact, she was wound so tight, the muscles in her neck ached.
She led the way into the house and didn’t pause before hitting the stairs. At the top of the landing, she stopped, trying to catch her breath and feeling she should say something. But what? A simple thank you didn’t seem to cut it.
Thanks for the dance?
The walk home?
Do you want to stick your tongue down my throat?
“I think we have a situation,” he said. His eyes were dark in the low light.
“Situation?” she managed to reply without sounding like a complete idiot.
He nodded. “The state of things between us.”
She took a beat and felt some of that tension melt away. “I wasn’t aware we had thing between us.”
“No?” He moved a bit closer. So close she felt the heat off of his skin. Smelled that fresh, earthy scent that was all him. “Do you want me to explain the situation?” A smile played around the corners of his mouth.
She lifted her chin. “I’m listening.”
“You want me.”
Eyes wide, she opened her mouth, an automatic denial on her tongue, but his fingers found their way to her lips, and he pressed against them gently.
“All good. I want you too.” He slowly caressed her top and bottom lips before leaning close.
Was he going to kiss her?
“But like I said, we have a situation.”
“What’s that?” She barely heard the words over the blood rushing through her veins. His eyelashes were so thick and long they should be illegal. And his nose had been broken at least once, but how did it look so perfect?
