“I would never ask anyone to cheat on their partner for me,” I told Kitt seriously. “And if you were willing to do such a thing, honestly, I would lose respect for you. That being said...” Biting my lip, I swallowed my nerves and managed to look him directly in the eye. “If you did already have a partner, I would definitely be disappointed.”
This time, Kitt actually did lean closer. There was still at least two feet of distance between us, but with every inch that gap closed, our conversation felt a little more intimate.
“Well, then you’re right. It’s a good thing I’m single.”
It had taken everything I had to meet his gaze, but I couldn’t hold it for long. The man’s eyes were intense, and I had no idea how his opponents managed to stand against him in the courtroom. If I was an opposing lawyer, one stern look from him and I would immediately agree to whatever he was saying.
I dropped my gaze, my eyes landing on the large expanse of bare skin within reach. He was still shirtless and seemed to be in no hurry to cover himself.
This had to be an invitation, right?
Why else would he make sure to let me know that he was single and point out that he didn’t mind me looking at him, if he wasn’t at least a little interested, right?
I didn’t have any experience with proper relationships, and even I could tell that Kitt’s words and actions were suggestive.
I wasn’t so naive that I didn’t notice. I just wasn’t sure what I wanted to do about it.
I must have taken too long to respond, because when I looked up again, the flirty look had disappeared from Kitt’s face and was replaced with a serious expression instead.
“Actually, maybe it’s not so good,” he said as he ran a hand through his sweaty hair and pushed it out of his eyes. “Thisisn’t a good idea. Considering the nature of this case, I should probably just leave you alone. I’m sorry.”
He stepped away, heading toward his shirt that was hanging nearby.
As I watched the distance grow between us, the pit in my stomach grew cold.
The nature of the case?
I knew what that meant. Kitt had defended me when Thomas and the other witnesses shamed me over my past as a prostitute. Somehow, in their eyes, and the eyes of so many others, that was worse than being trafficked because I’d technically chosen it.
I’d assumed because Kitt defended me, that meant he didn’t care, but I was wrong. He may not be turned off by my past, but he pitied me. In his eyes, I was something fragile. I was something that needed to be avoided, not out of disgust, but for my own protection.
Fuck, I was tired of this.
I was tired of sex and attraction always being so complicated. It always seemed so easy for everyone else. Even Clay, who’d been through the exact same traumas as me, had managed to figure it out and now had a picture book romance with Logan.
Well, I could do it, too. I could figure it out. Sex and relationships didn’t need to be complicated. I’d put in literal years of work at the recovery center, and come hell or high water, I was taking the next step.
“Kitt, wait,” I called as I chased after him.
He stopped and turned back to look at me, but before he could say another word, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss.
CHAPTER 12
Kitt
The feelingof lips pressing against mine was so unexpected that at first, I didn’t react at all. Jordy was shorter than me by a decent amount, so he stood on tiptoe to reach me, and even then, he had to pull me down a bit in order for us to line up properly.
Damn, he was a good kisser. That shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but it did. The other man seemed so flustered when it came to relationships, that it was easy to forget he wasn’t some naive little virgin.
I wrapped my hands around his waist and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. I was already overheated from taking out my frustrations on the punching bag, and feeling the way Jordy moved against me only made me burn hotter.
I was just about to throw him over my shoulder and carry him off to the nearest bed, when I remembered exactly where we were.
The gym, in the safe house, underground, hiding from the bell ringers who were currently trying to kill us.
With a groan, I pulled away from the kiss. “Jordy, wait.”
“No.” He clung to me tighter and tried to pull me back. “It’s fine. Please. I can... I can do better. Just let me try again.”
