His gaze rakes over me. There isn’t even an attempt at being discreet. His dark green eyes shimmer in the fluorescent lighting, his pupils blown wide open. It’s warm in this little exam room despite the air conditioning. Every inch of my skin is on fire, electricity surging through my veins, my fingers and toes tingling.
I fight against the voice that’s screaming inside my head. It’s shouting at me, demanding that I close the distance and crash my lips against his. It’d be so easy to throw my arms around his neck, drag him close to feel the hot press of his body against mine. If I really want, I could have him right here. Something tells me he’d like the chance to jump my bones too.
But we can’t. How could we? We’re on Haven Ballet Academy property, and there are staff and other dancers just outside who’d overhear us. I’d be in so much trouble if we were caught together.
Unless I’m really, really quiet.
A shaky breath escapes me. “Nate?”
“Yes, Eve?”
“I need to…” I force myself to take a deep breath. This turns out to be a terrible idea because I drink in more of his scent. I nibble on my bottom lip and try not to stare at the hard bulge in the front of his pants.
I must be imagining things, right?
I pray that I’m not. I like the idea of Nate being hard for me. There’s satisfaction in knowing I did this to him. He’s probably throbbing to take me. I can see it in his eyes, in the way he stands like he wants to touch me but knows he can’t. I’d bet he’d taste great on my tongue, that he’d swell with want in my mouth. I shiver with delight at the thought of lapping up his cum, of swallowing him all the way down.
I want him in me, on me—it doesn’t matter. The last time Nate and I hooked up, he had me blind with pleasure. Maybe the heat pooling in my pussy is some kind of biological reaction. My body’s overheating because of him, craving.
I think I need another ice bath.
“I need to get going, Nate.”
“And?”
“Do I have your permission to leave, Doctor?”
Nate licks his lips, but nods slowly. “All right. You can leave.”
“Am I okay to go back to class?”
“Yes. But I want you to take it easy. No jumps, no lifts. Not until I see those X-rays and can clear you completely. The second things get bad, I want you to come back and see me. Got it?”
“Okay,” I whisper. I’m afraid that if I breathe too hard, if I react too quickly, all the self-control I’ve managed to keep until now will evaporate.
I attempt to slip off the exam table, but Nate doesn’t move an inch. His cologne is intoxicating, dizzying beyond belief. The heat radiating off his body is alluring, like standing too close to a stove. If I touch him, I’ll only get hurt.
But it’s the danger that’s exciting.
Looking up at him defiantly, I stand my ground. I’m not giving in. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’s won.
“Goodbye, Doctor.”
“Goodbye, Eve.”
I brush past him, practically sprint out the door. Warmth rises to the top of my head, which probably paints my face bright pink. My pulse is skipping in my ears, but at least I’m finally able to take a few cool breaths.
It’s only then that I realize just how uncomfortable the burning desire between my legs is. Sensing the wetness there, I have to make a quick stop to the bathroom to freshen up, thoughts of Nate still whirling in my mind.
Now I have to dance while horny.
Great.
Chapter Three
Nate
Family dinners are the worst.
When I’m in New York, I have distance as an excuse to not visit. That usually didn’t stop my parents from flying out to see me, but at least I was in friendly territory. I could always escape to a friend’s home if Mother proved too much, which always wound up being the case.
Here in Haven? No such luck.
I count my lucky stars that Pops is lending me one of the apartment properties he owns in town instead of forcing me to stay in my old bedroom. The house is way too quiet now that Jacob’s gone. I don’t believe in ghosts, but I think he’d haunt my dreams if I stayed here.
And I need all the sleep I can get ever since Eve’s been on my mind.
The woman’s bewitched me. Her sweet scent, the plumpness of her soft lips, and the feel of her long legs are burned into my brain. It’s been a couple days since her visit to the rehabilitation wing, so I’ve had nothing but the memory of her gentle voice and daring eyes to satiate the hunger she’s awoken within me.