Page 79 of Fallen Empire

“You okay?” I asked, letting the question hang in the air with a teasing tilt.

“I think…” He paused, searching my face. “You might be a little sleep-deprived. Or maybe just delirious.”

“Mm.” I shrugged, brushing past him toward the exit. “Or maybe I’m just finally hungry enough to stop pretending I don’t want things.”

He didn’t answer.

Didn’t follow, either.

Not right away.

I glanced back over my shoulder. “Coming?”

Ben was still standing there, the shadow of something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. Guarded. Confused. Like he wasn’t sure if this was a joke or the start of something dangerous. Something he’d been waiting on for years.

I didn’t wait for him to decide. I just kept walking, smiling to myself the whole way.

I wasn’t fully healed—yet.

But I could turn the handle on the door.

Just enough to let the light in.

And if he was still standing there when I did?

Maybe I’d let him stay awhile.

As I walked toward his car, I realized maybe turning that handle wasn’t just about lettinghimin, it was about lettingmeout.

Out of the cage I’d built for myself. Out of the guilt. Out of the need to always be the strong one. I was starving.

But I wasn’t sure if it was for food, or the need to feast on him. Or have him feast on me.Ravenous.

He caught up easily, his long strides matching mine like they always had. Ben was one of the few men I still had to look up to in heels. Heels I’d gladly have wrapped around his waist while he—

Oh, I know there’s a God now. I prayed for days—for Savannah to live—and He answered. So Lord, if You can hear me again…

I’m about to do someverysinful things.

Please accept my apology in advance.

Just as I reached for the car door, his hand caught the handle first. He opened it for me, pausing, face to face. So close I could smell his cologne. So close my pulse throbbed everywhere at once.

My eyes dropped to his lips. And just like that, I felt the ache between my thighs.

Heavy. Wanting. Ready.

My mouth watered at the thought of having his lips on mine. His tongue swirling, dancing against mine as we warred for control. I didn’t like giving that up.

But Ben? Ben did things to my body no one ever had. Not even—

No.

I wouldn’t think ofhim. Not now. Not when I felt like this.

I forced myself to look away from the lips I was desperate to taste, dragging my gaze up with every ounce of strength I had left.

“Can I just Uber us some food to my place?”