She goes still instead of moving out of the way, leaving barely any space between us. We are so close that I can feel the warmth of her breath.
I shut the door behind me.
Her eyes flick past me to the closed door, and that same fear I’m quickly starting to despise crosses her face again.
“Mr Wardgrave…” she starts, and my jaw tightens at the sound of it.
Fuck.
The way she says my name.
“This is inappropriate. Someone could’ve seen you coming into my room…”
Her eyes lift to mine, clearly waiting for me to step back toward the door.
I don’t.
Her shoulders sink slightly, like she already knows I’m not going anywhere. “Please leave.”
Ignoring the request entirely, I reach up and brush a strand of hair behind her ear.
“What are you doing here?” she asks.
“You left before we had a chance to talk.”
“We have nothing to talk about.”
“You keep saying that,” I murmur. “But let’s start with the fact that I was quite clear when I said I expected you in my room at seven.”
“And I think I was clear that we should stay away from each other.”
I love the little attitude she keeps hidden from everyone else yet somehow always gives to me.
Because at first glance, Piper looks withdrawn. Like she exists in a world entirely her own. Reading her books, keeping to herself. So quiet people probably mistake it for weakness.
They assume she’s shy, that she doesn’t have a spine.
But they couldn’t be more wrong.
She takes a step back and blurts out, “I don’t understand what you want from me. Is it sex?”
I look at her, at the frustration written all over her face.
“I don’t know,” I admit honestly, which is rare. I always know exactly what I want, but this woman has my head completely fucked. “What I do know is that I can’t stop thinking about you. I want to touch you again. Kiss those bloody lips. Just having you near me doesn’t seem to be enough anymore.”
“I told you we can’t.”
“Give me one good reason.” I take a slow step closer. “Not that it’ll stop me, but at least I’ll let you pretend for a moment that it might.”
“I… can’t.”
“That’s not good enough.”
I take another step before bending towards her ear. “I followed you to make sure you got back safely.” My voice lowers. “And because I needed this again like I need oxygen.”
“Need what?”
“This.”
