“It’s a good thing that we’ve struck a deal, or else I might take advantage of all that,” he says.
When we made our agreement, it felt like the right thing to do. Yes, there is an attraction between us, but we both have things going on in our lives that could get in the way of developing a relationship, assuming that’s what either of us wants. In reality, both of us probably just want the sex and to feel connected to another person. And while that isn’t a bad thing, it could prevent us from finding someone who is better suited in the long run.
In retrospect, I think that was what was going on between me and Stephen. We were together so we wouldn’t be lonely, but when he found someone he felt was better suited for him, he left.
Even so, sitting here with Oliver, after having a delicious home-cooked meal, and a couple glasses of wine, the need to keep the lines from blurring between us doesn’t seem quite as important.
I lift my gaze to look at him, wondering if he might feel similarly. Slowly, his eyes change from neutral to something sinful.
“You should stop looking at me like that,” he says, his voice husky.
“Like what?”
“Like you’d be okay if I leaned over right now and kissed you.”
“Is that a problem?” My words come out breathless as his gaze grows more intense.
“We have a deal,” he says, swallowing hard. “And I’m not so sure if I kissed you again that I would be able to walk away.”
Every hormone in my body flares to life. “If you did kiss me, I’d be upset if you walked away.”
He lets out a long, shuddering breath and closes his eyes for a moment. “You test me, Charlotte.”
I don’t understand what he means, but I’m not sure that it’s complimentary. I start to move away, but he squeezes my hand tighter.
“There’s something about you that makes it so fucking hard to resist you. I’ve always been a man with the utmost control, but you, Charlotte, with you I feel it all slipping away.”
“I feel the same. Like I’m drawn like a magnet,” I say. And then because I don’t want to talk anymore, I just want to feel and connect, I lean forward and press my lips to his.