“That isn’t necessarily a good thing.”
Well, that’s a start. She acknowledges there is something.
“You can hide behind Lola all you want, but it won’t change reality.” She briefly shifts her gaze away, then aims it right back at me and continues to listen. “Answer me why you really gave in last night.”
“I-I… Spontaneity isn't me… except with you. It's an exhilarating feeling.”She doesn’t sound confident with her answer. Her entire body goes slack. “No. It is, and it’s more. I’m aware of the possible road we can take.”
My face remains steadfast, and internally, one part wants me to ask, and the other part begs me not to. “Getting you to take the turn is driving me crazy, you know?”
She forms a subtle crooked smile as her fingers fly to my hand on the table, and they swirl unorganized patterns near my palm.My response is to let my other hand do the same to her arm.
“How about we go on a date?” I suggest.
Elodie scoffs a laugh. “You mean one where you don’t manipulate your way into getting me alone?”
I have to chuckle to myself. “Exactly. I’ll pick you up at a designated time, go for dinner, and see where the night takes us.” She’s considering, which is a start. “Envisioning me showing up with flowers at your door like a perfect gentleman?” No response. “Or I can just send flowers to your office until you say yes,” I threaten, smiling.
That gets me a response, and her face becomes animated. “Don’t you dare,” she humorously warns me with a stern eye.
I hold my hands up in surrender. “I promise.” Although tempting, it is probably best that we don’t draw more attention to ourselves in the office.
“You know…” She abandons our touch and me by getting up and walking to the floor-to-ceiling window, hugging herself and watching the city at night. “I’ve learned very quickly that you keep your promises.”
I join her by the window. “We’re getting to know one another, but some things we already intuitively know.”
She nods without looking at me, her gaze fixed on the city. “Kind of like being around you without Lola is a completely different world. More intense.”
I take a deep breath. “That’s what is driving you crazy?”
Her head sharply turns to me. “Yes.”
I can work with this. Taking a step forward, I let our magnetic force do the rest of the work, and it doesn’t take much. My fingers begin on the curve of her shoulders and slowly move to the base of her neck. “You enjoy it?”
“Admittedly, yes to that too.”
My mouth begins to curve into a satisfied smirk. My palms engulf her neck, with the intent of moving farther up. I lead her back against the window. “So if I kiss you right now?”I whisper.
Her mouth ticks, a smile she can’t quite commit to, but her eyes glint with an invitation.
One that I take. She presses against the window, her hanging arm flat against the glass, and our fingers intertwine while my other hand holds her jaw and tips up her mouth.
My lips slam down on hers as my hand settles at her waist, and the way she leans into me feels as though she’s been waiting for this all night. For a second, I considerslowing to kiss her only for a taste. The plan fails when her fingers twist the front of my shirt and our kiss deepens. Are we desperate for each other? Because there is no indication that this is slowing down.
Until the sound of Lola beginning to work up into a cry breaks us apart, albeit with a struggle to unlatch. The city lights glow behind Elodie’s face as we part. One look at one another and we don’t need words to communicate, we both beeline it to Lola’s room.
We turn the lamp’s soft light on, and it’s obvious.
Yep, a cheetah has competition on the spot front.
She is standing up, hands gripping the air, and Elodie rushes to pick her up, while I stand back to give them a bit of space.
“I know,” Elodie coos. “Itchy?”
She just cries.
Elodie feels her forehead. “No fever. Must just be bothered by the spots, they’re blistering.”
I wince. “Baby pain reliever?”
