Beholden by Kris T. Bethke

Author:Kris T. Bethke [Bethke, Kris T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-03-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Wes hadn’t been kidding when he said he was a good cook. Dinner had been fantastic, and he’d even had peanut butter swirl ice cream to feed me for dessert. I insisted on washing the dishes, but Wes dismissed me and shoved everything into the dishwasher except for his state-of-the-art knife, which he wiped clean and put away. He retrieved a couple of bottles of local microbrew and herded me into the living room. We settled on the couch. We started with an entire cushion between us, but without even realizing it, I shifted closer as Wes flipped through TV channels. By the time he settled on something to watch, I was practically leaning on him.

His arm pulled me close. I stiffened, not sure if I wanted this. I mean, I knew I wanted it, but I also knew I was giving Wes mixed signals. Back at the office, I’d insisted I wasn’t that guy. That I didn’t jump into a sexual relationship without knowing the man first. I’d told him that everything was moving too fast for me. But now I was practically sitting in his lap.

His hand cupped the back of my head, his fingers scratching my scalp. I tried not to melt, I really did, but when he leaned in to rumble, “Stop thinking. Just relax,” I did exactly that. Wes made a satisfied sound and settled back further into the corner of the couch until I rested fully against him.

The heat of his body soaked into me. I could feel his heartbeat against the back of my shoulder, feel his breath as it stirred my hair when he exhaled. He was solid and warm, and just sitting quietly with him, letting him hold me, made the tension leech from my body. I closed my eyes and reveled in it. He shouldn’t feel this good. I should be home in my own bed, alone. Only I couldn’t exactly remember why, not with his comforting presence keeping me grounded right here. It felt good and right to be with him like this, but we didn’t know each other and it was too fast to—

“Julian,” Wes murmured in my ear, his voice low and gravelly.

“Hmm?” I cracked open my eyes a fraction, but I stared at nothing. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. If I did, I’d lose this fight with myself.

“You’re overthinking things again.”

I sighed. “Yeah.”

Wes rested his hand against my belly. “Stop it. What does your gut tell you?” He kissed my neck even as he rubbed my stomach. Then he placed his hand on the left side of my chest. “What does your heart say?”

I took a deep breath and faced him. Honesty was best given with eye contact. “My heart still says it’s too fast. But my gut?” I let out a self-deprecating laugh and shook my head. “My gut says I can trust you. And my body, well…” I trailed off, incapable of completing that thought out loud. He hadn’t asked about that, even though the wicked gleam in his eye told me he wanted to know.

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