Megumi filled me in on her growing relationship with her blind date, and Will told us about his adventures at Ikea as he and his girlfriend worked on filling their loft apartment with do-it-yourself furniture.
I was glad I had my spa day to talk about.
"We're heading to the Hamptons this weekend," Megumi said as we returned to the Crossfire.
"My guy's grandparents have a place out there.
How cool is that?" "Very."
I passed through the turnstiles beside her.
"I'm jealous you'll be able to get away from the heat."
"I know, right?" "Better than furniture assembly," Will muttered, following a group of people onto one of the elevators.
"I can't wait 'til we're done."
The doors started to close, and then they slid open again.
Gideon stepped into the car after us.
The familiar, palpable energy that always coursed between us hit me hard.
Awareness rippled down my spine and flared outward, sending goose bumps racing across my skin.
The hair on my nape prickled.
Megumi glanced at me, and I shook my head.
I knew better than to look directly at him.
I couldn't be sure I wouldn't do something rash or desperate.
I craved him so deeply, and it had been too long since he'd held me.
I used to have the right to touch him, to reach for his hand, to lean into him, to sift my fingers through his hair.
It was a horrible ache inside me that I wasn't allowed to do those things anymore.
I had to bite my lip to stifle a moan of agony at being this close to him again.
I kept my head down, but I felt Gideon's eyes on me.
I continued talking to my co-workers, forcing myself to focus on the discussion of furniture and the compromises necessary for cohabiting with someone of the opposite sex.
As the car continued its ascent and frequent stops, the number of people in the car dwindled.
I was acutely attuned to where Gideon was, aware that he never took elevators this crowded, suspecting and hoping and praying that he'd just wanted to see me, be with me, even if it was only in this terribly impersonal way.
When we arrived on the twentieth floor, I took a deep breath and prepared to step out, hating the inevitable separation from the one thing in the world that made me feel truly alive.
The doors opened.
"Wait."
My eyes closed.
I was stopped by the softly rasped command.