Page 83 of The Virgin Romance Novelist Chronicles
The smile that crossed his face told me he wasn’t truly sorry, which only confused me even more.
He reached under his pillow and pulled out the remote control and then turned on the TV. He rested his head against mine as his arm pulled me in close to his body. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t have to—his lips had literally done the talking for him.
For the life of me I couldn’t figure out Henry’s motives or what he was planning on doing with the situation he just brewed between us, but after the conversation we’d had about being together and probably the most amazingly fantastic kiss I’d ever experienced, I was more confused than ever.
But damn was I satisfied.
As the TV played in the background, I thought about everything between Henry and me. Was this really happening? Were we really crossing the line of friendship?
I felt him drift off to sleep while he held on to me, so I planned my escape as I turned the TV off and lay in his bed, in his embrace, thinking what tomorrow would bring.
I felt awkward. I didn’t know what to say to him, what to do. Did we ignore what happened and move on our merry way, or did we talk about it in the morning while enjoying a cup of coffee together?
Heat blazed through me from the thought of having that conversation. There was no way I would be able to do that. I was too much of a wuss.
Instead of staying the night with Henry, I slowly crept out of his bed and covered him up with his blankets. Before I left, I looked at him and studied his handsome face. I’d always crushed on him, big time, but I’d always believed we were better off friends. He was my best friend in the whole world and I wouldn’t give that up for a crush. I never wanted to lose him.
Once I left his room, I started thinking about his intention behind the kiss. Why would he do that and risk everything we had together? Was he really a cherry chaser like Delaney said?Is that all he wanted me for?That would devastate me if he was.
I went back to my room and shut my door quietly, not to wake Henry. I pulled out my Kindle and started reading to clear my mind. I needed to get lost in thoughts other than my own. I drifted off to sleep that night, ignoring the pressing feeling building in my chest and the despair that was prickling my heart. Henry and I had crossed a line tonight that I was pretty sure would have a huge impact on our friendship in the future.
The next morning, I avoided him at all costs. Usually we ran into each other in the bathroom or he would come in my room while I was doing my makeup and check up on me, but that didn’t happen. We kept our distance and that gnawing feeling grew bigger with every minute we weren’t talking to each other.
I dressed in a high-waisted black pencil skirt and polka-dot silk top and paired it with black heels. My hair was in waves this morning—thank you, curling iron—and I was wearing my signature red lipstick. I had no clue why I got all dressed up for work, since my coworkers were a bunch of furballs, but getting dressed in what I considered my power-dressing outfit made me feel better about myself.
Because Delaney was at Derk’s last night, it was just Henry and me in the apartment, making it that much more uncomfortable.
I walked into the kitchen while buttoning my shirt up, deciding if I could get away with two or three undone buttons, when I spotted Henry leaning against the counter in the kitchen, dressed in one of his immaculate suits and drinking a cup of coffee.
“Good morning, love,” he said causally over his mug of coffee, as if he hadn’t given me the most passionate kiss of my life last night.
“Good morning,” I replied while looking at the ground and into my purse. I was ready to get the hell out of the apartment, even if it meant getting to work early.
Henry came up to me from behind and placed his hands on my hips. He lowered his head to my ear, sending chills up my spine.
“You look beautiful, love.”
Every bone in my body turned into limp noodles as I tried to calm my raging heart that was punching a steady rhythm against my rib cage. What was happening to me?
“Thank you,” I squeaked out.
“Turn around,” he demanded, and I did, not even questioning it.
With a tilt of my chin, he had me staring into his beautiful eyes, wishing I could read his mind.
“I’m sorry if I caught you off guard last night, but I’m not sorry for what I did. I couldn’t help myself when you looked so gorgeous with your hair fanned out against my pillow and your beautiful eyes staring at me. I had to taste you, love.”
Umm, not something I expected to hear.
“Okay,” I said like an idiot.
Smiling, he pressed his lips against my forehead and said, “Have a good day, love. I’ll talk to you later.”
With that, he buttoned his suit jacket and put his phone in his pocket. I watched as he walked away, with ease as if the tension between us wasn’t hovering over us like a giant pink elephant.
Once the door to the apartment closed, I let out the long breath I was holding and leaned against the kitchen counter.What the hell have I gotten myself into?
Chapter Fifteen
