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“Glad we got it done in time. It would’ve been done faster without all the fussy stuff, but I’m glad they’re happy.”
“You party pooper.” She laughed off his sarcastic jibe, and his throat clenched.
She didn’t want him. She’d said as much the other night when he’d tried to drive her home. Why did her laugh still have the power to twist him up inside? Why was she here? His thoughts flowed from his lips like he’d forgotten to connect a shut-off valve. No filter, control gone. “Why are you here?”
“I told you. I wanted to share the good news with you, and celebrate being done with the pilot.”
Nope. Not good enough.He crossed to stand directly in front of her. No hiding behind busy hands.
“You could have just called. Why are you here, offering to do favors for my mother, baking my dinner, drinking champagne in my apartment?”
“I don’t know what you mean. Why shouldn’t I be nice to your mother?”
“That’s not… Don’t twist my words. The other night you told me off in no uncertain terms.”
“I told you I didn’t want you to touch me without my permission. I told you I needed to drive myself home. I am allowed to say no when I choose.”
“What am I allowed to do, huh? Am I allowed to do this?” He slid his free hand up the back of her head, letting her warm ribbons of silky hair thread through his fingers.
She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch.Not good enough.
“Am I allowed to tell you how beautiful you are?” He set down his glass on the table and rescued hers from her limp grip before it hit the floor. “Am I allowed to say that I missed you today? That I couldn’t get your smile out of my head? That your laughter slays me? Look at me, Sofia.”
She slowly opened her eyes, and they were glazed with desire. He stroked a finger over her cheek, and those beautiful blue irises hid again.
“I need an answer, Sofia. Am I allowed to fall for you or not? Because if the answer is no, you can’t be here. It’s too hard.”
Her head snapped up at that, eyes wide open, and he let every emotion show on his face, the longing, the desire, the anger, the frustration, the entire tangled web of emotions he felt whenever she was near. She looked him in the eyes, long and steady, not saying a word.
Great. He’d stepped in it again. He dropped his head and began to turn away from her rejection, but she stepped in to him, bringing her luscious body flush against his, and slid her hand up the back of his head, mirroring his own position.
“Am I allowed to fall for you back?”
Adrian could barely manage a nod before his control slipped its leash, and he kissed her.
There was a heady freedom in knowing that his kiss was wanted, desired as much as he desired to give it. She was actively kissing him back, welcoming his every foray, chasing each retreat of his tongue. God, she was sweet. Warm cinnamon and coffee flavors filled his senses, and his stomach growled loudly.
She pulled back and clapped a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“Because I’m jumping all over you before you’ve even gotten a chance to eat your dinner. I told myself I could wait, but clearly, I can’t.”
Adrian grinned at her admission.
“Well, yes, that was very rude of you, kissing me senseless in my own kitchen.” He pulled her back in close and kissed just below her ear, where the scent of Sofia was the strongest. “Dinner will be awhile, but I’m hungry now.”
“You also said you wanted a shower and your bed. Does the order matter?”
Chapter 20
“Fuck the shower.”
Sofia gasped as Adrian picked her up again and carried her into the bedroom. When he did that so easily, like she was a light little flower, her heart fluttered. She tucked her head into the curve of his neck, inhaling deeply, wanting to remember every detail of this fleeting moment. When he sat her down on the edge of his bed, she held that breath, hoping it would give her the courage she needed for this next step.
“I want you right here, right now. Let me see you, Sofia. Let me have you.” He knelt in front of her, hands tracing over her hips.
Doubt crept into her mind. Would he like what he saw? She clenched her thighs together and stiffened. He rocked back onto his heels.
