“Cool. By the pool. I’ll light the fire pit and you can tell me all about your lonely turkey dinner.”
“Bet.” I let out a brief laugh and disconnect.
Neevah turns around, leaning against the sink, braless, her nipples still hard and round and high through the thin cotton T-shirt.
“You’re leaving?”
I walk to the kitchen slowly, giving myself time to overcome the violent objections of my dick. When I reach the arched doorway, I stop. If I touch her, this blows up again, and I’m bending her over that sink, shoving that skirt up and pushing her panties to the side. I don’t want our first time to be like that.
And I make a decision. There will be a first time for us, but not tonight.
“Yeah, I’m gonna go,” I tell her, my voice still scratched and rough.
“Did I do something wrong?” She looks down, twists her fingers at her waist. “I’m embarrassed. I didn’t mean to make you feel—”
“You didn’t make me feel anything I wasn’t already feeling.” I walk forward, risking everything to reassure her. I lift her chin and make her meet my eyes. “It wasn’t anything I didn’t already want. That I still want.”
“Then don’t go.” She reaches up, wrapping her hand around my forearm. “We can—”
“This is dangerous, Neevah, for me, yes, but even more for you. We should wait.”
“But I don’t . . .” She ventures a glance up at me. “Wait? For how long?”
“Until the film wraps.”
I cup the tender curve of her cheek and jaw, searching her eyes for caution or hesitation. There is none. That openness that draws me to her is on full display, her desire unmasked.
“This is your first movie. Do you want everyone thinking you got the role because you were sleeping with the director?”
“I don’t care what people think.”
“You will. I’ve been in this business a long time. It’s vicious. The rumors, scandal. Lots of truly talented people ruined their careers with bad personal decisions.”
“You are not a bad decision, Canon.”
“Maybe not, but I’m one you should wait to make.” I bend to kiss her, giving my hands permission to slide down her arms, over her sides, and to her waist. She strains up on tiptoe, eating into our kiss, her lips soft and warm and eager. Neevah’s sweetness hides a devouring kind of passion. When we happen, she will burn me inside out, and I can’t wait.
But I will.
With my lips still clinging to hers, I force myself to step back. Not risking one more word or allowing one more touch, I leave.