Chapter 13 #2
“It’s freezing outside,” he said.
I moved to the couch and grabbed my coat and hat and started covering up. “We can bundle up, and you have a fireplace out there. Don’t tell me you’re afraid of the cold.”
He was up now, shaking his head as he reached for his coat that was sitting on a barstool in the kitchen, and he slipped into it. He pulled a navy beanie over his head and grabbed the bags filled with desserts off the counter.
“There isn’t much I’m afraid of, Tink. And I like the cold.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. Unlike you, I prefer traditional sports. You’d have a hard time keeping up with me on the slopes.” He glanced over his shoulder and smirked.
Once my gloves were on, my hat secured on my head, and my coat zipped all the way up just beneath my chin, we made our way outside.
Maddox had the fire pit up and blazing within minutes, and we were settled on the cozy L-shaped couch. He handed me a plastic fork and started opening all the containers.
We sampled each one, both agreeing that the peach cobbler was the standout, although the butter cake was a close second. He told me about his family vacations to different ski resorts all over the country, and I could just picture him racing his brother down the mountain.
This side of Maddox was so vulnerable. So genuine and raw. I loved that he trusted me enough to share it with me.
“Show me how to stargaze,” I said, as I tipped my head back to look up at the gorgeous sky.
Twinkling lights sparkled overhead, and he shoved the desserts out of the way, placing the containers in a pile on a side table.
He pulled me close, sliding my body along the couch until my thigh was touching his, and he wrapped an arm around me.
I leaned my head on his shoulder as we both looked up.
“You see the ones that aren’t twinkling?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Those are planets.”
“And the twinkling ones are stars, right?”
“Yep.”
“It’s pretty peaceful under the stars, isn’t it?”
“It is. It’s been a while since I’ve done this.”
I pointed up to the sky at the way the stars were clustered together in a cool pattern. “Look. It’s a crown.”
He chuckled. “I actually see it.”
We sat in silence, staring up at the sky, just the sound of our breaths filling the air around us.
“Do you feel closer to her here?” I asked, keeping my voice low and soft.
He didn’t answer for a few seconds. “I actually do. Thanks for bringing me out here.”
“I’ll meet you under the stars anytime, Bossman.”
We sat there, staring at the sky for the longest time. He’d switched the conversation over to my family. Asking what it was like growing up with all those siblings and laughing his ass off at some of the stories I told him about the things we got into when we were young.
“It sounds like a pretty magical childhood, huh?”
“It was.”
“It explains a lot about you,” he said, turning to look at me. The light from the moon illuminating his handsome face.
“What does it explain?” I smiled up at him.
“Why you’re such a little fairy, spreading all that joy wherever you go.”
I laughed now. “I’m hardly a fairy all the time. But I try to live my best life, you know? But I can be salty, as you’ve seen.”
“I’ve only seen it with me. And you have good reason to be cautious with me. That’s your instincts warning you to put up your guard,” he said, his hand moving around the back of my neck as I pushed up on my knees to face him.
“Or I just feel comfortable enough with you to be myself.”
“I guess the feeling’s mutual because I’ve never talked to anyone about my family. But apparently, I’m a sucker for a fairy.” He smiled, his white teeth on full display, and I think it was the first real smile I’d ever received from Maddox.
“Apparently, I’m a sucker for the broody, mysterious type,” I said, my face inching closer.
“What you see is what you get with me, Georgia.” It was the first time he’d used my real name since the day we’d met.
“What if I like what I see?”
“Impossible.” The pad of his thumb moved across my bottom lip slowly.
“Why?” I whispered.
“For starters, I’m your boss.”
“So. We’ll be a cliché. I’ve been called worse.” I laughed, but his face was hard.
“I’m not that guy, Tink. I don’t do relationships.”
“Well, let’s revisit how my last relationship went. He ended up in bed with my roommate and then held my car hostage. Maybe I shouldn’t be a relationship girl anymore, anyway. Maybe I should switch things up.” I raised a brow.
“I don’t fuck my employees,” he hissed, and I could see how conflicted he was when I searched his gaze.
“Well, relax, Bossman. I don’t fuck people I’m not dating.” I shrugged, but his face was so close, and I just wanted to press my mouth to his.
I could practically taste it.
His eyes widened at what I’d said before zoning in on my mouth again. “Then it’s done. We keep things professional.”
“Well, I mean, I was sitting on your lap in the kitchen, and now we’re all tangled up, looking at the stars, so I’d say we’ve already kind of messed that up.”
“How? We haven’t crossed the line.”
“We are friends, right?”
“I don’t have female friends.”
“You’ve also never talked to anyone about your mother, am I correct? And you got my car back for me, and we’ve shared a lot about our families. Have you done that with another woman?”
“No. Never. My last brief relationship was in college, and she was constantly crying because she said I was, and I quote, ‘a cold, closed-off, cocky bastard.’”
“I agree with all of it aside from the closed-off part,” I said, and we both laughed.
“So, you’re my first female friend, Tink.”
“What did I tell you about being a pro at unusual things? Look at this. Another first.”
“Yeah,” he said, his thumb falling from my mouth, and I could feel him pulling away.
“But,” I said, and his eyes locked with mine. “I don’t think one kiss would hurt. We’re curious. We’re friends. Friends sometimes kiss, right?”
“Do they?” He smirked.
“Sure. I mean, we spend a lot of time together. We’re both single. We’re friends. We know it doesn’t mean anything. It would just be scratching an itch.”
“One time. One kiss,” he said. It wasn’t a question; it was a demand.
“Pucker up, Bossman.”
He didn’t hesitate. His mouth covered mine, and my lips parted with invitation. His tongue swooped in, and it slid slowly in and out with purpose. His hands were everywhere. On my face, my neck, my back. I didn’t know when I’d moved onto his lap, straddling him, because everything was a blur.
I’d never been kissed like this.
And I knew that one time would never be enough.