The Edge of Forever

Her side of the bed was still slightly warm, and he rolled over, burying his face in her pillow until every part of his body ached to be with her. Why did it have to be so hard? Why couldn’t it be easy to be with the woman he wanted?

Because every time you look at her, touch her, kiss her, you’ll think of Jon and the way you’re betraying him.

God, what she must think of him right now. Blake threw the covers off and stood. He didn’t bother with his robe or slippers as he slipped out of his room and made his way down the hallway to Poppy’s. The door was cracked, and he saw her body huddled in the center of the bed.

He placed his hands on the doorframe and watched her, knowing he should go to her, hold her, and tell her what they had done was good and right. He wanted to, itched to do that, but he was weak and a coward and didn’t move. Just as he turned to leave, her soft whimper stopped him.

Blake rubbed the center of his chest as his heart started to clench painfully. The sound of her crying felt like a bullet to his chest. He pushed the door open and stepped inside. When he reached the edge of her bed, he could see her body shaking under the sheets. Her eyes were shut tightly, and she had yet to notice his presence. Not worrying about anything but the woman before him, Blake slipped into the bed and pulled her to him.

A small sound of surprise escaped her, but then she molded her body as close to him as she could get.

“I’m so sorry, Blake. I don’t want to ruin what we have. I don’t want to lose you.” Her tears were hard and wracked her body, so he held her tighter.

“Shhh, I’m not going anywhere.” He kissed the top of her head and knew there was no way he could give her up. “I’m not going to let you go, Poppy.”

She half laughed, half sobbed. “I hope not, Blake, because I don’t want you to let me go.”Chapter 14One week laterPoppy brought her sandwich to her mouth and took a big bite. Her focus was on the man across the room with his nose buried in a book. It was slightly humorous that he sat there so serious, like he worked out the world’s problems. He shifted in his seat, and the long-sleeved dress shirt he wore stretched across his chest.

Lord, it should be illegal for a man to look that good. The light-blue button-down shirt did nothing to hide his raw physique. Since they had sex seven days ago, they had talked… a lot. It wasn’t just about Jon and their past. They also talked about plans for the future.

It was strange sitting here, knowing she had been intimate with Blake. The butterflies in her belly refused to relent, and the excitement that the black cloud that had hung over her head for so long dissipated had her smiling more than she had in a very long time.

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s rude to stare?” Blake kept his head lowered when he lifted his eyes to her. God, did he not know how incredibly distracting it was when he looked at her over the rim of his glasses? The smirk he graced her with let her know he was teasing.

“I wasn’t staring.” Poppy looked down when she felt heat rise to her face. His deep chuckle had her looking at him and smiling.

“Yeah, okay.” He leaned back in his chair and linked his fingers behind his head. The muscles in his biceps bulged and flexed, showing all his raw masculinity. “Come here.” His voice dropped lower, and instantly her nipples beaded. When she didn’t move right away, he slowly leaned his forearms on the desk and stared at her. “Poppy, come here.” She rose slowly and walked over to him, anticipation beating through her veins like a tribal drum and rivaling her erratic heart.

When the edge of the desk met the front of her thighs, she stopped and swallowed. The level look he gave her spoke so loudly that his unspoken words screamed around her. His look was pure, unadulterated lust, and it was directed right at her.

“You know how I knew you kept staring at me?” His low-pitched question helped to clear some of her arousal.

She had no answer and shook her head. Why is it suddenly so hot in here?

“Because I was staring at you.” This time, there was no teasing note in his words, and a shiver worked through her. “Now, come here, Poppy.” Suddenly, she regretted wearing heels, because it seemed so much harder to walk in them.

When she stood right in front of him, she tried to slow her breathing, but just being near him had her inhaling the scent that was uniquely Blake. He leaned back in his chair and spread his legs slightly apart. Her pulse pounded in her ears and drowned out every other sound.