Page 35 of Gravity

Dipping her head to look at me, her eyes glisten as a soft smile tugs her lips. “My mom always said that when someone is sad all they need is a cuddle. Do you need a cuddle, Grayson?”

I’ve lost count how many times I’ve heard that over the years. And right now, I’d love nothing more than to have her in my arms. “I’d love a cuddle.”

Kneeling between my legs, she enters my embrace and wraps her arms around me. My body instantly relaxes as I kiss the top of her hair and rest my chin on her head. “I’ve treated you wrong for too long when I should have been honest with you. I’m sorry.”

“You’re forgiven. Just don’t do it again.”

Lost in her comfort, I pull her closer. The feel of her against me and her breath that hits my neck heats my skin. But when I leisurely trail my hand down her body and my palm makes contact with the soft skin on her lower back my heartrate picks up, and those damn tingles cascade down my spine, indicating to me that, although I’ve solved one battle, I’m yet to fight the other.

I should move away.

I need to move away, but my fingertips do the opposite and trace along her skin in little circles as I fight the desire that’s now working its way through my veins.

This. This is what I’ve been hiding from. This is my true reality, and I know I can’t escape it. This is everything I want but know I’ll never be able to have.

“Your heart is racing,” she breathes, tilting her head up to look at me as her fingers trail up the nape of my neck.

Finding her eyes, it’s clear to me that she feels this, too.

Tucking the hair behind her ear, I hold her gaze and whisper my honesty. “I’ve missed you so much. I’m glad I’ve got my little lady back.”

“She never left. She’s just been waiting for you to find your way back to her.”

I brush the pad of my thumb over her chin and her eyes turn liquid. Her lips part, awakening the desire inside me.

I want to kiss her.

I’d give anything to kiss her, but she’s Asher’s sister, and that alone makes kissing her one forbidden step too far. That and the fact she’s been drinking.

“Grayson…” she whispers, her eyes on my lips.

We’re interrupted with a knock on the door, and we both pull back in time for Ryan to stick his head into the office.

“Um, sorry guys,” he says, looking between us both and realizing he’s caught us off guard, “Nora, Makenna asked if I’d come check on you.”

“Oh my God,” she says quickly, jumping to her feet and composing herself. “I said I wouldn’t be long.”

“That’s okay. She’s been trying to get some SEALs to down cocktails while singing at the top of her lungs,” he laughs.

“Jesus, how drunk is she?” she asks as I stand, trying to shake off the desire that’s burning inside me.

“Well, she still has the use of her legs at the moment but give it another two cocktails and she’d be on the floor.”

Nora chuckles. “Home time it is then.”

“Do you want me to drive you?” I ask, stepping toward her. “I don’t mind.”

She smiles, and it’s only now that I can see the flush in her cheeks. “We’ll be fine. I’ll call a cab.”

“I’ll go call one,” Ryan says, heading out the door.

As Nora tries to make her escape, I take hold of her elbow, not wanting to leave it like this. “Hey. Thank you. I needed this tonight. I knew you’d be the one to make me crack.”

She smiles softly, taking a step closer. “Promise me you will always talk to me. No matter what.”

“I promise.”

Reaching up on her tiptoes, she kisses my cheek. “Good night, Grayson. I’ll see you tomorrow. If not on Monday.” With that, she heads out of my office and back out toward the main part of the club. My heart is still pounding, my pants now tighter, and then realization suddenly hits me that on Monday I’ve got to see her all over again when she starts her job.