Page 79 of Middle Ground

Like with everything, Meyer gives as good as she gets. The kiss is bruising. We both try to get as close to each other as physically possible.

I’m not sure what this means.Ifit means anything. I’m too chicken to ask. Scaring Meyer away is the last thing I want to do, but I’m afraid that’s where I’m headed if I try to get her to examine this too closely. So I won’t. Instead, I just lean into the kiss.

My hands find the backs of her thighs, and I scoop her up. She clings to me, never breaking the kiss. A stapler and a handful of pens fall to the floor when I set her on top of the desk. From this position, I have easy access to what lies beneath her skirt, and I take full advantage.

My palm skates up her thigh until I reach her underwear. She grips my shoulders as she bites her lip in anticipation.

“Can I?” I ask.

She nods. “God,yes.”

The desperation in her voice nearly does me in. I start rubbing circles over her clit through the material of her panties, and she tips her head back. Then I slide the material aside and begin to tease her entrance. She shifts forward on the desk, trying to get closer, but I grab her hip with my other hand, holding her in place.

“Not so fast, gorgeous. You’re not in charge right now.”

Meyer tries to protest, but it quickly turns into a gasp when I insert a finger. She feels so good like this, but she feels even better when she’s wrapped around my cock.

I pump my finger a couple times, watching the way her eyes close and her lips part. She looks so pretty like this, preparing to let go and chase her release. I want to savour this moment. Instead, I pull away entirely, stepping out from between her legs.

Her eyes pop open. “Wait,” she says, reaching for me, “where are you going?”

“Back to work.”

Her jaw drops. “You’re just going to leave? In the middle of that? I wasn’t done.”

I shrug. “I said I was going to punish you. Now be a good girl and eat the lunch I brought you.”

I make sure she’s watching when I slip my finger in my mouth, sucking off the taste of her. And then I grin to myself on my way out the door as she curses in frustration behind me.

“You’re fucked.”

I scowl. “And you’re not helping.”

Wells chuckles through the phone. He stayed for a couple days after the fire, but then he had to get back to the city. It was just as well, since I barely had any time to spend with him. I think he mostly hung out at the restaurant with Pippa.

“I’m just saying! I haven’t seen you this gone over a girl in, well, ever. So again, you’re fucked.”

The back of my head thumps against my headboard as I shut my eyes. “I am, aren’t I?”

That kiss with Meyer earlier today has solidified what I’ve been suspecting for a while, and that is the fact that I am so into her, it’s not even funny. It’s not just about the sex either. That is undoubtedly a plus, but everything about her draws me in.

“You are,” Wells confirms. “Now the question is, what are you going to do about it?”

I sigh. “I don’t know. She keeps pushing me away. I’m afraid if I try too hard, she’ll run for good.”

“Just be patient. Let her come to you, but be there when she does.”

At this, I chuckle. “When did you become some kind of relationship expert?”

“Because Ilisten.”

I know what he’s saying is right. It took Meyer long enough to warm up to the idea of me being her business partner, let alone the idea of me being more. So I can be patient.

“How are things with the inn?” he asks, changing the subject. “Sorry I couldn’t stick around to help.”

“It’s alright. Pippa’s brother and some of his friends fixed up the storage room for us. It’s almost like the fire never happened.”

“But…”