He slipped his shirt over his head and slid his feet into his black harness boots. We headed for the elevator in silence, our shoulders brushing as we walked side by side down the long corridor. Reaching out, he brushed his hand against my palm. The spark of electricity that zinged through my body packed more of a jolt than any cup of coffee could.
The sensation of his hand on mine caused my heart to pound in my chest. I smiled warmly at him, appreciating his gentle touch. I already missed him, and I wasn’t even gone yet. I hated to have to leave when all I wanted to do was spend more time with him. We could hang out all day, exploring the city, trying new restaurants, and having a few drinks.
Chris turned to me when we reached my car. He pursed his lips. I had a feeling that he didn’t get nervous around women very often, and I didn’t know if I enjoyed it or wanted to put him at ease. He cleared his throat. “I have a lot of time on the road, and I was wondering… if I could… call you sometime? Or text?” Then added hastily, “If that’s okay with you.”
Music to my ears. “Definitely,” I nodded eagerly.
The corners of his mouth tugged into a wide smile. “Good. Well, I hope you have a great week. I had a great time with you.”
I returned a bashful grin. “I had a really great time too. Thanks for everything.”
Slowly, Chris reached out and pulled me into his space. Curling his arms around me, he whispered, “I just wish we had more time.”
“Me too,” I said softly, breathing in the scent of his masculinity. The last time I remembered being wrapped in his arms I was aching over having to watch him walk away. This time, while the action of him walking away was the same, the ache inside of me was very different. And it scared me. Or excited me. Or both. Laying my head on his chest, I listened to the sound of his heart thumping in his chest.
His phone began beeping and buzzing in his pocket, but he ignored the tones. “I’m not ready to leave yet. I feel like we have so much more to catch up on,” he said, reaching up to cradle the back of my head.
“I’m not ready to leave yet either,” I said sadly, nuzzling against the warmth of his body.
“But I have to,” he sighed, seemingly sad to say goodbye, but annoyed by the disruption of his phone.
I nodded, sighing for the same reasons. “I know.”
“Take care of yourself, Salem. I’ll be in touch,” he said as he opened my car door for me.
I looked up at him, burning the memory of his face, his eyes, and his lips, into my mind. “Okay. Be safe. I’ll talk to you soon.” I reached up quickly and caressed his cheek, then sank down into the seat of my car, reluctantly starting the engine.
I saw Chris in my rearview mirror, watching me as I drove away. While we had just met up again for the first time in years, it felt like we’d kept up with each other the whole time. In many ways he was still the same Chris I knew years ago, just older… and hotter. I smiled at the memory of the scent on his pillow, which smelled exactly like the body I’d just been hugging. I realized the faint, musky smell still lingered on me, so I wrapped myself up in his scent, vowing not to take a shower that day. God, that man is sexy.
What the hell just happened? I stood in the parking deck watching Salem’s taillights disappear around the corner, nearly breathless from the sensation that her fingers left on my stubbled cheek. My phone buzzed in my pocket again, jolting me from my stupor.
Dude, where r u? Tommy had texted again for the third time since I’d been standing there with Salem.
Annoyed, I texted back. B there soon.
U better have a good explanation for missing one hell of a party last night, he responded.
Oh trust me, I do.
Haha. U know I don’t kiss and tell, I teased him.
Oh, so that’s how it’s gonna b? he replied.
Yep. I knew I was gonna get shit for it, but oh well…
I ran up to my apartment, locked up, then met up with Pete to have him drive me across town.
I hopped into his Denali when he pulled into the parking deck. “Gotta catch the bus. Bev said we gotta move out by nine this morning,” I told him, still reeling from the way that woman felt in my arms, but trying not to let it get to me.
Pete nodded with a confident smile. “No problem. I can get you there. Nice night with the lady?” he insinuated, waggling his eyebrows.
I glanced out the window, then back at him. “Yeah,” I muttered, not offering any more information.
Pete stared expectantly at me in the rearview mirror for a few seconds. Giving up, he muttered, “She must be somethin’ special.”
I cocked an eyebrow at him. “Why do you say that?”