Talking Dirty with the CEO(37)
“I can imagine. Mothers, huh?”
“So, what’s the deal with vintage computers then?”
Christie stared at him. That had been a very definite change of subject. Was there something about his mother he didn’t like talking about? If so, she could relate. Boy, could she relate.
“I just like messing around with electronics,” she said, too unsure of him to push it. “And my dad had an Arkon, too, and I used to spend hours playing Time Thief. I thought it would be cool to get one going again.”
Joseph straightened, the look on his face bright with interest and curiosity. He looked like an excited boy. “Please tell me you’ve got the rubber keyboard that used to come with them?”
His grin was so infectious she just had to grin back. “Oh yeah. And remember the tape deck? Instead of a disk drive?”
“My God, yes.” He pulled out one of the dining chairs. “Come on, show me,” he said imperiously. “I want to know where you’re at.”
Christie didn’t know quite how it happened but the next time she looked up, a whole hour had passed. A whole hour spent playing with computer parts, reminiscing about old computer games and arguing happily about the advances in gaming technology.
So much for her thinking he wouldn’t be interested.
She should have been pleased about it but she wasn’t. She was anxious.
She didn’t know all of a sudden. A few days ago the thought of him wanting a night with her seemed like the biggest thrill ever. But now it was like that wasn’t enough. It was like she wanted more, which was dumb because she’d been telling herself all week that she didn’t.
Why? What had changed between them?
Christie turned her head, watching his face as he looked down at the piece of circuitry in his hands, his brows drawn down in intense concentration. One leg jogged constantly and yet his hands were still, handling the delicate electronics with care. The strange mix of movement and stillness, impatience and care, made her heart give an odd sort of lurch.
And she knew what had changed. She liked him. Liked being with him. Liked his interest and enthusiasm in something that interested and excited her. It made her feel good in a way she hadn’t in a long time.
“Do you really want to be here?” The words popped out before she could stop herself.
Joseph’s head jerked up in surprise. “What?”
“Do you really want to be here? You know, fiddling around with bits of crappy electronics and talking about gaming?”
He stared at her for a long moment. Then he put down the circuit board he was holding and leaned his elbow on the table. “Yes, of course I want to be here fiddling with bits of crappy electronics and talking about gaming.”
“But it’s not what you came for, is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“You came here for sex, not this.” She gestured toward the table strewn with wires and screws and all sorts of other paraphernalia.
“Christie, I came here because I wanted to see you. If you don’t want sex, that’s fine. I’m happy sitting here talking to you. And that’s the truth.”
Her throat felt tight. “Oh. Well…great.”
“Hey, what’s up?” He searched her face. “Why all this doubt?”
She opened her mouth, the usual denials at the ready. But that wasn’t what came out. “Because I like doing this with you. And I’m afraid you’re not enjoying this. I’m afraid you’re only doing it to pass time before we went to bed.”
An expression she couldn’t interpret shifted in his gaze. “Honey, there’s something you should know about me,” he said softly. “You remember what I said about my mother not liking the fact that I couldn’t sit still as a kid? Well, I can’t even as an adult. I hate it, in fact. After a couple of minutes I have to get up and do something else. Yet you’ve kept me here in this chair for a whole hour. And I didn’t even notice. What does that tell you about how I was enjoying it?”
The blush came without her permission as always, but this time it wasn’t wholly because of embarrassment. This time there was pleasure there, too. A tendril of warmth uncurled inside her.
“Oh.”
“You say that a lot.”
The tendril uncurled a bit more. “I don’t like compliments.”
“I noticed.” He smiled, his gaze dropping to her mouth and back again. “How are you with kisses?”
The tendril uncurled into a small flower, blooming in her heart. “Kisses?” Christie swallowed. “Actually, I don’t mind kisses.”
Joseph stared at her. “Show me.”