“I’m saying those are traits he picked up here. Youdiddrag me into the shower this morning.”
“If you weren’t such a Peeping Tom, you wouldn’t have been there in the first place.” It wasn’t quite shower sex, more soapy fun. Fingers, lips, and tongues. Kissing and rubbing in all the right places. We’d showered together last night, once I’d stopped cursing and she’d stopped dying from laughter, then spent the night in my bed. I’m not even sad the time was spent sleeping, because Eve Fairfax is a delightful snuggler. It was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time, not that it means anything. Eve might be too good for Atherton, but she is not meant for me.
Reaching for the bowl of blueberries, she lobs one in my direction. I catch it in my mouth.
“Asshole,” she says, not at all like she means it.
“Was that an offer?”
“What?”
I pat the table. “Bend over, and I’ll tongue your delectable rear.”Fuck it too.
“Oliver, don’t.”
“If you don’t try, how will you know if you’re into it?”
“I don’t remember Bo inviting you to bend over the table.”
“Funny. I prefer red-gold Americans over goldendoodles, especially ones whose taste I could drown in.” Under the table, my cock begins to stiffen.
“We’re not ...” Her expression falters. “That was ... a onetime thing.”
I find myself smiling and frowning at the same time. I’m not confused. I just don’t think she really means it. I thought we reached an understanding as she took my extended hand and stepped into the shower this morning. I thought we putonly tonightbehind us. Fuck it, I want more than last night. I want this morning, tonight, Tuesday next week. I want—
I halt the thought. Breathe. Pause. Reevaluate.
I want her. Want to experience every inch of her from now until I have the keys to Northaby House.Because that’s the way it has to be.
“Tell me what the problem is, Eve.”
“Isn’t it obvious?” She twitches the linen napkin next to her plate.
“I like you, and maybe I flatter myself, but I think you like me too.”
She slides me a skeptical look, but I push on, because fuck that.
“Why does sex between us need to be an issue?”
“We didn’t have sex.” Her denial falls quickly. “This isn’t a relationship, or even a situationship—this isn’t anything.”
“You were happy not to define things last night.”
“But I did define it. I had to. Because you didn’t ask me to move in with you for those kinds of reasons. Hell, you didn’t evenaskme to move in. This ... line crossing is dangerous. We’re not friends, Oliver.”
“I don’t think that’s true.”
“We’re not even roommates.”
“Yes, okay, I forced your hand,” I say, tamping back my frustration. “But hasn’t being here with me worked out for you? I’ve given you a place to stay—”
“Givenisn’t the description I’d use.”
“I’ve shielded you from Mitchell and gone to considerable trouble and expense to smooth over the issues with your visa.”
“You aren’t doing me a favor. At best, it was part of our agreement.”
“All right, that’s true, but at least I can be honest. I can admit to liking you. I like having you here.” A thorned knot catches in my chest, and I know I sound like a petulant child.
