Dances with Monsters(102)

She took a deep breath and blew it out hard through her mouth, automatically going to the relaxation techniques she'd been working on lately instead of her medication. She put her hands on her hips and frowned at the floor. Her body had been responding favorably until her mind got in the way, and it was disheartening. She knew on a physical level, she wanted to be with Heath that way; she didn't know how to make her mind fall in line with that.

At least, he hadn't done anything more than touch her, as he promised her that was all he'd wanted to do, and he had made it clear he wasn't looking for any sort of reciprocity either. As she began refilling the flavored syrups behind her on the counter, she wondered when the next time he would touch her like that would be, and at the thought, she began to feel a little throb deep inside her and her flesh suddenly tingled. She bit her lip, losing herself in how she felt. Suddenly she pulled her phone out of her pocket.

"Are you taking care of my mug?"

"Hello to you too. Yes. The mug is fine. I think. I'm not really sure, I left it alone at home."

"WHAT?!"

"Sorry. I had to come to work."

"I'll be needing it back from you as soon as possible. Obviously you can't be trusted with nice things."

"I think I saw about a thousand coffee mugs between your sink and your cupboard."

"That's beside the point; I want THAT ONE."

"You're welcome to come get it from me later."

"I think I will do that. When I get off work."

"I actually can't wait. If that's what it takes to get a visit from you…I think I'll keep your mug forever."

"Highly unlikely. And don't eat dinner. Talk to you soon!"

Drew smiled to herself at their humorous exchange. She knew she couldn't wait two full days to see Heath again. Hell, she couldn't even wait twelve hours to see Heath again. She wanted to see him, and she wanted to be alone with him.

***

Heath looked up from his desk when he heard knuckles rapping on the doorframe. He smiled when Drew stepped into his office. He'd just finished sparring with Rex and then Jameson half an hour before, and had used the locker room to take a shower and change into clean clothing in time for her visit. He knew she didn't really care about the mug, but even if she did, he was happy to see her regardless.

He rose from his chair to step around his desk and reached for her just as she set a large brown paper bag down. He perched on the edge of his desk and took her hand, pulling her to stand in between his legs. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his face into the side of her neck, reaching up to stroke her back lightly.

She laughed a little breathlessly, unaccustomed to his forward display of affection. Prior to the previous night, they had tiptoed a little around being affectionate toward each other, but the intimacy they'd shared the night before seemed to break yet another barrier. At any rate, barring any real discomfort she might feel, he didn't really care if it was too forward; he'd actually missed her throughout the day and the sight of her and being able to hug her now made him feel immensely peaceful.

He kissed the side of her neck and released her, looking calmly into her face as she flushed a little and dimpled at him.

"Now that's how you treat a girl," she teased lightly and he smirked.

"I do what I can," he replied. He glanced at the sack as he suddenly felt hunger pangs begin to assault him. Before he'd sparred with Rex and Jameson, he'd ran a few miles—he'd lost track after three—and then hit the weights, and the bags. He hadn't stopped to take a break and hadn't eaten since breakfast. He was starving. "What did you bring me?"

"A giant chicken and avocado wrap on a multigrain tortilla with lettuce and sprouts and some sort of low-calorie dressing," she replied.

"Now that's how you treat a man," he teased back.

She grinned. "I suppose it's the least I can do, after the supreme treatment I got last night." He knew she wasn't referring just to the dinner and the ballet by the way she averted her eyes shyly and blushed a little. She cleared her throat and reached for the sack. As she leaned past him he caught her chin in one hand and brought her face toward his to kiss her in her favorite way.

"I have a confession to make," she whispered as he pulled away slightly. Her eyes were still closed.

"Hm?" he asked absently, tracing his thumb over her bottom lip. "What's that?"

She flushed even deeper. "I've been thinking about kissing you all day." She was still whispering, and he knew that it was a stretch for her to say something like that, which made him believe her all the more and he felt flattered.

He leaned in again, cupping her jaw in his hand gently. "Is that right?" he murmured against her lips before kissing her deeply again. She grabbed at the front of his zip-up sweatshirt and enthusiastically returned his kiss, and after a while Heath completely forgot about his meal, his office, the fact that they were at the gym. The only thing that mattered right now was that she was pressed against him and that he was finally tasting the lips he'd been thinking about all day, too.