Redesigning Fate (Revive #1) - A. M. Wilson Page 0,29

I pack my workbag and head down to the lobby to meet Elias.

He’s hard to miss; his tall, muscular frame folded as he leans over the receptionist desk talking with Katie. He’s resting casually on the desk, looking comfortable.

There is history between them; I’m just not sure what kind.

Ugh! The green monster roils through me, a grate of red-hot coals starting a slow burn in my gut. I straighten my shoulders and take a calming breath before starting in their direction. Elias asked me out on another date; he shouldn’t get upset if I interrupt their little conversation.

“Hey you ready to go?”

Elias straightens at the sight of me, sending a smile my way that goes straight to my heart like a bullet.

“Hey, you. Yeah, I’m ready. See ya, Katie,” he says, waving in her general direction as he turns towards me. He places his hand on the small of my back, ushering me towards the door.

“How are your ribs feeling today? Did you take any of that medicine the doctor prescribed for the pain?” The concern in his voice is palpable. His sweet thoughtfulness surprises me—the words at odds with his appearance. He looks rougher around the edges than the gentle man he’s proving himself to be, but the glowing neon Danger! sign is still constantly present in the back of my mind.

“They’re sore,” I tell him before I let the silence linger too long. “I didn’t take the pills this morning because I wanted to have a clear head for work.”

“Do you have them with you, or should we swing by your apartment to get them?”

“They’re in my purse. I was going to take one depending on what we were doing tonight.”

He raises an eyebrow at me. “What does that mean, exactly?”

“I just mean if we are drinking, or operating heavy machinery, I should lay off the painkillers.”

“I have some heavy machinery for you to operate,” his innuendo is clear as he unlocks his truck.

“Well, I don’t necessarily need a clear head for that,” I reply my stomach clenching in response to his suggestion.

“Oh, yes you do,” he growls, “I need you clear headed and sober so you can get the full experience when I touch and torture every single inch of that beautiful body of yours.”

My entire body flushes; the skin from my chest to my hair roots morphing into a deep crimson. My eyes drop to stare at an interesting rock on the pavement. I roll it beneath the sole of my shoe.

“Relax, Marlee. I’d never hurt you. That’s not the plan for tonight. I thought we’d just head to my place to continue where we left off last night. I had some songs I wanted to play for you.” Elias rounds the hood to the driver’s side, and I take a deep, cleansing breath.

“I am relaxed. I’m just…I’ve never done that before.”

“You’re a virgin?” He glances at me sideways as we climb in, trying but failing to hide the slightly stunned look on his handsome face.

“No! I’m not a virgin. I’ve...never done the whole one night stand thing.” If my body could get any redder, I’m certain it just darkened three shades.

Abruptly, he hits the breaks and slams the shifter back into park, surprising me. He unbuckles his seatbelt, twists his body across the center console to find my face, and pulls me to look at him.

“If you think for one second that all I want from you is one night, you are mistaken. We’ve hardly known each other a second but let me make my intentions clear. I’m not going to put a number on how long I want you,” he pauses, his thumbs stroking the sensitive flesh of my cheeks, his long fingers tangling with my hair lying on my neck. “I’m drawn to you. I want you as mine, your body as mine and only mine. I’m a man who knows what I want. I go after what I want. And what I want is to know everything there is to know about you.” His eyes bore into mine, once again reminding me of depthless pools of clear blue water.

And I’m drowning.

“I never said I only want one night. And I’m not going anywhere until I get what I want.” He turns back into his own seat, shifts into drive, and pulls smoothly out of the lot. He’s effectively stunned me into silence.

I wish I could tell him, I want that too.

In the bright daylight, Elias’s building looks even more astounding than I

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