We almost kissed!
He stood over me and leaned closer. I even opened my mouth, begging to feel his lips on mine. But I didn’t move, remembering he can’t be touched without causing severe pain. It still hurt that he didn’t close the distance.
Stupid prefrontal cortex being all logical.
That’s why I suggested this get-to-know-you game, hoping my fucking boner would go away. I know I yammered on the last time I was here to fill the space, but the tension between us after I brought up his curse still lingered. There’s none of that now, just Adriel sitting there all effortlessly godlike, and then his sweet words are a constant reminder of why he’s worth the effort. So, no luck on the reduction in boner problems.
“What are you hiding from?”
My eyes meet his, once again finding patience and understanding. Not something I’m familiar with lately. Even still, I slide to the edge of my seat, ready to bolt. But I continue to hold his gaze, which eases the urge to run. Something deep in my chest compels me to sit and divulge my secrets to this veritable stranger.
Why? I have no fucking clue.
All I know is that it feels right.
I take a deep breath for strength, and then utter the words I hate. “Everyone in the town, including my grandmother, thinks I’m a drug addict.” Speaking the words out loud feels like hammering nails into my own coffin. Like the glass will shatter around his view of me, and he’ll see just how worthless I really am.
Adriel’s brows rise high on his forehead, confusion plastered all over his features. “I have never sensed any drugs on you,” he says adamantly.
His words force tears to my eyes, but I blink them away. I don’t want to miss a second with this man. “You could smell drugs in my system?”
A beautiful smile curls up his already deliriously handsome face, taking my breath away. He releases a small chuckle, more like ahehsound. As if my completely reasonable question was somehow amusing to him. “If I used my powers to scan your body closely, I could know without question. However, an addiction as strong as what you’re implying would taint your aura. But even with the little bits of black around the edges, the base shows a level of strength that would not exist if you were influenced by a drug.”
I open my mouth to ask a new follow-up question about his powers, but close it after I decide I’ll jump on that Segway in a second. “We’ll come back to that,” I say, pointing at him like I could be literally talking to anyone else. “You believe me?”
What a sad life I live that someone believing me is a novel concept.
“I do.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, hating how something that should be more commonplace isn’t.
I wrestle with those emotions. At what my life has spiraled into.
“What was it you wanted to come back to?” Adriel asks after several long, tense moments.
It takes me a bit to catch up with him and his train of thought once I manage to reel myself back in. “Did you scan my body to know if I was hurt when we first met?”
“I did. I had to be sure you weren’t more seriously injured. Though I lack modern abilities to tend to your wounds.”
“I still appreciate you doing what you did. It means a lot. But I’m sure not being able to touch me made it even more tricky.”
A shadow crosses his features, muting his expression. Almost like he’s ashamed of this part of his curse. It’s not like he has any control over it. “It does.”
I nearly swallow my tongue at his use of present tense. Could he be feeling the tortuous effects of our lack of contact too? It’s like an itch I know I’ll never be able to scratch.
“Is it just skin to skin you can’t stand or any form of touching?”
The faint shrug of one shoulder is his only response. It almost feels like he wants to say more, but the wash of emotions pinching his features gives away the internal war he’s fighting. He runs one hand down his face as he finally speaks up. “I’ve never really tested it,” he mumbles.
I slowly stand, closing the distance between us, and kneel in front of him. Not too close, though. This way he can feel secure that he has space to escape if he needs to. “Do you trust me?” I ask, holding up my hand.
His eyes move from my hand to my face and back. It takes him several moments before he dips his chin.
My movements are controlled, despite my need to make contact. The tips of my fingers graze over the rough material of his pants. When he doesn’t cry out in pain, I press the full length of my fingers against his thigh. With no further complaint, I run the entire length of my hand up his thigh.
I watch his eyes closely. His pupils widen, engulfing the brown irises. His jaw drops open with a heady exhale, and he stands abruptly, forcing me back onto my ass. I remain fully enthralled by him. At this angle, I can see the bulge pressing against the front of his slacks. And the way his shoulders rise and fall dramatically shows me he’s as affected as I am.
Standing slowly, I remain just far enough away that I don’t accidentally touch him. But offer enough space for him to do as he pleases. And let’s be real here, he can do whatever he pleases with me.
