Page 26 of Take My Name

“Why would I bring another woman to my bed that was meant for my wife and me?”

“Warren…” The sound of my name on her lips sends a jolt of electricity through me, and I hate how badly I crave to hear it again.

Stepping closer, I bring my hand to her face and brush aloose strand behind her ear. “I’d burn it down before I let another woman live here with me.”

Hazel orbs burn through me, but the wheels are turning through her mind.

“You have to move on,” she demands above a whisper. “This ain’t healthy.”

I inch closer again, unable to keep my distance. “I can’t.”

“You deserve to be happy. But that can’t come from me.”

“Then I don’t want it.”

“Warren, please. I don’t wanna hurt you more than I already have. We’re not compatible anymore. Don’t you wanna find?—”

“I’d rather die alone than be with someone else.”

“That’s dramatic.”

“It’s the truth.”

“You’ve not been with anyone else?”

I arch a brow at her question because I thought I was being fucking clear.

“No, Maze. I’ve only been with you. You were my first and last.”

Her throat bobs and my own tightens. We’re a breath apart, but I don’t move, hoping she’ll take the half-inch step to press her lips to mine.

“I should go.”

She moves to step around me, but I grab her arm. “Wait, I owe you lunch.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You don’t wanna see the library?”

That causes her to pause. “Okay, but then I need to get home.”

She’s full of shit, but I don’t call her out on it. Considering she’s the one who sought me out and is on my ass to sign thosepapers, her wanting to bail means being near me is giving her conflicting feelings.

Seven years apart, and I can still tell when her body reacts to mine.

She follows me down to the lower level and when I flick on the lights, there’s a sharp gasp behind me.

“Oh my God, Warren…” She walks ahead of me and toward the floor-to-ceiling shelves I painted a matte black.

Lights on top of each shelf angle down to spotlight the shelves, not that I have any books on there, but for when there are. On the far right is an attached sliding ladder so she could easily reach the top shelf.

“This is stunnin’…I—” She spins around, her mouth agape. “I love it.”

It’s impossible to contain the smile that takes over my face. “I hoped you would. You said you wanted a readin’ nook, but I knew you’d fill that up in no time.”

“It’s a shame it doesn’t get used.”

I point to my small stack of books on the table next to my recliner. “I’m too slow of a reader to fill it. I’ve been workin’ on those for the past year.”