Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,71

on my thighs as he waits for me to finish.

“I was on a detox cleanse this week.” My voice is soft and purposely low in the hopes he hears anything else and whatever it might be, I’ll go with it.

He sits back, one corner of his lips tipping down. “Why?”

I draw my legs up to my chest and wrap my arms around them. Reed stands and heads over to the kitchen.

I hear the oven open and a dish pulled from the cupboard. A plate put on the counter. Silverware scraping, and I don’t have it in me to turn around and see what he’s doing or get up to help him. I’ll just sit on his couch and act like I didn’t completely ruin our date by passing out on his kitchen floor.

“You didn’t hit your head, thank goodness,” he says from the kitchen. “I was able to slide catch you before that happened. When’s the last time you ate?”

“I had a salad for lunch.”

“And?”

His voice grows closer and I loosen my legs, crossing them on the couch, still not ready to get up.

“A smoothie for breakfast.”

He sits back down on the coffee table holding a plate with chicken, potatoes, and some salad on it, a bottle of water tucked under his arm.

“How many days have you been doing this?”

I peek up. “Five.” My voice is so timid it reminds me of when my dad would hover over me as a teenager and ask me why I snuck out. There was no good answer other than I thought it was a brilliant plan until I slid in through my window to find him on my bed expecting me.

Now it’s Reed waiting for my answer to another brilliant plan that left me dead weight on his kitchen floor.

I watch his hands maneuver the fork and knife like the well-groomed man he was trained to be as a boy. Moments later a fork with chicken on it rests before my lips. “Eat.”

Not about to fight him on this, I open my mouth and take the piece of chicken from the fork, letting him feed me like a child.

“I’m really okay. Let’s eat at the table.”

“You’re not getting off that couch until this entire plate is gone.” He raises his eyebrows daring me to challenge him.

And have a little just-ate belly when I get naked? No thanks. My stomach growls in protest.

I take a few more mouthfuls and say, “Only a few more. Really I’m good.”

“No, I need you to have energy.” He holds a fork full of salad in front of my lips.

Before I can open and accept his offering a drop of salad dressing drips on my blouse. The new expensive blouse I just bought from a boutique I can’t really afford.

“Uh,” the sound escapes me.

“Sorry.” He looks it over. “Let me get something to clean that.”

He stands from the coffee table and I follow him into the kitchen where he has a dishrag ready with the tip wet. I hold my hands out for him to give it to me at the same time his finger moves toward the stain.

Ignoring me, his finger gently touches my shirt, but in order to clean the stain, he needs something to press against. Unless I want his hand under my shirt, which I do, but not necessarily to work out a stain, I need to take the dishtowel from him.

He allows me, and I dab the stain even though I know that the salad dressing will have oil in it and more than likely I’ll never wear this blouse again.

“I’m sorry.” He bites his lower lip and the sight has heat building between my legs.

“It’s okay.” I put the dishtowel on the kitchen counter, giving up hope.

“Can we start over?” he asks, his arms sliding down on either side of my hips.

“Please.” I stare up at him, loving the transformation from timid, unsure eyes to his lust-filled gaze.

“I’ve been wanting you alone for so long, I’m nervous.” His body inches forward and I draw in a breath.

“Are we being honest?” I ask.

“Yes. Nothing you tell me will change the way I feel.”

“I went on the detox cleanse because I’m scared of you seeing me naked,” I say the words fast and in succession as if somehow, they won’t be as embarrassing that way.

Confusion transforms his features and then a tentative smile reaches his lips. “You’re gorgeous, why would you worry about that?” He moves another inch closer and I close my eyes to