Page 14 of Herbs & Hex-breaking

“You work for my friend.”

He tipped my face up to his. “We’re both adults. I think we can handle being together and working next door to each other.”

“We shouldn’t.” I tried to sound firm as he brushed a soft kiss at the corner of my mouth, but my words came out sounding more like a groan.

Dex released me and stepped back. Before I could ask him what he was doing, he unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off. The shirt dropped to the floor of my apartment in almost a sort of dare.

Lord almighty, I thought, as he stood there naked to the waist. Circe had joked that Dex was romance novel cover material. Now seeing him, I could only agree. Lean muscles on full display, a sprinkling of dark chest hair that tapered down in a line to disappear below the waistband of his jeans. He was beautiful. There was no other word for it.

“That’s not fair,” I heard myself say.

He smiled, moving close once again. “You think it’s fair that I could hear your thoughts about me, tonight?”

“Thoughts are private,” I said, yet my hand was now lying against his chest. “You shouldn’t have been eavesdropping.”

“You wondered what sort of lover I would be.”

My chin came up. “And if I did?”

He brushed a kiss over my cheek and then trailed more kisses to my ear. “I’d be happy to give you a demonstration,” he whispered. “If you like.”

“I’m not interested in a casual sex,” I told him as he began to kiss up the side of my throat, and I stroked my fingers across his defined abs.

“I’m not interested in casual either.” He nipped my ear. “I’ve waited a long time for this, Kate.”

I groaned.

“I’ve been dreaming about your hair,” he said, running his fingers through it. “All these curls. Say yes, Kate.”

Tilting my head back, I met his eyes. “Yes,” I said.

***

I woke the next morning, and sunlight was streaming through my windows, bright against my face. Keeping my eyes closed against the light, I smiled and stretched my arms over my head.

The night before had been amazing, and I wondered if Dex would be up for another round before we had to go to work. Rolling over toward him, I opened my eyes fully expecting to see him beside me. I frowned when I realized that he wasn’t there.

“Dex?” I called, sitting up in my bed.

Listening intently, I realized that no one else was in the apartment with me. Shocked, I climbed out of bed, tossed my robe over my shoulders and went to look to see if he’d left me a text, or a note...or something.

There was no message on my cell phone but I did spot a small note left in the center of my kitchen table. I picked it up. “Kate,” I read out loud. “Gotta go. Something came up. I’m sorry. Dex.”

Stunned, I stood there for a moment. The emotions that began to trickle in were embarrassment, hurt, and a small amount of shame. “Well, sonofabitch,” I muttered. “Never had someone sneak out on me before while I’ve been sleeping.”

Like I was a one-night stand.

“Something came up?” I re-read the note as anger started to seep through. How dare he treat me like I was some casual hookup?

I checked the time on the clock on the kitchen stove and swore. I had less than thirty minutes to get downstairs and open the shop. Rushing to the bathroom, I dropped my robe and dove into the shower.

After drying off, I pulled my hair up into a wet, curly ponytail. I slapped on some basic cosmetics and chose my outfit for the day on a sort of automatic pilot. My mind was spinning with questions as I tossed on a casual black swing dress.

Why didn’t Dex wake me before he left?

What in the hell had actually ‘come up’?

Because as far as I was concerned, us getting together had been pretty spectacular. He’d seemed more than satisfied after...So why had he left like that?