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Given the vehicle he drove and how he’d been dressed, he hadn’t assumed he’d be anywhere near a place like this. But David focused as he entered a code on the keypad and watched the gate for the underground garage lift to allow him entrance. David felt his beast lessen slightly at the fact the guy was calling it a night.
Maybe he should go check on Gillian? Just then, as if thinking about her caused her to call, his cell vibrated.
“You’re okay?” he asked, still staring at the garage and the gate close back in place.
She started chuckling, and he felt himself relax at the sound. “I’m fine. You worry too much.”
It’s never too much when it concerns you.
“I was wondering if you wanted to come over for some coffee.”
Everything in him hardened at the thought of seeing her. She aroused him just by being in his presence, but when she was at home relaxing, he fucking got harder. Even now, he could imagine her in a pair of loose lounge pants and her shirt hanging from her but showing him she was all woman.
Her hair would be messy, and she’d have it in a haphazard ponytail. God, he fucking loved everything about her.
“It’s late, though.” He wanted to tell her he’d be over there, but he also wanted to show her respect.
“It’s not even eleven,” she said, her voice soft, so very feminine. “I’d like to have some company. Tonight was brutal.”
He knew the gallery shows she did were hard on her, and he wanted to be there for her no matter what. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” David had to get out of the city first. Maybe even go home and clean up.
“I’ll see you soon, then.”
They disconnected, and he took a second to stare at the apartment building. The jealousy and anger he felt were living entities in him. David was a sane man when it didn’t concern Gillian, but there were things, people, and actions that just sent him over the edge.
After a few minutes, he pulled away from the apartment and headed to Gillian’s house. He parked the vehicle at the corner of the driveway and climbed out. Before he could knock on the front door, she had it open.
He had to steel himself at the image of her: hair tousled, oversized shirt hanging off of one of her shoulders, and cotton shorts barely visible under the hem of the shirt.
Holy mother of God.
He scrubbed a hand over his mouth, not gawking, because he wasn’t a sick bastard.
“Come on in,” she said in a soft voice. She had her reading glasses on, the black oversized frames making her face seem even smaller. She was fucking gorgeous when she wasn’t done up, and although she didn’t primp herself like a lot of women, when she was in this element, her natural beauty could have brought him to his knees.
David passed her, the scent of strawberries coming from her, making him use all his strength not to get hard.
He moved past her, his body tense with the strength it took to keep himself under control.
“You want some coffee?” she asked, and he nodded without turning around. What he needed was something a hell of a lot stronger.
She was in the kitchen only for a few moments before she returned. He turned from the wall, where he had been looking at the pictures she had hung there, and took the cup. She looked at him with this strange expression on her face, and when their fingers brushed, his gut tightened.
It was like everything froze for just a second as he took in the sight of her pink lips. He was transfixed by the light sprinkling of freckles along the bridge of her nose, of the green in her hazel eyes and the way the brown was like a burst of color around her pupils.
For just a second, he could envision letting the cup drop to the ground, pulling her close, and claiming her mouth. She’d be his. Wouldn’t struggle. Wouldn’t say it was wrong.
But those precious few seconds when this passed through his mind had him even more reserved.
She turned and walked over to the couch, sat down, but said nothing, just looked into her coffee cup.
“Is everything okay, Gillian?” he asked, his voice deep, scratchy with the strength he was using to keep himself under control to appear normal. He moved to the chair across from the couch, took a drink from the cup, and tasted the bourbon she’d slipped in it. The kick was strong and did the trick.
She lifted her head, the emotion clear on her face. David didn’t push her, though. He wanted her to be comfortable in telling him whatever was on her mind.
“Can I ask you something?” she asked, and he nodded.
