Page 17

We might have to talk about the kiss tomorrow,I think, wondering how Nelly will act by morning.
For me, I know I have to stop thinking about it.It’s the only way I will stop myself from kissing her again.
I stroke my hands over my hair and massage the back of my neck as I feel my face starting to heat up. After exiting Nelly’s room, I return to mine, flop onto my bed, and try to catch some sleep.
I toss and turn in bed for a long time, unable to relax even while trying to control my breathing.
What if this is a mistake?
Fooling everyone into thinking we’re in love might be easy, but what about how I really feel?
With a deep sigh, I sit up and bury my head in both hands.Looks like it will be a while before I can sleep, so I leave my room with my laptop and settle down to work in the living room.
After brewing some coffee, I focus on work for a few hours, checking my stocks, and any updates from the teams working on my newest projects. The caffeine gives my nerves a buzz and keeps me focused for most of the night.
I’m feeling relaxed after midnight, and when I finally feel drowsy, I head for the couch in the living room.
The next time I open my eyes, Nelly’s peering down at me, her brows squished together in a confused look, her scent enveloping my senses.
“What the …” I gasp from the shock of seeing her leaned over me, and I jerk upright on the couch. Nelly gasps too, backs away, and nearly stumbles down to the ground before I catch her wrist and tug her back to me.
She lands on my chest, her body sprawled halfway over mine. Every muscle in me stiffens, and neither of us moves. My nerves come alive with a force greater than before, and I know it’ll take more than coffee to calm me down this time.
I love the feel of her soft body over mine and the light thud of her heart as her chest rests on me. Nelly recovers quickly, flattening her palms on my chest and pushing away from me.
“You scared me to death.” I sit upright before I clear my throat.
“You kept murmuring in your sleep.” She shoots one eyebrow up as she props a hand on her hips. Her silk nightwear is a beige tone that blends right with her creamy skin.
A lump forms in my throat, and I force my gaze away from her, ignoring the greedy roar of blood in my veins, pulsating and urging me to take in more of her.
“What did I say?” I plant my feet on the ground so I can get off the couch.
“You kept calling my name. Nellyyyyyyyy.”
Oh no!She eyes me slowly, and the trail of her gaze leaves a waking fire in my loins.
“That’s not possible,” I lie, recovering quickly as heat scalds the back of my neck again.
“Really?” she insists. “Could have sworn you said my name.”
Nelly turns away from me then and heads over to the kitchen. “Coffee?”
Nelly looks calm compared to how I feel as my eyes scan over her face. Only the hint of crimson on her cheek as she turns away makes me suspect she feels jittery too.
“I’ve had enough,” I answer dryly, treading into the kitchen after her because I want to look at her some more. She still has a light flush on her skin as she pours herself a mug. I wonder if she wants to talk about the kiss.
Her hair’s twisted into a bun, but some strands fall to the sides of her face in curls that make my fingers itch with the urge to touch her.All of her.My heart picks up that familiar thudding pace again, and I can’t seem to calm down my racing pulse.
I lick my lips, and her mug pauses mid-way to her mouth. She looks at me over the rim of the mug, and I suddenly feel nervous because her eyes are too intense.
“We should … uhm …” I clear my throat, then muster the courage to meet her eyes. “Last night was a slip, Nelly.”
“I was going to say the same things.” Her eyes widen as she lowers her coffee mug to the table. “If we’re going to do this successfully, then we should stick to the agreement. Last night can’t happen again.”
“Yes, absolutely,” I agree in a rush.
An awkward silence hangs between us before I lift a hand to rub the back of my neck.