He grabbed my hand and stepped closer, placing his arm on the wall behind me. “But you weren’t going to let me through your goddamn door, andthatis fucking torture.”
“I said we could talk.”
His blue eyes tore into my soul. “Touching you brings more peace than a million words.”
“Sex isn’t the answer to your grief,” I rasped out as I melted under his stare.
“I know.” He dropped his arm. “That’s why I went home.”
“What?” I gasped. “Because I refused to have sex with you?”
“I’m trying to uncomplicate things here, Cass.” He rubbed his rigid jawline. “I know you want to be professional under this roof, and I respect that, but I also know myself. The thought of you across the hall, in that bed, alone…reading those fucking books…” His eyes grew dark. “I couldn’t handle it.”
“Adam…”
“And I’ve started seeing a grief counselor back home…so there are no blurred lines.”
My head recoiled. “You have?”
“He even made me cry. Happy?”
My heart almost exploded. “Yes.”
“Sadist.”
“It’s a good thing.” Relief doused my distress. “Crying detoxifies the body, relieves stress, and lowers blood pressure. It’s actually a highly evolved behavior.”
“Are you saying I’m highly evolved?”
The corner of my mouth rose. “Maybe. But you’re also a jerk. You need to apologize to Grayson.”
Adam rubbed the back of his neck with a grimace. “Yeah, I know.”
“He really needs his brother right now…and I think you do, too.”
“I’ll go have a drink with him,” he uttered with a sigh. “We’ll sort it out.”
“Good.” I stepped forward and pushed up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Goodnight, Adam.”
He grasped my hand and ran his thumb over my knuckles. “Will you leave your door open tonight?”
“Adam…” I moaned, more annoyed at my work ethic than his impatience.
“Fine…”
A small smile crossed my face as I backed into my bedroom. “Thank you.”
“But I’m fucking you senseless when this is all over.”
My face burst into flames. “Oh my God, stop. Go see your brother.” I pointed down the hallway. “Goodnight.”
“Okay, okay.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Night, Cass. I lo—” A blush crept up his neck as he cleared the frog in his throat. “I’ll see you at sunrise.”
His energy filled my heart. “You will.”
I melted against the door as it closed behind me. How was I supposed to resist Adam now? He was actively helping himself and acknowledging his flaws, and damn, it was hot. The anger and resentment that burned inside him had settled to a simmer and had been replaced with passion and warmth. He was still heartbroken, but he was healing.
Although exhausted, I couldn’t sleep. It was too late to call Finn, so I called Tash instead.