cricked his neck from side to side. That was a new thing too. It was like he couldn’t sit in his own skin. He stood and shook out his legs, as though they were cramped. “This is the thing. You’re smart and creative, and you’ve got these concepts spot-on.” He walked toward me and stood right by the circular pedestal, staring in the mirror in front of me, brushing his hand on my waist, leading up to my shirt and tugging at the end. “It looks great, and I’m not only talking about the shirt.”
Good God, if I’d any doubt that Connor was flirting, I knew he was most definitely flirting now.
And it only continued.
Susan had picked out a cute, delicate white linen skirt. The front stopped at my knee, and the back was longer and flowed out like a little train. His eyes scoured my body as though he hadn’t eaten breakfast and I was his next meal of choice. I felt his presence everywhere. I took back my earlier command on him having an opinion because, now, he had a lot of opinions, and they all were coupled by him touching me.
“Susan …” Connor’s fingers brushed at the hem of the dress.
Goose bumps prickled up my legs, and I held my breath as his fingers inched higher. “I think we should take the hem up.” He lifted the fabric to my thigh, and his fingers were light as a feather, but he might as well have gripped it in a tight vise because I felt his touch everywhere.
His eyes never left mine as he inched it higher. “It’s the first date after all. He’s determined to impress her, and she’s determined to impress him.”
His eyes were filled with lust, and it was as though I could imagine the thoughts running through his head.
My breaths turned shallow, shorter, and I swallowed. I ran my fingertips along my neckline back and forth and forth and back again, and his eyes flashed.
“Maybe she’s not going to give it to him on the first date.” My voice was husky soft. “Maybe shortening this dress will give him the wrong idea.”
“It won’t.” His fingertips inched higher. “And he’ll wait. As long as it takes, he’ll wait until she’s ready.”
Heat flushed my cheeks, and I exhaled a heavy breath. The insane part of my brain wanted him to take me in this room, not caring that Susan was watching. But I knew that was crazy. There was no way I would ever have sex with him, knowing it would lead nowhere.
I bit the inside of my cheek, getting blood to rush there instead of the rush of blood deep in my belly.
“I think it’s fine as is.” I tugged the fabric away from him, frustrated with myself, mostly at wanting him so badly. “Susan, I think this is it.”
But when I turned around, Susan was nowhere to be seen. She must have sensed all the sexual tension that filled every corner of the room.
Connor noticed she was gone too, because he stepped into me and reached for my hand. “Charlie …”
The way he said my name was like heaven and a curse all at once.
When I tried to pull my hand away, he tightened his hold and pulled me closer.
“What?” I snapped, beyond annoyed, mostly sexually frustrated.
“I’m tired.”
“Then, go home. We’re practically done. All we need is a wedding dress. I can …”
“I’m tired of fighting my attraction, my feelings toward you.”
The muscles in my neck tightened, and I simply stared at him.
When I didn’t say a word, he continued, “I know you’re attracted to me too.”
No comment. No words left my mouth because how the hell was I going to deny that?
I was in a zombie-like phase. When he tugged me forward, I moved on his command.
His palm squeezed my hip, and my chest pressed against his. When his eyes flickered toward my lips, my nipples pebbled beneath this shirt that I didn’t own.
“It’s so hard, being near you and not kissing you.” His nose grazed my chin and up my cheek, making it up to my ear. “I’m really trying to fight this … fight this attraction for you. I need you to stop being so damn cute, crazy brilliant, and funny, so I can stop wanting to touch you … everywhere.”
I hadn’t realized I was holding his arms so tightly. I wondered if he would bruise.
I closed my eyes as his lips made it to the crook of my neck. “We