So, it’s a go. Now I just have to get through several weekends working with Jamie to make this night perfect. What can go wrong, right?
When I walk into the kitchen, Jamie is standing at the island eating a plateful of scrambled eggs. My eyes skim his toned body in his black athletic pants and a black zip up that hugs his muscles so tightly, I could probably count every one of them. His brown hair flops to one side and his eyes are focused on his phone that lies on the counter.
I make my way over to the coffee maker and pull out a mug from the cupboard above. I feel his gaze on my back and my cheeks heat. Then, I feel his presence behind me, his body heat enveloping me like a hug. He reaches above my head, grabs a mug from the cupboard, and places it down on the counter, his arm brushing mine. Goosebumps break out all over my body. It was barely a touch, but it hit me like a live wire. And then I feel him move my hair from my right shoulder and slide it over to the left before his mouth is next to my ear. I feel his hot breath on my cheek.
“Would you mind pouring me a glass, too?” he says in a husky tone that makes me want to turn my head slightly and let him kiss me. I nod. “Thank you, Sweetheart.”
And then he walks away, back to his eggs that are probably cold by now.
“Was it necessary to get that close to me to ask that?” I ask, trying my best to keep my breathing under control.
He chuckles. “Don’t pretend you didn’t like it.”
I roll my eyes, watching the coffee pour into my cup.
“Maybe I didn’t,” I shrug as I remove my cup and put his under the machine, clicking the button again and waiting for the coffee to pour. The scent of sandalwood and vanilla assault my senses, and when I turn around, Jamie is right there. He boxes me in, his hands on either side of me planted on the counter. My heartbeat skyrockets, and my breath hitches. What the hell is he doing?
“You sure enjoyed me being close to you yesterday in the locker room,” he taunts. “In fact, you werebeggingme to touch you.”
I can feel how hot my cheeks are. My pussy clenches and I already know I’m wet. He doesn’t even have to touch me. I’m pathetic.
“I was not begging,” I lie. Jamie rolls his eyes.
“Come on, Sweetheart. There’s no need to deny it.”
“I… I’m not,” I stutter. “I don’t have time for this. I have to go to rehearsal.”
He moves an inch closer, his body practically against mine, and holy god, why do I want it to be?
“I bet that if I bent you over this counter right now and fucked you until you screamed my name, you’d let me.”
His eyebrow raises as if he’s challenging me. Do I like the sound of that? Yes, yes I do. Will I let that happen? No. Because I need time to think about whether or not I want to even pursue anything with this man and having sex with him again will not help.
“You’re wrong,” I tell him, even though we both know it’s not true. “Now let me go. I have to get to work, and so do you.”
Jamie tilts his head. “Alright, Sweetheart. If you say so.”
He pushes off the counter, and I immediately miss the warmth the closeness of his body was providing. I inhale shakily, my morning completely thrown off due to the unexpected closeness to Jamie.
Get it together, Ellie. You don’t let men distract you. You are smarter than that, stronger than that. You didn’t come here looking for a man. You came here to work.
I walk hastily out of the kitchen, leaving my coffee behind. I can feel Jamie’s eyes watching me as I go which makes me move faster.
Once I’m safely in my car, my head falls to the steering wheel. I shouldn’t be letting Jamie in my head like this. It’s not healthy. I need to tell him that the sex was a one-time thing, and we can’t let it happen again. That’s what’s best for both of us.
Starting the engine, I make my way down the driveway and head toward campus. My phone begins to ring over the loudspeaker. When Freddie’s name pops up on the screen, I grin like an idiot. We text here and there, but we’ve both been so busy that we haven’t been able to have an actual conversation. Notthat we can have one now since I’m on my way to work, but a few minutes is better than none.
“Hello? Is this Professor Monroe?” Freddie teases. I roll my eyes with a smile.
“Hey, Freddie. I’ve missed you and your sense of humor.”
“Hey babes. It’s been too long. How’s your new life at the University? How’s directing? Everything you thought it would be?” he asks as I pull into the parking lot.
“Directing is good. My students are really talented, and they listen to me so that’s good…” I say, my voice fading off.
“Umm, what aren’t you telling me?” Freddie asks, and I can imagine his face with his eyes narrowed and a curious smile.
“Okay, you remember how I told you I was being forced to live with my asshole ex?”
