I’m in tiny shorts and a tight tank top. I’m hoping that gets the point across.
He’s on at the hospital at five o’clock, which gives us about two hours. That should be plenty of time for what I have in mind.
He arrives, and I tell Jerry to let him up. He walks off the elevator in athletic shorts and a T-shirt that’s tight across his broad chest. There’s something sexy about seeing him like this.
He stops short when he steps off the elevator. “Wow. Your legs are like a mile long.”
I smile. “Thank you.”
He approaches me and gives me a kiss on the cheek.
For the next hour, he runs me through all of the yoga poses. Who knew yoga poses were so sexual in nature? His hands are on my body, but he’s taking the yoga incredibly seriously. I see him getting frustrated that I’m not.
Time is ticking. Am I going to have to make the first move here? That’s not really my style or what does it for me.
He’s got me in some pose where my knees are on my elbows. I can’t hold it and tip over onto my back.
His arm gets caught under me and he falls on top of me. We both laugh for a moment, but then our faces turn serious.
I thread my fingers through his hair and pull his head to mine, bringing my lips to his. He returns the kiss immediately.
His lips are soft, and he’s a pretty good kisser, but I’m frustratingly the aggressor in it. I’m starting to think this is a mistake. Maybe I’m forcing this. I’m not feeling it. I’m confused. I’m going to put a stop to it.
We have the music on fairly loud, so I guess I don’t hear the elevator door open. What I do hear is a familiar voice barking, “Get the fuck off of her.”
My mind must be playing tricks on me since I’m not kissing the person I really want to be kissing right now. I must be imagining the voice of the man that makes appearances in my dreams every night, and many mornings.
James and I both quickly sit up at the interruption. To my complete shock, Declan’s standing there with his suitcases, looking like he’s about to commit murder.
I blink my eyes a few times to make sure I’m not imagining this. I pinch my eyebrows in disbelief. “Declan?”
He smiles at me in a half-endearing, half-diabolical way. “Honey, I’m home.”
I shake my head at his absurdity. I might smile a little too.
James looks at me in horror.
“I’m sorry James. This is my friend Declan. He moved to Africa months ago. I didn’t know he was back.”
I turn to Declan. “When did you get back?”
He motions down to his luggage sitting on the floor next to him. “About thirty minutes ago. I came straight to see you. I couldn’t wait to see my girlfriend.” He smiles and blows me a kiss.
This just got incredibly awkward. Though I’ve had very little time with Declan, I know enough to know that he won’t be nice to James. I need to get one of them out of here right away.
I turn to James. “James, to be clear, I’m not his girlfriend, but I should probably chat with him. I’m sorry to cut our date short. I know you have to get to the hospital anyway. Can I maybe stop by around dinnertime and sit with you? I can fill you in on this.” I motion between me and Declan.
James gives me a defeated smile as we both stand. “Of course. I look forward to it.” He kisses my cheek and leaves. Declan doesn’t bother to acknowledge him or get out of his way when he passes Declan to get into the elevator. I may even see Declan throw an elbow at James.
The elevator doors mercifully close with James on the other side. Declan and I simply stare at each other in silence.
I didn’t imagine it all those months ago. The attraction between us is palpable. My entire body reacts to the sight of him. I haven’t felt this way since my night with him.
I can feel my heart beating rapidly in my chest. I’m getting overheated, yet I have chills sweeping through my body. I have no idea what he’s going to do right now. I love it.
After a few long, sizzling seconds, he begins walking toward me. Actually, it’s more like he stomps over to me with an angry look on his face. He stops in front of me. He stares at me for a moment before he takes his thumb and roughly rubs it across my lips, cleaning them of any evidence of James.
“No one else gets these again. They’re mine.”