Page 54

“Do what? Demand respect? Expect accountability?”

Alex shook her head. “No, I can do that, always, that’s not…you have this ability to turn the tables on me. I’m not incontrol of this, even when I think I am. You have this way of letting me think I’ve got the upper hand but really, the entire time…it’s you.”

Morgan smiled knowingly.

“It’s why you stand out. You’re calm and quietly confident, self-aware. It’s disarming, and attractive, and…”

“Alex, just say you’re sorry.”

Alex exhaled and settled herself again.

“I’m sorry, Morgan. I’m sorry that I pushed you away. I’m sorry that I’ve been lying to myself and creating this space between us that has ultimately only made things worse, and I’m sorry that you bore the brunt of that rejection. I like you, Morgan. There’s something there between us, I know it, and I want it, I just don’t know how…”

“To navigate it, yes, you’ve said that, and the thing is Alex, nobody does know. It’s a guessing game for everyone. There are no rule books and explanations you can study. This isn’t something you can control, and as for perfection that you insist on in every other aspect of your life, you’re not going to get it in a relationship. Especially a relationship with me. So, just breathe and enjoy it for what it is. Can you do that?”

Alex took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly, nodding. “Yes.”

“Good, now, what do you plan to do to make up for it? Because I think that should be your punishment.” Morgan smiled slowly.

“I guess that’s only fair.” Alex returned the smile.

Reaching for her drink again, Morgan watched Alex intently, intrigued with what it was that she had planned for her now.

“I find myself immersed in thoughts of you, of what I want to do to you, but more than that, what I am prepared to let you do with me.”

Instead of picking up the glass, Alex dipped her fingers into it and fished out the perfectly round ball of ice. It was large enough to almost fill the glass and fit perfectly into Alex’s hand.

“I’ve never met anyone like you, Morgan. It scares me,” she reiterated.

“I’m not asking you to marry me, Alex. I’m asking for consistency.” Morgan reached out, stroking the bowed head in front of her.

Alex looked up at the touch, and the words. “Okay.”

With Morgan’s attention acutely on her, she licked the ice and removed any trace of the scotch it had been swimming in, rolling it around in her fingers until she’d covered every inch of it with the heat of her skin, leaving it wet and shiny.

“Do you want me to stop?” Alex asked before she took things way past the point of no return.

“No, I don’t want you to stop. I want you to do all manner of indecent things to me, that I’d never considered before, and then I want to do it all again tomorrow, and the next day.”

“I want that too.”

“Then you’d best make up your mind what you’re doing with that ice before it melts completely.”

Alex smirked, enjoying the way that Morgan stood her ground with her.

“Open wider.”

Alex smiled when Morgan silently sidestepped, and then gasped as the ice made contact with her hot skin.

“Just how indecent do you want me to be?” Alex asked, keeping eye contact as the ice ball rolled, water melting and running down Alex’s arm and Morgan’s thighs.

“Very.” Morgan managed before heat replaced the ice. Alex’s mouth kissing, her tongue licking. There was a clink sound when Alex dropped the ice back into the glass and pulled Morgan closer. “Really indecent,” Morgan said before her senses left her.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

This bed was like a dream, Morgan thought as she rolled over and let her face squish against the soft pillows. She had no idea of the time. The room was dark with the curtains pulled closed, something she should consider buying for her flat, for when she got home from a night shift and the sunlight kept her awake for too long.

It had been late when she’d finally left Alex’s bed and climbed into her own. There was a part of her that had wished she could have stayed, but she’d been told quite firmly that no, that wouldn’t be happening.