A Broken Forever(99)

Deciding that my overactive hormones were under control, I turned back toward the rest of the room but gasped as soon as I did. Stefan stood directly behind me, eyes looked up from hooded lids. The slight tension from before was almost out of control as he closed the distance between us. With each foot in my direction, I responded with a step backwards, until finally the wall stopped me. His tongue slid out over his lips making them glisten in an exceptionally tantalizing way.

Not that I noticed of course, but someone might.

"Is something wrong, Greyson Rose?" My name rolled off his tongue as he annunciated every syllable.

"No, wh … " Deep Breath. "Why do you ask?"

He took one more step closer. "You suddenly got very … " His face leaned down toward my chest, as he listened to the rapid beat against my ribs. "Jumpy."

The scent that covered every square inch of him took my senses hostage. Shivers raced up and down my spine and I tried to clear the intoxicating haze from my awareness.

"I'm not." I choked out.

A mischievous grin touched his eyes and as much as I wanted to hate him for getting some sick pleasure out of what he was doing-I couldn't. The urge to shove him back and pull him closer raged a war deep in my psyche. Stefan slowly lifted his arms and pinned the wall on either side of my shoulders. His feet stayed firmly planted but he lowered his upper body within an inch of mine.

"So, last night you got me to promise I would shut down my work, at a time much earlier than I anticipated leaving. Do you remember?"

"Yes," I stuttered out.

Stefan nodded, keeping his intense gaze trained on me. "Now I have something I want you to do for me."

My heart leapt into my throat and a sudden rush of heat swirled low in my belly. The heaves of my chest brushed faintly against his and each touch made my breath catch.

"Wh … what's that?" The shake of my voice became unbearable as I struggled to remain vigilant.

"I just want you to answer one simple question for me." His right hand left the wall, he held up one finger an inch from my nose.

"Okay?"

"You need to answer me with complete and absolute honesty. I'll know when you're lying to me, Greyson Rose. Will you promise to answer truthfully?"

At this point I couldn't filter my answers even if it was the difference between life and death. My tongue licked out onto my incredibly dry lips. For the first time Stefan's eyes left mine as they focused onto my mouth. I forced down a rising groan.

"I promise."

"Good girl. Tell me, when you saw another women with me in those tabloid articles; was there any part of you that was jealous?" 

Half a heartbeat was all it took for my answer to slip out freely. "Insanely."

His responding smile sent a rush of chills through my body, reaching a place that made my knees weaken. Closing the space between us he rubbed his nose against mine.

"Good."

"Was that the plan?" I hesitated to ask, unsure of what the answer would do to me.

His nose pressed once more against mine, heat from his breath caressed the curves of my yearning lips. "Maybe."

"Only maybe?"

Chuckling he backed away a bit and ran a finger down the length of my arm. He stopped at my left hand and brought it eye-level. Sliding the engagement band up to my knuckle, he leaned in and pressed a tender kiss against the bare skin. My heart lurched forward, craving more, but I held as still as I possibly could.

"I hope you'll let me see you again soon, pretty girl. My day is immensely more special when you're a part of it."

My body trembled relentlessly. "I promise."

Releasing my hand he smiled. "I'm holding you to that, Greyson Rose. Have a good day."

With that he turned and walked away. Before the break room door closed Tyler burst in, a look of wonder on his face.

"So, just saw Stefan leave. He had the biggest shit-eating grin I have ever seen, woman! What the hell happened in here?"

I still hadn't moved from the wall and I was just as confused as Tyler looked. Shaking my head I gave the most honest answer I could. "I have absolutely no idea."





Sitting in my car at the end of my shift I created a new text to Stefan. The last four hours of my day were spent in a confused web of emotions. I would go from being swooned to being infuriated and it was followed by the feeling of needing more. I deserved answers before I went out of my mind trying to solve the many puzzling questions I had.

Me: What the hell was that? Are you playing some kind of game with me, Stef??

Before driving off, I sent a quick text to Richard to let him know I was on my way home. As soon as I pulled away from Bella Donna my phone pinged with a new message. It took curling my fingers around the wheel until they hurt, to keep from checking it. Maybe I had successfully avoiding texting while driving, but I probably managed to break about a dozen different speeding laws in the process. The instant my car was parked in front of my home, I had the phone in my hands.