Part 14 (1/2)
Okay, so she had lukewarm feet. She'd reminded herself all day this was just s.e.x, yet she knew that was a lie. She'd agreed to sleep with Bryce because she cared about him.
Not part of the ONS rules, Ms. Mitch.e.l.l.
”You worried about me?”
”Maybe,” she half whispered. Her stomach had been twisted in a troublesome knot since the downpour hit at five o'clock. Her father had been in a terrible accident on a rainy night when she was little and she'd never forgotten the trip to the hospital, her mom's hand tight around hers, her eyes red from tears she wouldn't let fall in front of Honor.
”Thanks,” he said, like no one had worried about him in a while. ”But nothing is going to keep me from you.”
She liked that. She liked it a lot. But... ”I'm not going anywhere,” she said. ”You should stay put and we'll do this when the weather is better.” It wasn't like she had any other one night stands lined up.
The doorbell sounded. Oh no. She hoped her neighbor's yard wasn't flooding like the last time it had rained this hard.
”You want me to stay put?” Bryce asked.
”Yes.” Honor jumped to her feet. ”It's really storming here.” Rain hit the windows in a loud, steady beat. ”Hang on a sec, there's someone at my door.”
Someone tall, dark and drop-dead handsome. Her legs shook at the sight of him. ”You're here,” she breathed into the phone before dropping her arm and taking him in. He was over an hour early, but he'd made it, safe and sound. She flung herself at him.
He wrapped her in his arms, his big, strong body curling around hers, and in that moment she knew. Knew she was in way over her head, but she couldn't stop it.
”Hi.” His mouth brushed her temple and he inhaled, breathing her in.
She hung on to him until a sharp whistle of wind sent a chill down her body and she pulled back. ”Come inside.”
”Someone told me I had to-”
She cut him off with a quick kiss, s.e.xy stubble tickling her lips. ”Hurry.”
The naughty play on his lips made it impossible not to smile in return. He moved around her. ”Yes, ma'am.”
”How long have you been standing outside my door?” She took his jacket and hung it on the antique coat rack she'd bought last year.
”I didn't think it possible,” he said, ignoring her question and taking a strand of hair at her shoulder between his fingers ”but you've gotten prettier since the last time I saw you.”
Definitely over her head. Especially when she stared up at him and saw the most incredible face she'd ever laid eyes on. That dimple in his chin alone made it hard to breathe, made it hard to talk.
She brushed by him to give herself a few seconds to regroup without his seductive eyes on her. Didn't entirely work because she felt him watching her backside. And c.r.a.p. She glanced down at her yoga pants and sweats.h.i.+rt. Since he'd arrived early she hadn't changed yet. Not that she had her entire closet of clothes piled on her bed because she didn't know what to wear for him or anything.
The evidence of her indecision layered around her room embarra.s.sed her just thinking about it. She spun around. ”Can you give me a minute to, uh, change?”
He took her hand, turned it over, and rubbed his thumb over her pulse. Over Faith. ”There's no reason to be nervous around me, Honor. I got here early because I couldn't wait to see you, but if you're having second thoughts I can go.”
All this nervous tension wasn't something she was used to. And now with his considerate words and insanely arousing touch, he zapped her of any semblance of control. He made her both unsure and certain at the same time.
”I don't want you to go.”
”How about we eat something and talk first, then?”
”That sounds good.” She took a step back and turned toward the kitchen. ”I'll make us my special grilled cheese sandwiches.”
”I happen to love grilled cheese sandwiches. Want some help?”
”That's okay. I've got it.” She grabbed the frying pan and needed ingredients. ”Did you, uh, have a good day?” she asked. And instantly regretted the inquiry. It made her sound like his girlfriend, not his one night stand. But he had brought up talking and that was the first thing to pop into her head.
He leaned against the counter and watched her. ”I did. Spent the morning on the phone finalizing a couple of client appearances, then had a lunch date. Mind if I grab a drink?”
”Date, huh? Was she pretty?” she tossed the question out like it wasn't a big deal. In reality, her heart caved at the thought he might be on the brink of seeing someone.
”What? No.” He stepped away from her fridge. ”You don't honestly think I'd be here if it was that kind of lunch, do you?”
Honor shrugged.
His warm hands squeezed her upper arms, his chest pressed against her back, and his mouth hovered below her earlobe. ”You're the only woman I'm seeing, Honor. The only one I can't stop thinking about.”
There he went with those words again. She had zero defenses against them. Red-hot p.r.i.c.kles danced over her skin as her sweats.h.i.+rt slid off one shoulder.
”If you knew the dirty dreams I've been having about you...” His lips feathered over the curve of her neck down to her bared shoulder.
She closed her eyes and practically melted into him. Her nipples pebbled into tight, achy points, a rush of heat filled her tummy and spread lower. Even though one night didn't const.i.tute any kind of obligation, Bryce gave it to her. At least for right now.
”Ow! Frick.” Her eyes flew open as she whipped her arm back from the stovetop and shook her hand furiously back and forth.
Bryce stumbled back. ”You burned yourself?” She nodded. ”Let's get it under cold water.” He turned on the faucet and pushed up her sleeve just before she thrust her hand under the spray. ”Sorry,” he mumbled, like a little boy who'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
”You should be,” she teased. ”You distracted me from what I was doing.”
He reached around her back and turned off the k.n.o.b for the burner. That would teach her to let the pan warm up before she was really ready.
”You've been distracting me since the moment our eyes met.”
She purposely focused her gaze on her burned fingers, afraid he'd see how much he affected her, too.
”Hey.” He tucked his finger under her chin and guided her face toward his. ”Did I say something wrong?”
”No.” She turned off the faucet and dried her hand with a paper towel. ”I really do want to cook for you, though, so sit at the table and let me do my thing.”
”You all right?” he asked, nodding at her hand.
”Fine.” She waved him off and cooked her special grilled cheese sandwiches-cheddar cheese, bacon, alfalfa sprouts, and ranch dressing on sourdough.
While they ate, they talked about everything and nothing and she relaxed. He'd mentioned he liked hearing her voice, but she could listen to him talk all day. His smooth, deep sound, full of confidence and sincerity touched down to places inside her no one else had reached.
”Middle name?” Bryce asked.
Being with Bryce was so easy she didn't mind his onslaught of questions. ”Rosalie. Yours?”
”Honor Rosalie Mitch.e.l.l,” rolled off his tongue with such reverence that he wiped out the negative implication she always a.s.sociated with hearing her mom say it.
”Okay, quit stalling and give me yours.”