I ignore her attempt to tease me and instead look at my watch. “Listen, you should take this wine, go relax by the pool, and I’ll be back soon. I need to run next door to Spencer’s, and you look a little too flushed to join. Have to give them a bottle of champagne as a congratulations, since they got engaged last night. I had promised Hudson I would stop by, as they are throwing a little celebration before Spencer goes back on the road for a game.”
“Is it a full moon? Engagements seem to be happening a lot lately.” She sips from her glass.
“You’re saying that like you’re still engaged. You should take it easy; you need your rest for later.”
Brielle looks up from her wine. “That’s very considerate.”
Leaning over the counter, I take her hands in mine. “We should take a breather before we cross the line that I have every intention of repeating… a lot… tonight.”
“I’m trying not to think,” she mentions.
That worries me slightly. We wouldn’t be the first people to get caught up in lust. “Elle, I won’t be a regret.”
She is quick to offer me a gentle assuring smile. “I meant, I want to enjoy our time together here, today, tomorrow. I just know there are more factors to consider.” Nothing she’s saying is soothing. Her finger escapes my hold to tap the back of my hand. “Factors we will consider because we are…”
“More than a one-night fuck.”
Her lips purse out, and she tilts her head at an angle. “I guess that’s one way of putting it.”
I return to standing, bopping her nose with my finger in the process, but I catch her in a daze as she stares at me. “You okay?”
“Yeah. It’s just kind of… surreal… this.” She points between us. “Kind of takes getting used to but not in a bad way. Kissing you feels natural, very natural, but this dynamic is a little new, or rather it’s been so long where we haven’t been together-together.” She tips her wine glass back.
“Way too long,” I lament. “We can go slow,” I offer.
“I don’t think my body can cope,” she casually mentions, with a trace of a smirk on her lips. “Besides, you have to dine me, so dinner is slow enough.”
“But that’s all physical. What about all the other stuff?”
Our eyes meet briefly for a check-in.
“You mentioned something on the boat that we can have a few days where we make up for lost time, be in our own little world before we face reality, and I think that’s our first step.”
And maybe she’s right.
“Sure,” I answer.
Yet, I could jump right in, but I need to let her lead the way. I’ve already thrown a lot at her. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to pull out all the stops to woo her.
That’s what I think it is, I respect her so profoundly that I want to give her romance before we get lost in one another.
She isn’t any woman, she’s the love of my life.
“I’ll be back soon,” I promise. “Go get comfortable. If you want to study and need something, just look in my office.”
She chortles. “There is no way I can concentrate now.” Her nails tap on the counter, and she seems to have a moment of clarification. “Are you nervous? Am I throwing you off your game? Is that why I’m not lying in your bed right now?” She’s entertained.
I smile awkwardly as I swipe my thumb across my chin. “Uh,” I croak out.
“It is, isn’t it?” Brielle now softens her voice when she realizes the answer that I’ve been internally denying.
“Don’t be silly. I remember every little detail of your body and have noticed every change since.”
Her eyes grow big. “You should probably get out of here because I could take that the wrong way.”
“I just meant that I notice when you add highlights in your hair, or you’ve slept well, when you’re in a good mood or bad.”
She blushes, and I take it as my cue to walk to her, step between her legs, and cradle her head in my hands.
