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Chapter Six
Charles
I’m anxious.Having Kim out of my sight, even for a few short hours, is torture. I gave up pretending I was calm and cool hours ago. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t have a handle on my emotions. I wasn’t just thinking about me and the company anymore. How I could work harder or extend my hours late into the night. No, I was thinking about her. Wondering if she got enough sleep last night, hoping she ate something after I left.
Wanting to give her some space, I’d opted not have a member of my security team watch her for the rest of the day. Kim didn’t understand the reach of my influence in the city yet, but she would in time. I wanted her to be part of my life so I would eventually tell her everything. Just not all at once.
If I did have someone guarding her today, I would have already texted them a dozen times asking for updates. Demanding pictures so I could make sure she was okay. Get my hourly fix of her stunning smile. I thought of her that much.
I was a fool for waiting a day to find her. But when I found out why Gillian had asked her sister to step in for her and connected with my cofounder, Flynn, to make sure he had the situation handled, time had slipped away from me. I knew a text or a call wouldn’t be enough to convince her and make her understand what that night meant to me. That I knew who she was from the very beginning. I had to see her. Watch her reaction and feel her close to me. Showing up at the salon had been my only option. Neutral territory where I knew she’d feel safe. Sure, I may have made a fool of myself, showing up out of the blue and admitting how I felt, but I didn’t care. I would do anything for Kim.
When the clock on the car dashboard finally reads 5:01, I reach for the handle. I’ve been sitting here for over thirty minutes, trying to control my excitement to see her, hold her. Kiss her. Damn but I miss the feel of her lips.
I’m sure my driver thinks I’ve lost my mind. And maybe I have. I’m acting out of character but I’ve never felt better. It’s her. It’s all Kim’s doing. She makes me feel like a new man. Dashing up two flights of stairs and then speed walking down the narrow hallway, I arrive at Kim’s apartment door slightly out of breath. Fixing my tie, I take a deep breath then knock on her door.
Nothing. No sound. No movement.
I knock again. This time longer and louder than before.
Still nothing. What the hell?
“Oh my God,” a strained voice huffs from behind me. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Kim.
I turn fully toward her, my arms opening automatically to pull her close. She hugs me back, no hesitation.
“Are you okay?” I ask, concern lacing my voice as I trail my hands down her hair to her shoulders. She’s not crying but her body is shaking with something.
“I’m fine,” she says again, pulling back. Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are shining up at me. “I got held up at work. Since you left the salon this afternoon things took a nosedive for the worst.”
I realize then that I’ve beat her home. She hasn’t been inside prepping for our date like I had imagined while I was in the car. What a fool I am. Taking all of her in, I see that she’s still wearing the purple T-shirt and ripped jeans from earlier. She still looks stunning, but the day has taken its toll. Both items have unknown stains on them and specks of hair. Kim’s eyes are bright and excited as she grins up at me, but I can see the exhaustion. I know that feeling intimately.
Twisting within the circle of my arms, Kim turns to her door and fishes out her key. My hands stray to the waistline of her jeans, hooking into the belt loops. I feel her shudder as I press into her back. The click of the lock brings me back to the moment and I gently encourage her through the door.
“I just need, like, twenty minutes to get ready. I have to shower off all this hair and change. I should be quick. Could you make me a cup of coffee?”
I grab her hand before she can skip away. Pulling her back into my arms, I twist her hair up in one hand and dip my lips down to meet hers. The kiss is gentle at first. A simple tasting, refreshing my memory. Kim’s lips are soft and plump as they open for me, urging me to explore deeper. When her body is flush with mine, her hands come up to rake through my hair and the kiss turns hungry. Our tongues collide, twisting and dancing as we both try to take more, more, more. A moan escapes her lips, vibrating through the apartment, driving my hunger. I want her. I need her more than my next breath.
But not yet. Not like this.
Peppering kisses along her chin and cheeks, I put a pause on our makeout. Her eyes lazily open, a confused expression on her pink flushed face.
“You’re exhausted,” I state. “Why don’t we have a date night in? I’ll order pizza and we can watch a movie or something.” Her brows scrunch as she tries to determine if I’m joking. “I’m serious, sunshine. Go shower. Take your time.”
“You’re sure? I don’t mind going out.” She says the words but I can hear the fatigue in her voice.
“I’m very sure. I just want to spend time with you. Whether that’s out on a date or here on your couch.”
Licking her lips, she stares at me for another moment before rising on her toes and giving me a quick kiss. “That sounds wonderful. Honestly, the bridal consultation I had this afternoon almost ruined me.” On a laugh, she spins out of my arms, never letting go of my hand. Tugging me forward, we crash on the couch. She leans over so that half of her body is draped over me. A laugh bursts out of me, surprising us both. A look of pure elation shines from her. I can’t help myself, I kiss her again, needing to capture some of her light.
“I need to shower,” she says against my lips.
I want to so badly tell her I’ll join her. She temps me beyond reason. Yet I know I need to slow down. A makeout and teasing touches are all I want to focus on tonight. I want to build something with Kim, not just make it about sex. Even though I’m eager for that part too. Time, I need to give her more time. Take this at her pace.
“Go shower,” I reply back to her, taking one more long kiss. She tries to follow my lips as I lean back. Chuckling, I steady her. “Go shower. I’ll order the pizza and wait for you.”
She bobs her head slowly, agreeing with me but not fully convinced. When I give her one more gentle nudge, she finally relents.
