“Cleo?”
Her shoulders sagged on a sigh as she tipped her head back, just enough.
“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
“I know that.”
“Then what is it?”
“I…” Her forehead dropped against his chest. “I just don’t know why you’d want to do anything with me.”
Instead of recoiling in horror at the realization she was right and he was insane for wanting to touch her, he spread his knees, tightened his arms around her and pulled her closer against him. He nestled his cheek into her hair. “Even after all we’ve shared with each other you don’t trust the fact that I might find you attractive? I know you have demons, Cleo, I think everyone does. But this isn’t a joke or a game to me.”
He cupped her jaw. “I care about you. I like you. I enjoyed talking to you in texts, and I want us to explore what this is between us. Not only all of that, but I think you’re beautiful, inside and out. If all you wanna do right now is walk in that apartment alone, I get it. I won’t pressure you. I’ll ride home and text you when I get there. If you want to talk out here, or want me to come inside and just talk, that’s okay too.”
Cleo pulled out her phone and tapped out a message. Linc’s phone chimed in his pocket and he cocked his head, a smile dancing on his lips.
Elizabeth: I’d like for you to come inside with me, Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Darcy: What my lady wants, my lady gets.
She giggled at his reply, took his outstretched hand, and led him into her building. Side by side in the elevator, their arms touched. Her stomach flipped. She was taking Lincoln Scott up to her room. Whose life was she even living?
“I can hear your thoughts from here,preciosa.” He bumped his hip against their clasped hands dangling between them.
Her heart stumbled in her chest. The only thing more of a turn on than Lincoln eating a cupcake was hearing Spanish tumble from those full, kissable lips.
“Don’t get excited. It’s literally one of the only words I know and only because Google told me. I could be saying something rude and offensive.”
The complex knot of anxiety and fear loosened in her stomach. She prompted herself to breathe. All she had to do was remind herself that this was Mr. Darcy, the guy from the phone, with the face of Lincoln Scott and maybe she’d calm down. Maybe her stomach would stop doing that flippy thing it kept doing when she caught him staring at her, or when their skin touched.
“It’s not offensive. Just… unexpected.”
He slid his arm around her as they walked along the corridor to her door. She pulled out her keys and let them inside.
“Tea?” She made her way to the kitchen. It was safe there, neutral territory that wouldn’t cause her lady-parts to ignite and demand she jump into bed with him the second he closed the door behind him, right?
Heat radiated through her clothing as his hands traveled down her arms to her hands. He shook his head against hers. “No tea, thank you. And if it’s okay with you I want to stay close while you make it.”
“I d-don’t want tea either.”
“You don’t?”
She shook her head.
“Then why are we in the kitchen?”
Because I’m afraid of you seeing me naked?
She turned to face him, placing her hands flat on his chest. Christ alive he was built. “I guess I’m trying to reconcile the guy on the phone with the guy in front of me.”
“It’s okay that you need time. We can sit and talk, have some face-to-face time that isn’t you scowling at me from across the room and take our time.”
“That’s just it.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “I don’t want to take my time. I look at you, and damn if I don’t want to…”
“What do you want, Cleo?” He dropped his forehead to her forehead and rubbed his nose against hers.
“You’re going to make me say it out loud, aren’t you?”
