My heart drops.
“I deflect flirting all day long, I don’t even notice that I do it. My brothers are the same.”
I frown.
“So, when you told me that I have big blue eyes all those years ago—not that I remember you doing it, by the way—I obviously took it that you were hitting on me . . . and I put a stop to it before it carried on.”
I bite my lip as I listen intently.
“Is that why you’ve been a bitch to me for all these years? To show me that you weren’t flirting?”
“I’ve been a bitch to you because you’re an asshole.”
He drops his head and chuckles.
I find myself smiling too. “Well, it’s true.”
He picks up my hand and links his fingers through mine. “What are your reservations about doing this with me?”
“Well.” I glance over at him. “Don’t you think it’s weird that you’re suddenly attracted to me?”
“Yeah.” He nods. “I do, I can’t explain it.”
I frown again; that’s not what I was expecting him to say.
“I don’t know why this happened but it was instantaneous. I saw you dancing in your red netball dress and I got hard.”
“What?”
“I have a confession.”
“Such as?”
“I might . . .” He pauses as if choosing his words carefully. “Watch the footage of you dancing in the photocopying room from a month or so ago . . . on repeat.”
“Huh?”
He picks up my hand and kisses the back of it. “Let’s just say, you rang my bell.”
My mouth falls open in surprise as I put the pieces of the puzzle together. “Are you serious?”
He bites his lip to stifle his smile.
“Elliot.” I gasp in surprise.
“I couldn’t help it, you’re just so fucking hot.”
I smirk.
“Do you know how many times I’ve jerked off to that footage?”
I burst out laughing. “What?”
He falls serious once more. “What else, what are the other issues?”
“Well.” I think for a moment. “Why don’t you do relationships?”
“Because I’ve learned not to want more.”
“Why?”
“Because as soon as I openly date someone, it’s all over the tabloids and whoever I’m seeing gets hounded by the press over the impending nuptials. Everything we do is scrutinized and splashed over every headline.”
I listen.
“Do you know how much pressure that puts on a relationship?” he asks.
“I can’t imagine.”
“If I sound cold and detached . . . it’s because I am.”
“Elliot,” I whisper sadly.
He shrugs casually, as if he’s totally at peace with being cold and detached. “I decided about six years ago that I was only going to see people in private and not openly date anyone. That way, there’s no gossip, there’s no paparazzi stories, it’s easier for me this way. And I know that it’s selfish, but it is what it is.”
“What happens when you meet the right girl?”
“I guess I’ll work that out with her when the time comes.”
I smile softly and I bump him with my shoulder. “That’s a good answer.”
“I know.” He bumps me back. “Can we have sex now?”
I giggle in surprise. “No.”
He smiles and puts his head back against the wall. “You know, I was coming over here to seduce you . . . having a heart-to-heart wasn’t on my agenda.”
“I needed to have this conversation.” His answer makes sense and maybe I could deal with this. “Can we just . . . I don’t know, take it slow?”
He turns his head to look at me and lets out a deep exhale. “Not exactly my strong point.”
“Please.” I lean over and kiss him softly. “For me?”
Our kiss deepens and he takes my face in his hands. His tongue swipes through my open lips. We kiss again and again and oh . . . I just love how he kisses me.
He grabs me and pulls me over to straddle him. My hands are in his hair as we kiss, it’s soft and tender and with every lash of his tongue my temperature rises.
I feel his erection as I rock against him.
Oh . . .
I pull back to stare at him. “Slow . . . remember?”
He curls his lip. “You’ve got to be fucking joking me.”
I smile with a wince. “Please.”
“But I’m away for two weeks.”
I have to stop now if I want to be able to, so I stand and pull him up by the hand. “I know.”
He takes me into his arms and kisses me softly. “Remember our deal.”
I smile up at him. “Remind me.”
“No other people.”
“That goes for you too, you know?”
“I know.”
“What are you going to do in New York?”
“Jerk off to your netball dress movie, no doubt.”
I giggle and brush the hair back from his forehead as I stare up at him. “Thanks for coming over.”
He hugs me and we stay in each other’s arms for a moment and he’s so different to what I thought.
“I’m really fucking horny,” he murmurs into my hair.
“Two weeks.” I laugh.