Kelsey cocks out a hip.“You planning to call Maddie this morning and tell her you slept with her friend?”
“Yes.Well, not this morning.She got married yesterday.I figured I’d give her a few hours to sleep in,” I joke.
Kelsey does not laugh.“You’re serious.”
“Yes, baby.”
She flinches.“We’re not doing this, Hendrix.We’re not telling anyone.”She grabs one of my T-shirts off the floor, and tugs it over her head.
Dammit.
“We had sex.Hotsex.But you’re my boss.I like my job.I’d rather not get fired and become your sidepiece.I worked too hard for my degree to become arm candy to some rich guy just because he knows how to make me scream in bed.”
I jump off the bed and follow her as she turns to head into my bathroom.“Kelsey…”
She shakes her head and spins around.“What?Please don’t try to insinuate that this thing between us is more than a one-night stand.I’m not stupid.”
I keep following her, but I stop when she enters the small, enclosed toilet room.She slams the door and locks it.I set my hands on the frame, blocking her from exiting.
After a few minutes, she emerges, crosses her arms again, and glares at me.“Move.I need to get home.”She’s so feisty.
Honestly, I’m nervous.All I can do is try to talk her off this weird ledge.“What we have was never a one-night stand, and you know it.”
She ducks under my arm and proceeds to wash her hands.When she’s done, she shuffles out of the bathroom and then the bedroom.
I snag my boxers from the floor, shrug into them, and follow her.What the fuck else am I supposed to do?
Seconds later, we’re entering Madison’s bedroom, the room where Kelsey left all her things yesterday.She tugs my T-shirt off and tosses it in my direction before pulling on her leggings and bra from yesterday afternoon.
The woman is sexy when she’s mad.She’s sexy all the time, though, and I adore the fact that she’s not modest.Even though she’s pissed at me for reasons I can’t comprehend, she’s not hiding her body from me.
She sits on the bed and pulls a foot up to put her tennis shoe on.“Hendrix, I’m half your age.You can’t honestly expect me to believe you have feelings that extend past this morning.”
“Idoexpect you to believe that, Kels.It’s the truth.”She’s scared.I can see that now.She doesn’t trust me to be all in.Understandable.I just need to convince her otherwise.
When she starts looking around, I spot her tank top, lift it from the corner of the bed, and hold it out for her.
She purses her lips as she puts it on.With her arms raised, she gathers her hair into a messy bun and secures it with one of the many hairbands on the nightstand.
“Please don’t leave, Kels.”I’m not the sort who’s ever begged a woman before, but I will with her.“Let’s talk about this.”
She finds her purse and pulls it over her shoulder before taking a breath and meeting my gaze.“Listen, I have a busy day.I can’t deal with anything this heavy this morning.And there’s not a chance in hell I’m going to call my parents and tell them I slept with you.It even sounds ludicrous saying it out loud.”
I take a step closer to her, my pulse racing.Fuck.When she backs up, I stop.I won’t force her.I won’t so much as touch her.She deserves to have this freakout.I need to let her go.Not forever.For today.
I follow her down the front stairs.
When she reaches for the doorknob, I speak again, “Kelsey, give me two seconds.”
She doesn’t turn around, but she doesn’t run from the house either.
“I understand you’re panicking.I get it.Why should you trust me?But please think about this today.That’s all I’m asking.What we have happened fast, but it’s no less real because of it.We have chemistry.We both knew it when we met at your graduation party.It sizzles between us.You’ll never be a sidepiece, baby.Never.You’re smart, funny, sassy, confident, hardworking, sexy, and about ten other things.I want you in my life.I want you in every aspect of my life.Home, work, Edge, and my bedroom.Give yourself today to think about it.I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yes, Sir,” she murmurs before yanking the door open and disappearing from the house.
Jesus…shit.What the fuck just happened?
I’m left staring at the empty doorway.Finally, I approach and stare out in nothing but my boxers, watching the first woman I’ve ever truly given a damn about climb into her car and drive away.
