“What are you running back to so quickly? I could employ you at TruFruit for the time being. You know, until you find a job.”
“I don’t want handouts, Brenton.”
“I’ll do anything to make you stay.”
“Make me? You are way too used to getting what you want.” She was stern, but she didn’t speak with any malice. There was a challenge in her eyes that lit a fire in me.
I closed the distance between us and took her face in my hands. “Stay. Even if it’s just for a few days. Stay here with me.”
“Brenton—”
I stopped her protest, leaning in and planting a kiss firmly on her open lips. I traced her lips with my tongue and pushed in deeper. She groaned into my mouth. I was breaking her down. I could feel it.
“Stay,” I said, kissing her cheek.
“Stay…stay…stay.” I kept repeating it, moving my kisses to her nose, her eyelids, up to her forehead.
She leaned into me, wrapping her arms around my waist. I hugged her tight. I realized in that moment that I never wanted to let her go.
“Okay,” she finally whispered into my chest.
“Okay?” I grabbed her hand and squeezed.
She grinned at my exclamation. “Okay.” Helen released a breath as she gave into me.
My heart fluttered in my chest. I didn’t know for how long, but she was staying. I had more time with her. I wasn’t going to push my luck any further. Not tonight anyway.
“Okay, I’ll let you get some sleep,” I told her, victoriously rubbing her palm with my thumb.
“Thank you.”
Helen paused in the threshold of the front door. She looked like she wanted to say more, but then decided against it. She reached her hand out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, grazing my fingers as she did so. Both of us paused at the contact and my entire arm buzzed. I could hear her breaths quicken and I watched her chest rise and fall.
She stepped in.
“Don’t forget to lock up,” I said.
“Right.” She looked up at me and I noticed her cheeks were slightly rosy. I smiled at the color.
Helen slowly shut the door, only breaking eye contact at the last moment. I stood there, waiting to hear the bolt. It didn’t come. I debated walking away, but my feet wouldn’t move. I took a deep breath and knocked again. There was a slight pause before the door creaked back open.
“I didn’t hear the lock,” I told her.
“Oh.” The door was wide open again. She just looked at me and I looked back, both of us wanting to speak but not knowing what to say. My body was on fire.
I knew what I wanted. I wanted her to invite me in. I missed her so much this past week and I missed having my hands on her body, exploring her curves and making her moan. Before I could stop myself I was over the threshold with my hands on either side of her waist. She gasped. We were inches apart, feeling the heat radiating from the other. I decided I couldn’t wait for her to invite me in. I pulled her into me and kissed her with a passion I hadn’t felt about anyone or anything ever before.