“You kissed me, too.”
“Because you’re irresistible, and because … fourteen years of waiting took their toll.”
“Took their toll, Zee?”
I huff out a quiet laugh.“You have no idea how much restraint I’ve exercised tonight.”
“Is that what you call it?”she murmurs.
“Don’t undermine my achievements,” I say lightly.“You’ve made it very difficult to pretend I’m unaffected.”
“I can’t pretend, either.I can’t stay cold around you anymore.”
A confession.“I missed you,” I say, feeling buoyed by her admission.When she doesn’t say anything, I push forward.“I missed you for the longest time, after you left.When I realized you weren’t coming back.”I don’t want to get all somber, but the words come tumbling out.Words I haven’t voiced.Words she didn’t want to hear.Words that are the truth.
“And now?”she prompts, her voice a whisper.
“And now you’re completely naked in that bathtub.”
“I am.”
The room goes quiet, filled with the promise of everything we don’t say.Steam curls in the air, the candles flicker, and the memories fill the space between us.
“I… I wanted to ask you…” She looks slightly nervous.
“Ask away.”
“If I could stay a few more nights—”
“Yes.”
“Because the—”
“Yes.”
“But I haven’t told you why.”
“You don’t have to.You can stay for as long as you want.”It takes a lot of effort to keep my gaze on her eyes.
“Are you sure?”
I huff out a breath, and try to control my breathing.“I’ve never been surer.”
“Thank you.”
We stay like that, caught in a tangled web of the past and present.I want her, and I know she wants me, too.
“I should go,” I say, reluctantly.My brain understands the command, but my body doesn’t make a move.I walked in on her, and I now need to leave.
“Are you sure?”
My eyes dip down to her shoulders.“It’s for the best.I’ll see you tomorrow, at work.”
I’m a gentleman and there’s no way I’m making a move on her in this situation.
Chapter 23
MAYA
