from day one. And you were right. I do need to watch myself sometimes. You’ve reminded me that even though I do this for the freedom of building my dream and sharing it, sometimes I have to compromise.
“But even if I play nice, I don’t play fake to impress people.” He finally turned in his seat, facing her, brown eyes raking over her face. “Did you mean what you said in Zach’s office?”
“Yes.” The answer thrummed in her chest. Every word of it. “No one should force you into a mold. It would break you. It would destroy something amazing.” Her voice caught on the last few words.
He rested a finger under her chin, drawing her face closer. His mouth hovered less than an inch from hers, his voice barely audible. “That would be a shame, wouldn’t it?”
Her breath hitched. He dropped his hand and backed away. Disappointment flooded her.
He was out of the car and standing next to her, door open and hand out, before she could decide if she was irritated or just hurt.
She accepted the offer of help, focusing on how his palm rested firmly against hers. She stepped next to him on the sidewalk and realized they were in front of his building.
“Come on.” He tugged her toward the lobby, nodding at the doorman as he guided her toward the elevator.
“Where are we going?” The ups and downs, the pendulum of emotions, the jittery nature of the conversation, they all made her head spin. She’d missed that about being around him.
He intertwined his fingers with hers, not looking at her. “Presumably, my condo.”
The car slid to a stop, and the doors opened. Her stomach couldn’t take much more of this. “That’s not an answer.”
He stepped into the hallway, trying to tug her after him. “You’ll see.”
She planted her feet. “Tell me now.”
He pulled. “At least let the elevator go so someone else can use it.”
She twisted her mouth in irritation, but stepped into the hallway, doors sliding shut behind her. “I’m waiting.”
His mask crumbled, and worry, uncertainty, and something else she couldn’t read flooded his face. He pulled her closer, fingers still intertwined with hers, his other hand resting on her neck, thumb against her cheek. His quiet voice echoed in the empty hallway. “I’m not keeping quiet to frustrate you, I promise. I want you to know everything about me because I want to know everything about you. I want you in my life. No, that’s not right. I need you. Desperately and completely. I crave your company and your touch.” He dropped his hand, grazing the violet that hung around her neck. “And all of you.”
Her chest throbbed, and she thought it might burst. She could only manage two words in response. “Me too.”
He brushed his lips over hers and pulled away, apprehension and hope on his face. “Yeah?”
She laughed and nodded. It still felt amazing around him. Even more so now. “Yeah.”
He dipped in for another kiss, and she rested a finger on his lips. “But,” she said. Hurt radiated in his eyes. Gawd those eyes. She could get lost in them. “You still haven’t told me what you’re up to.”
“Oh.” He grinned and tugged her ponytail, yanking her head back. He raked his teeth up her throat, stopping at her ear with a nibble. His breath was warm against her skin when he whispered, “Dinner.”
She wanted to sink into the gesture. She could spend forever wrapped in his arms. But she also couldn’t let him get away with such a vague answer. “Dinner in an empty hallway?”
“Dinner at my place.” He tugged her toward the door.
She followed without protesting, curiosity piqued. Besides, she was enjoying his hand on hers and watching the enthusiasm that drove him, so she didn’t want to pull away.
She gasped at the sight that met her when they pushed inside. Against the back balcony sat a table for two, complete with unlit candles, with the twinkling city lights in the twilight of the entire city as the background. “It’s beautiful.”
He kicked the door shut, and it latched behind them. “You definitely are.”
She turned and realized he was watching her, not the scenery. She ducked her head, hoping to hide the heat rushing through her face.
He tilted her head up again, finger under her chin, and pressed his mouth to hers. The kiss was firm, hungry.
She gasped and her lips parted. His tongue darted between her teeth, intertwining with hers. His hand rested at the small of her back,