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‘Alex...’
He moved from her mouth to her neck, and she felt herself shudder with pleasure. Pulling at the buttons of his shirt, she slid her hand across his chest, feeling muscle move under soft skin.
They were breathing together now. He gasped as she tucked one finger under the buckle of his belt, knowing that this was a statement of intent. She intended to make him feel everything that she did.
Suddenly he lifted her off her feet. Marie wrapped her legs around his waist, feeling the hot surge of desire suddenly let loose after far too long spent denying it. He took a step and she felt her back against the wall, his hand curling protectively around her head.
‘Alex...’ She fumbled for the heavy belt around her jeans, trying to pull it off. ‘Now. Please...now.’
It had to be now. While she was still lost in the powerful force of trembling expectation.
Suddenly he stilled. And as he let her gently down onto her feet he planted a tender kiss on her brow.
It was gone. The moment was gone.
‘We can’t, Marie. Not like this.’
One of his arms was braced against the wall above her shoulder. He seemed to be pushing himself back, away from her.
What did he mean? Not like how? Marie stared up at him, frustrated longing bringing tears to her eyes. She was too scared to say anything.
He picked up her hand, pressing it to his lips. ‘I want to make love to you, Marie. But if we rush at it before we have a chance to think and change our minds... I need to know that you’re not going to regret this when you do get a chance to think about it.’
He’d known her haste was borne of uncertainty. That they had a lot to lose. A friendship that had lasted for years. Their work together.
He turned away from her suddenly and flipped the remote. Silence. Picking up the keys of the clinic’s electric car from the coffee table and then putting them into her hand, he closed her fingers around them.
Alex wouldn’t tell her to go. He didn’t want her to go—she could see that in his eyes. But if she stayed, it had to be a real decision. They couldn’t just let themselves be carried away by insistent desire.
They could go back now. Pick up on Monday morning and keep working together. Working together was their strength and anything else was a weakness. They could stick with what they were g
ood at or...
They could want more.
Suddenly, she knew. Marie put the car keys down onto the coffee table. ‘Alex, you’re my friend, right?’
‘Always. You know that, Marie...’
‘We both have regrets about the past. You wish your mother had left, and I wish my father had stayed. And although we’re so different we’ve always talked about things. I feel that whatever happens we can work it out.’
He didn’t move. ‘Is that a yes?’
‘I trust you, Alex. It’s a yes.’
The heat of his gaze was more exciting than the heavy beat of the music had been. More arousing even than his touch.
‘I trust you too. My answer’s yes.’
Marie stepped forward, undoing the buttons of his shirt that she hadn’t already torn open. He didn’t move, letting her slip it from his shoulders. When she ran her fingers across his chest he caught his breath, stifling a groan.
He reached for her, pulling her vest over her head in one swift movement that made her gasp. He traced the edge of her bra with his finger, bending to kiss her neck, and Marie felt her knees start to shake.
‘Alex...?’
Just moments ago this had been unthinking desire, but now it was a true connection. If he severed it now she didn’t know how she would survive.
‘I’ve got you.’
