Alek

The drive back to her place was excruciating. I wanted to spend more time with her, but I also didn’t want to rush anything. Although, at the same time, I did. I’d never been so conflicted before in my entire life. Feeling like I’d known her forever was simply the tip of the iceberg. The more she chose to share with me, the more she drew me in, even if I’d shut her out earlier by not talking about my sister.

I just couldn’t.

It’d been years, but it was still too soon.

I heard her breaths, coming short and quick beside me. Confused as to what had caused the change, I turned my head slowly to face her. What I saw almost made me swerve off the goddamn road. Her eyes locked on me, her tongue darting out every now and again to moisten her lower lip. Oh, how I want to bite that lip. When she saw I was looking, she quickly turned away, flustered she had been caught leering at me.

“Did you want to ask me something, Sara?” I inquired, knowing full well words had indeed escaped her.

“What…uh…no…no,” she stammered. I couldn’t help the laugh which erupted, knowing exactly how she felt. My own heart was hammering away inside me, but I was much better at controlling my emotions. Although, I was finding it difficult the more time I spent around her.

I was going to tease her, but we arrived at her place faster than anticipated. Turning off the engine and exiting the vehicle, I made my way to her, opening her car door before she could do it for herself. Knowing she was annoyingly independent, I thoroughly appreciated she allowed me the simple gesture. It meant something to me. I was a firm believer in men opening doors for women, carrying their things for them and catering to them, within reason. I wanted a woman who could take care of herself but chose to let me do it instead.

Sara was one such woman. She was strong in her own right; I knew that much about her. And I knew it was going to be difficult for her to let me take charge, the small incident with the bill an indication. I didn’t want to boss her around or control her. I only wanted her to listen to me, to allow me to take care of her.

It was hard to explain, but in my head it all made sense. Now I have to find a way to make her understand.

Slowly but surely, she will come around.

I reached for her hand to help her from her seat. Closing the door, we slowly walked to the front of her building, her palm still clasped in my own.

She stopped by the front door, fiddling with her scarf. “Well…” she trailed off, never finishing her thought.

“Well, what?” I pushed, knowing she was a bit flustered once again. I loved the affect I had on her; my ego stroked with every whimsical glance she cast my way.

“Thank you for breakfast, Alek. I’ll talk to you later?” She was asking me, as if she didn’t already know the answer.

“I’m not going anywhere until I make sure you get inside, safe and sound.”

“Alexa is still home. Do you honestly think there is someone hiding in our apartment? With her in there? Because I can tell you this much: she would do some serious damage if anyone tried to break in while she was there.” A small smile played on her lips as she tried to remain serious.

Placing my hand over my heart, I tried pleading, something to which I certainly wasn’t accustomed. “I don’t doubt that, but for my sanity, can you please allow me to walk you inside? I promise I won’t search the whole place like last time.” I winked as I finished my sentence, hoping she would relax a little and give in.

After a few very long seconds, she relented. “Fine.”

“Fine,” I mimicked as I followed her inside. Once we stepped into her place, I had to remind myself of my promise not to go searching through every room looking for intruders. I took one step too many into the living room when I heard a loud rush of air behind me.

It was her.

Her sigh none too quiet.

Clearly, she was frustrated.

Clearly, I was the one trying her patience.

“Alek,” she said in warning.

“Sara,” I replied, my brows knitted close together. My faux seriousness was enough to pacify her, her facial features relaxing almost immediately.

“Well,” she mumbled, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. “Thanks again for the omelet.”

I couldn’t help myself, forever wanting to garner a reaction from her. Taking a step closer, I circled my hand around her waist and pulled her into me. She stumbled before placing her hands on my chest. “There was coffee, as well,” I joked, leaning down until my lips were dangerously hovering over hers.

Her breath fanned my face, warm and sweet. So enticing.

“Thank you for the coffee,” she panted, our closeness causing her quick breathing.

My hand tightened, bunching her shirt in my fingers. “And there was toast.” My tongue licked at her bottom lip, teasing the hell out of both of us. If I wasn’t careful, I would be the one walking away tortured and bruised.

Her gasp almost undid me, inhaling a piece of my soul as she swallowed her breath.

Her words were soft, like a whisper in the wind. “Thank you for the toast.”

Since I couldn’t think of anything else we had eaten, I closed the remaining distance between us, pulling her so close her breasts touched my chest. I tangled my hand in her long hair, gripping it so she couldn’t move. When my lips finally descended onto hers, the mixture of our breaths fueled our rush of desire.

I knew I should have just walked her inside, said my goodbyes then left. But something about her always messed with my reason, and I was treading dangerous territory lately. Her small moans, her need to devour me, and her willingness to give herself over to me in that moment were winning out over any amount of sensibility I should have possessed. Her tongue stroked mine, dancing and playing, until all of my thoughts were of getting her naked and fucking her senseless.

We were so caught up in our rapture, neither one of us heard when Alexa came into the room. I wasn’t sure how long she’d been standing there, but once she made a small coughing noise, we broke apart.

Instantly.

Regretfully.

Sara seemed to be somewhat embarrassed, but me? I couldn’t give a shit. I didn’t care who saw what the woman reduced me to. Nothing more than an overactive hormone.

“Sorry to interrupt. I just need to get a drink,” Alexa whispered as she brushed past us and walked toward the kitchen. I looked down to see Sara’s reaction but she was watching her roommate, waiting for her to get whatever she needed and leave us. Alone. To continue torturing one another.

“Continue.” Her best friend laughed as she walked back down the hall, disappearing into her bedroom.

Sara locked her fingers behind my neck, caressing the back of my head. Pulling me toward her again, I knew exactly what she wanted. But I was done. Her friend interrupting us was exactly what needed to happen; otherwise, we would’ve been there all goddamn day. As much as I didn’t want to leave her, I actually had some shit I had to take care of.

Unlocking her fingers and taking a few steps back, I reached for the door handle behind me. “What time will you be home from work tomorrow?”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because someone has to be here when the alarm company installs the system.”

She furrowed her brows and pursed her lips, clearly not happy with my answer.

“Alek, I told you—” she started to say, but I cut her off immediately.

“Don’t even try it. You’re not going to give me a hard time about this. Your safety is my number one priority. Plus, it’ll ease my mind tremendously.” I reached out and grabbed her hand, softly running my thumb over the top of it. “You don’t want me to worry every second of the day, do you? And you want your friend to be safe, as well?” I knew I wasn’t playing fair, but whatever it took. Right?

I could see the struggle happening within her. She didn’t want me to purchase something she surely thought was unnecessary and elaborate. But she was also contemplating the safety issue, knowing full well the alarm would put her own mind at ease. Just when I thought she was going to argue with me again, she huffed out a pent-up breath and simply replied, “Fine. I’ll make sure someone is here so they can install it. Happy?”

“Very. Thank you.” I took one more look around her living room/kitchen before locking eyes on her once more. “Okay, I’ll give you a call tomorrow to see how everything went.” Leaning in, I gave her a quick kiss before opening her door and disappearing down the hall.

I fought every urge I had not to run back in there and throw her down on the couch and take what was mine. My hand shot right to my pants, trying to calm the raging effect she had on me.

Soon.

I would finish what we’d started very soon.