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The longer she stared at him, the less she could deny her attraction to him. With the wise words of her new friends firing around in her head and her body eager and needy she decided that, while she still had her courage, she was going to make a move.
*
“She looks like she’s doing so good. Is Belle taking good care of you? Of course she is,” he cooed at Parfait, tickling her whiskers and she treated him to a sharp grate of her tooth down his hand as she rubbed around him, marking him.
After a few more strokes, he got to his feet and was surprised to find Rebelle standing incredibly close. He looked down into her wide doe eyes, so dark he could drown in them. She worried her lip and he was desperate to suck it between his and see if she tasted like raspberries from all those teas she drank.
Her shoulders didn’t seem quite so hunched in anymore and her cheeks were slightly rounder now she was eating properly. Her skin glowed with health and vitality, and she looked at least five years younger now the dark circles were gone from under her eyes.
She was exquisite and every nerve in him ached to touch her.
She looked away, breaking the spell and seemed to realize they were in her bedroom. Twin spots of pink appeared on her cheeks, and he wondered what had made her blush.
“Let’s go back out there,” she gestured towards the living room.
He backed out, not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable. He expected to leave now he’d seen Parfait, but Rebelle surprised him again.
“Doyouwantadrink?” she rushed out.
He fought a smile at her nervous energy. What was going on with her? She had always been something of an enigma to him and he was struggling to gauge her behavior right now. But he certainly wasn’t going to pass up the chance to spend more time with her.
“Sure. How about one of those raspberry teas you like so much?”
She nodded and busied herself in the kitchenette while he got comfy on the sofa, stretching his long legs the best he could with her coffee table blocking his ability to manspread.
He watched her move, cataloging the small things she did. He knew he was a goner for her, but he found it fascinating watching her complete mundane everyday tasks, like making a drink. She came over with the steaming mug and he adjusted himself in his pants, not wanting her to see the effect she was having on him.
“Thanks,” he said. She took a seat in the armchair opposite him, folded her hands in her lap and hit him with her curious stare.
“So, you like heavy metal music?”
He narrowed his eyes at her. Don’t get him wrong, he was enjoying this, but it wasn’t like her to make small talk, she was notoriously monosyllabic when dealing with him.
“Yeah, I do.”
She nodded then there was silence for a few moments. He reached forward for his mug, the steam caressing his face as he brought it to his lips, eager for a taste. The warm, sweet flavor exploded on his tongue, and he just knew she would taste exactly like this.
“Seems such a contrast to your bubbly personality, how did you get into it?”
He choked on the tea and set it down, clearing his throat.
“Are you trying to get to know me better?” he teased and watched as pink fused her cheeks and she looked away.
“Sorry, I’m new to all this,” she said, stiffly.
He cocked his head to the side and studied her, something about her was different. “New to what?”
She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “I apologize.”
“Don’t do that. I was just teasing you. Like friends do,” he said, softly.
“Friends,” she repeated.
“Yeah, we’re friends, aren’t we? As well as colleagues?”
Her eyes slid to his mouth like he’d seen so many times recently and he could have sworn her stare darkened. Her gaze didn’t waver and flicker away like it normally did, if anything she doubled down on the staring.
A heat developed between them that hadn’t existed before until now. He sure as shit would have noticed it if there was. He didn’t know what was driving the change but his heart pounded in his ears as awareness crawled through him.
