I pull her hands away again and settle my blues on hers. “I’m only playing.” I give her a soft smile “I haven’t really read them. Just had a quick browse through,” I say as if it’s no big deal.
“Oh.”
“Yeah, don’t stress,” I say, and I watch as she relaxes. Stepping back, I move for my wardrobe and grab an oversized tee and jeans. “Can you remember the question yet?” I ask, seeking her out over my shoulder.
She shakes her head. “I’m going to go… I need to get…” She looks down at herself and shakes her head. She says nothing and walks out the door.
Uneasiness settles in my chest. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.
Truth is, I have been reading her books. I had got so engrossed. Rue messaged me back telling me to download the books onto a reading app, and well, now I seem to be spending any second I get immersed in her fictional world, losing myself and I think it’s because I can see so much of her in her characters.
We leavetomorrow morning for China, and I have no idea how Athena is going to be when we’re sharing a room. Maybe I should have told her, but then she would have kicked up a storm. I pace down to her new room—I made sure Nora put her on the same floor.
Hovering outside, I knock and within a minute she is opening the door. Fuck me dead, I swear she is wearing this skirt especially for me. It’s paired with a knitted crew neck jumper, which compliments the light pink and black pleated skirt that sits mid-thigh. Her silky tanned legs look never ending in her thigh high boots. My greedy eyes sweep over her.
“Hi.” She smiles at me.
“Hi back.” A smirk tugs at my lips.
She steps out, closing her door behind me.
“Are you all packed?” I make idle conversation.
“I think so,” she chirps as we take a slow walk towards the lift. “How about you?”
“All set.” I push my hands into my pockets.
Silence settles over us. She pushes the button.
“Have I upset you?” I ask her, feeling this slight awkwardness between us.
“No.” Her voice cracks.
“You’re a bad liar.” I snort.
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes just as the lift doors open, stepping in, she twists and leans her back against the handrail.
“Are you going to tell me?” I follow after her and wait for the doors to close.
“Just what you said about my books… and I know it’s silly, and you haven’t even read them but you kind of hit the nail on the head.”
I furrow my brows. “What part?”
“The sex scenes. I know they’re boring… vanilla.” She drops her head. “But I write what I know.”
My eyes widen.Oh fuck.
“And, I don’t know, maybe I am just not a good writer.”
I can’t stand the sadness that drips from her voice. Slamming my hand against the emergency stop button, the lift jolts to a standstill.
“What are you doing?” she hisses.
I shake my head, closing the small gap between us. Curling my fingers under her chin, I tilt her head back, her eyes dance with mine.
“I lied earlier,” I rasp, edging my lips closer to hers. “I have read your books.” I watch as the expression changes on her face, but I can’t read it. “And the sex scenes?” I whisper, hovering my trembling fingers over the side of her bare thigh. “Sure, they could be better… but they get to the point.”
My ice blues drop to her lips. They’re parted and silently begging for me to kiss them, but I know once I do, I won’t be able to stop.
