Читать книгу Make Me Want: A sexy romance book about friends with benefits. Perfect for fans of Fifty Shades Freed - Katee Robert, Katee Robert - Страница 13

CHAPTER FIVE

NERVES STOLE LUCY’S voice as she and Gideon walked to her apartment. She’d intentionally picked a restaurant close to her place so that they wouldn’t have to worry about a cab ride to get from point A to point B. She nodded at the doorman as he held open the door for them and then she strode to the elevator and pushed the button.

Gideon followed her inside and leaned against the elevator wall. The food in the paper bag smelled divine, but her craving was solely for the man holding it. She clasped her hands together to keep from touching him. “I want to progress tonight.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I’m listening.”

Why was it so challenging to say these things aloud? She was an adult. She should be able to express her needs honestly without fear of being laughed out of the building—or rejected. Lucy fisted her hands and raised her chin. The mirrors in the elevator walls and door reflected a version of her that looked ready to go several rounds on the courthouse floor. “I don’t want to wait anymore. I want everything.”

That predatory stillness rolled over him and his eyes seemed to flare with barely banked heat. “Bite-size steps are the smart option.”

“Nothing about this is smart, and I think we both know that.” Last night had made her skittish in a way she hadn’t expected, and if she was shrewder and less stubborn, she would have called the whole thing off as a result. Instead she was pushing them toward something neither could take back.

The elevator door opened and she wasted no time walking into the hall and down to her door. There were only four apartments on this floor, each occupying their respective corner of the building. Hers faced southeast, so she often woke to the early morning sunlight streaming through her windows. At least on the days she wasn’t up before dawn.

She unlocked the door and held it open for Gideon. He stopped just inside the entranceway, barely leaving room for her to slide inside behind him. She tried to see the place through his eyes. The open floor plan showcased the big floor-to-ceiling windows. The kitchen lay just to the right of the front hall, the white cabinets set off with little turquoise handles she’d found online. The living room contained a decent-size TV that she rarely used and two short couches arranged in a loose V. Her cat, Garfunkel, lifted his head and gave Gideon a death stare.

Gideon moved to the kitchen counter—white marble shot through with pale gray—and set the bag of food on it. He turned and crossed his arms over his chest. “Why the change of pace?”

“Maybe I just want you.” It was the truth, but not the full truth.

He shook his head. “Honesty, Lucy.”

Why had she agreed to that particular term? She pulled at the hem of her fitted blue dress. “I’m nervous. Last night was good, but I didn’t expect that level of reaction, and I’m afraid if we don’t get it over with, I’m going to change my mind.”

“Get it over with,” Gideon murmured. “Sex isn’t something you ‘get over with.’ If you think of it that way, there’s a problem somewhere.”

A problem he was determined to fix if the expression on his face was anything to go by. She sliced her hand through the air. “No problem. That’s not what I meant at all. My issue is that the anticipation, the will-we-or-won’t-we, is driving me nuts. I want to rip it off right now—like a Band-Aid.”

He stared at her for a long moment and then burst out laughing. “A Band-Aid. Fuck, woman, you really are going to kill me.” He ran a hand over his face. “The anticipation is meant to be enjoyed.”

She could think of a lot of words to describe how she felt standing in her apartment with Gideon and knowing they were alone and could do what they wanted for hours. Enjoyment didn’t top the list. Her body was too hot, her lungs too tight, her core aching from need. But she knew that look on his face. If she didn’t do something rash, he was going to put the brakes on and sit her down and coax her to talk through it. For someone with such a ruthless reputation, Gideon was overwhelmingly careful with her. She knew why—he had residual guilt over not telling her immediately about Jeff’s cheating ways. But she didn’t care about any of that right now.

All she cared about was getting through this interaction so she could go back to breathing normally again.

Before she could talk herself out of it, Lucy unzipped the side of her dress and slid it off. She didn’t look at him as she kicked the silky fabric to the side. If she thought too hard about the fact that she stood in front of him in only a pair of nude-lace panties, she might die on the spot.

A second passed. Another.

Still, he didn’t say anything.

What is he doing?

Probably looking for a way to gracefully exit that wouldn’t have her throwing herself from the nearest window. Stop that right now. She was stronger than this. Lucy looked good. She ate relatively well and hit the gym at least three times a week. Last night Gideon’s physical reaction had proved that he’d wanted her. He might not have taken his release, but he wasn’t remotely unaffected.

So why was he standing there without saying a word?

Stop waiting for him to make the first move.

Do it yourself.

Gathering her courage, she lifted her head and looked at him. Her first step took more effort than she could have dreamed, and the intense look on his face didn’t help her any. He held himself perfectly still, every muscle coiled. Though, for the life of her, she couldn’t tell if it was to keep from jumping her or to stop himself from fleeing.