Chapter 15 Paige
PAIGE
I felt as if I was floating. My body felt as light as a feather. I went to the bathroom to clean up, and when I returned to the living room, Will asked, “Let’s order food. What do you want to eat?”
“Hmmm… hot detective with a side of fries?”
Will laughed, shaking a finger. “Paige.”
Damn, I liked how he said my name. It sounded sexy and naughty and affectionate all at the same time.
“I want a chicken salad.”
Will tapped the screen of his phone a few times, and then shoved it in his back pocket. His shirt rode up a few inches, and I caught a glimpse of those hot-as-sin abs.
I sashayed to him, and I swear, the extra sway in my hips was not intentional…
just my body’s reaction to Will’s scorching-hot gaze.
I stopped right in front of him, rising on my tiptoes to plant a kiss straight on his lips.
I smiled against his mouth when he gripped my hips and pulled me flush against him.
I took that as a green light to touch him, but I was a good girl and kept my grabby hands just on his arms and shoulders.
“You’re a good guy,” I murmured.
“Why is that a surprise?”
“Because you’re hot as sin.”
“And those are mutually exclusive things?”
“Usually. And when I met you, I don’t know… you were so full of swagger that I sort of assumed you were…”
“A jerk?”
I shook my head. “You came to buy an alarm with me. Jerks don’t do that. I just didn’t know what to make of you.”
“Now you do?”
I lifted one shoulder, working as much sass into the gesture as possible. “You’re still on probation, but I like what I see.”
Will grinned. “On probation, huh? I’ll take the bait.”
The bait? What? I was just teasing him.
About half an hour later, our food delivery arrived. I made to go to the door, but Will got there first, so instead I went to the kitchen. My heart was thumping wildly, and I wasn’t sure why. Was it because I had this sexy guy here with me?
I took the food out of the carton and laid it on plates, and then we ate at the small table, like that evening when he installed the alarm. We started talking about my job again.
“So how many letters of intent do you need?” he asked after I’d explained the process.
“Until I’ve reached 50 percent of the budget.”
“But you said your boss only needs 25 percent.”
I was mildly surprised that Will was showing real interest, not just making small talk.
“I know how my boss and his bosses think. The project is risky enough that they won’t green light it with just 25 percent. With 50 percent, though, they won’t discard it as quickly. And if I burn the midnight oil on this, I might be able to kick-start it by the end of the year.”
“This project means a lot to you.”
“Each project does.”
“Do you always take on the most challenging ones?”
I considered this. “Lately, yes.”
After we finished dinner, we took our plates into the kitchen.
We were side by side at the counter as I washed my hands, but then Will slipped behind me.
For a brief moment, he wasn’t touching me at all, and then his hands were on my thighs, drawing small circles.
At least he was only teasing my outer thighs. Whew.
Wait… I spoke too soon. Daredevil that he was, he slipped one hand to my inner thigh. “You’re distracting me,” I muttered.
“You didn’t mind before.” He pushed my hair aside, kissing between my shoulder blades.
“Mmm… I didn’t. In fact, it was so worth it that I can’t wait to get upset again so you can distract me.”
He turned me around.
“I’d like for us to set some rules, Paige,” he whispered against my lips. “This thing we’re doing here… I don’t know what it is, but I’d like for us to be exclusive.”
My heart felt like it was about to burst. I rose on my tiptoes and bit his earlobe gently. When I faced him again, I realized he wanted me to say it out loud. He swallowed, his gaze hard, and… a little vulnerable. I’d only seen him this open and raw when he walked his sister to the altar.
“Of course I want us to be exclusive.”
His expression didn’t soften. “Are you sure? Don’t say it if you don’t mean it. I know some like to have open relationships and whatever they come up with to excuse cheating, but I’m old-fashioned that way.”
“I meant what I said,” I assured him. I placed my hands on his chest, rubbing soothingly with my thumbs. “I don’t want to see anyone else. I wouldn’t have let you…. I don’t do…. I’m old-fashioned too, I guess.”
Will relaxed, finally. I felt the tension leave his muscles, saw his eyes soften.
He took both my hands in his, kissing my palms, then the backs of my hands.
The chaste kisses touched me deeply. I wrestled with my thoughts, then decided to voice them.
Will wouldn’t laugh or tell me I was overthinking things.
I thought he’d appreciate it. Hoped, at least.
“Thank you for having this conversation out in the open and not leaving me guessing or doubting. I appreciate it.”
I had the strangest realization that I wouldn’t have to pretend with Will.
Will brought my hands back to his chest, then leaned in to capture my mouth.
God, the man could kiss. He was an expert.
Each kiss felt different, better… hotter.
How could he turn me on just by kissing me?
I had no clue, but I planned to enjoy it thoroughly.
I wished he wasn’t keeping my wrists hostage though.
I wanted to touch and explore. Oh, wait.
I wasn’t supposed to, right? Hmm… that didn’t sit well with me.
He deepened the kiss, and my hips arched on pure instinct.
I slammed right into Will’s hips, and discovered that he was hard.
Will groaned, a delicious sound I ate up.
I wanted to lure more sounds like that out of him.
I was so greedy that it scared me. I’d always been the ten-dates-before-sex kind of girl, but with Will…
I didn’t feel the need to be on the defensive.
He let go of my hands, instead putting his hands on the counter. Well… slamming them actually.
“Jesus, woman. You drive me crazy.”
“I love that I do.”
“How often will you be here?”
“A few times a week. My family and I are taking it in shifts to oversee the handyman.”
“When are you free this week?”
“Thursday. Why?”
“I want to take you out.”
My stomach cartwheeled. “Okay. What are we doing?”
“Dinner.”
“Dinner it is. So… we’ve talked about my day, but not yours. How was it?”
He stiffened a little, straightening.
“I don’t like to talk about my work.”
“Umm… then how will I know when you need to be distracted?”
He placed his hands on the counter at my sides, leaning in until he spoke against my lips. “I’ll tell you.”
He feathered his lips on my cheek, and I suspected he was using his exquisite seduction skills to avoid talking about work, keeping me at bay. My hunky detective was putting up a protective shell. He would be a tough nut to crack… but I was nothing if not persistent.
When we came up for air, I debated pushing the issue, but I let it slide instead, because… well, this was new, and my pushy tendencies tended to alienate people, and I really, really didn’t want to alienate Will.
“You’re amazing, you know that?”
I relished the compliment but felt compelled to point out something.
“I think my skimpy outfit may cloud your judgment.” I was wearing one of my high school dresses again. I had to bring some clothes here.
“Trust me, your outfit affects many body parts, but not my mind.”
I felt my cheeks heat up. Will grinned.
“I made you blush.”
“You do that a lot.”
“You look sexy in this dress. So sexy, in fact, that I just want to keep you here so no one else sees you.”
“Like I would walk out like this. Don’t worry. My brother was the only one who saw me.” On a whisper, I added, “I like that you’re possessive.”
“Why are you whispering?”
“Because I don’t know if I should admit it. It might enable you.”