She gives me a shy smile as she straightens and meets my gaze again. “That was… fun.”
I choke on a laugh. Is she kidding? It was a lot more than fun. But as I gaze at her, biting her lip as she looks at me awkwardly, I realize she feels vulnerable. She needs reassurance.
“Come here,” I murmur, pulling her into my arms. “It was more than fun. Do you know how hot it is when you let me take control like that?”
“I do,” she says, eyes glittering, “because it’s hot for me, too.”
I drop my forehead against hers, forcing myself to take a deep breath and not blurt out what I’m thinking. That she’s perfectly matched to me. That I can’t imagine fucking another woman ever again.
Instead, I kiss her tenderly, slowly, then take a deep breath and step back. “I’d invite you back to my place,” I say carefully, “but I’ve got plans with my sister tonight.” It’s not true, but I’m hanging on by a thread. Ican’tbring Iris home, not yet. Not until I’m certain she feels what I feel. Certain she’s ready for what I want to give her.
Iris gives me a small smile. “That’s okay. It’s so sweet that you hang out with your sister.”
I almost blurt out that I want her to meet Sophie, that I think Soph would love her, but I catch myself.
Christ, I’m unhinged.
“I’ll drive you home, okay?” I offer, deciding I may as well pop into Sophie’s anyway, if I’m driving to Queens. I haven’t seen her since she didn’t get that show, and want to check in.
Iris nods. “If you don’t mind? Otherwise, I can take the subway…”
I give her a look. As if I’d fuck her roughly over the kitchen counter at a job site and then make her take the subway home. Though I suspect that’s the level of care she’s used to with guys she’s dated in the past, and my jaw tightens at the thought.
I take her home, find a place to park on the crowded street, and walk her to her door. Then I linger on her doorstep, kissing her deeply against the doorframe, wondering how creative we could get in that little loft bed of hers. Just as I’m about to suggest it, a door behind me opens.
“Iris? I thought that was… Oh.Oh.”
Iris’s cheeks color as a guy steps into the hall clutching a bottle of wine. Mid-thirties, cable-knit cardigan over a tee, and I get the sense he’s gay. At least, I hope he is, given the grin he flashes at Iris.
“Aidan, this is Eric, my neighbor.” She motions to him. “Eric, Aidan. My… uh…”
“Boyfriend,” I say without hesitating. Her brows pop up, and I mentally curse myself. What happened to taking things slow?
But when I see Iris’s lips curve in a delighted smile, happiness blossoms in my chest.
“I thought you were her boss?” Eric quips, lips twitching with mirth, and Iris socks him in the arm.
“For fuck’s sake,” she mutters, cheeks staining crimson. “Ignore him,” she tells me, but I narrow my eyes, despite myself.
“No need to worry about me,” Eric says, waving his hand. “I’m far more interested in you than her, if that helps.”
I choke out a laugh, unsure how to take that, but Iris glares at him.
“Did we have plans?” she asks pointedly, and he laughs.
“Yes.” He gives a good-natured eye roll, smiling. “Typical of you to forget.”
“Oh, shit.” Iris cringes, pressing a hand to her forehead, looking apologetic.
Eric shrugs, like he’s used to it. “I’ll go pour while you two finish up… whatever this is.” Then he squeezes past us into Iris’s apartment.
“Sorry,” she murmurs, looking up at me with what I can only read as a half smile, half grimace. It makes me chuckle as I circle my arms around her waist again.
“Don’t be sorry, Cupcake.” I press my mouth to hers, listening to Eric humming casually in Iris’s tiny kitchenette. “You’re going to talk about me as soon as I’m gone, aren’t you?”
She nods, grinning. “Definitely. Eric won’t let this go until I do.”
I sigh, wishing it were me in there instead of her neighbor, but this is for the best. It gives whatever this is between us time to grow. Time to figure out what, exactly, I’m going to do about our work situation.
