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He wrapped his hands around my waist. “But you’re so good at it.”
I couldn’t help how my spine turned soft under his touch. How I let him back me up to the wall. “That’s what you’re going to compliment me on? Fighting with you?”
“I doubt you’d believe me if I gave you any other compliment.”
I lifted my chin. “Try me.”
His low hum sent goose bumps across my skin. I squeezed my thighs together at the flutter between them. As if he could tell, the corner of his mouth kicked up.
“You’re smart,” he said, and I nodded.
“I know.”
“And humble.”
I dropped my head back, realizing too late the mistake I’d made in exposing my throat to him. He took advantage, his tongue licking my pulse point. “You taste good.”
I inhaled an uneven breath. “Dean.”
He froze, body tense, but after a moment, he brushed his lips over the spot below my ear. “Say it again.”
My back arched at the feel of his teeth on my earlobe. “Dean.”
He dropped his forehead to my shoulder, exhaling harshly, almost painfully. “You sound so good saying my name.”
Flashes of naked skin, scratching fingernails, lips, and moans entered my mind, swirling into a fog until all I wanted was this man over me and in me, growling in my ear. I squeezed his bicep, finding the tiny piece of sanity lingering in the back of my brain, and forced the words out of my mouth. “We can’t do this.”
“You also have impeccable timing,” he said, still complimenting me, and I smothered a laugh against his neck.
The tip of his nose skimmed the shell of my ear, and I allowed myself one more deep inhale of him before pressing my hands against his chest, pushing him away. “It’s too much.”
He eyed me, his hands in the air between us like he wanted to touch me but was stopped by an invisible wall.
“I’m sorry I kissed you,” I said, willing my heart to stop beating so hard, my skin to stop aching with desire. “I shouldn’t have.”
His jaw worked, but he didn’t argue, didn’t try to convince me otherwise.
“We’re finally friends.” Which was the truth.
He nodded. “Right.”
“Besides, it’ll be hard enough for you when I’m your boss.”
He guffawed. “Not gonna happen, Novak.” He tipped his head back in the direction of Reed’s former office. “It’s mine.”
I flicked at his tie. “We’ll see about that.”
Then I slid on my coat and snagged my purse as I rounded him, careful not to let any part of me touch any part of him.
I was halfway to the door when he stopped me. “Hey.”
I spun to face him.
“I would really like it if you came to the wedding with me,” he said softly. The tops of his cheeks flushed. “It’s…” He tugged at his ear, a sign I’d come to learn was his emotional tell. “It’s hard, these big life events. I’ve convinced myself I’m fine always being the one alone, but…”
I waited until he met my gaze. “You need a rock?”
His smile grew slowly. “I’m a flimsy piece of paper sometimes.”
