No, scratch that. Flowers from Javi make me want to get naked.
“I’m glad I surprised you. That was the goal.” He steps in a few more feet and then hands me the flowers while planting a kiss on my cheek. “These are for you.”
“How did you know that red roses were my favorite?” I ask as I inhale their scent and then move to the corner of my office where I have a vase that’s empty and ready to be filled with this arrangement.
“I didn’t, but now I do,” he answers through a chuckle. “I had no idea what to get when I went into the flower shop, but for some reason red roses were calling out to me. They reminded me of you. No matter how classic they may be, they are bold and make a statement—like you do.”
I turn around to face him as he stares at me intently. His gaze almost looks pained, but then he moves to close my door quietly, breaking our eye contact. In a few swift strides, he’s back in front of me, holding my face in my hands and kissing me breathlessly. I part my lips for him, allowing him to dive his tongue into my mouth. He tastes of salt and soda, and smells of sweat mixed with his signature scent I discovered is his deodorant after rummaging through his bathroom last night before I left. I was curious what that smell was and when I didn’t see any cologne on his counter, I popped the cap from his deodorant and inhaled deeply, bathing myself in his smell that I’ve come to crave.
When he breaks the kiss, he wraps his arms around my waist and rests his forehead on mine.
“God, I needed that.”
“I just saw you last night.”
He laughs. “Yeah, I know. But I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I needed to remind myself that you were real, that last night really happened.”
Concern fills my mind as I pull away from him slightly, but stay within his arms. “Is everything okay? Are you having second thoughts about this?” My heartbeat ricochets in my chest as I wait for his answer. Doubt floods my veins as I watch him furrow his brow and struggle to answer. My biggest concern in all of this is him changing his mind or freaking out because of what someone else might think. I’ve come to grips with the fact that opinions are going to fly, but I’m also running on fumes of hatred for those people and that facet of my life they are involved in.
This new life, the one that’s opening up because Javier is in it—that’s what I’m choosing to focus on. But I know he’s going to be bothered by things that I might not register, and I don’t want him to bail due to fear.
“No, not changing my mind. Just trying to remind myself that this is an adjustment for me.”
“Hey,” I whisper, stroking his cheek with my thumb. “It’s okay. I’m a little scared too if that makes you feel any better.”
“Uh, not really,” he huffs.
“I mean that in the best way though. It’s an anticipatory fear, the kind that makes your stomach churn with nerves of excitement.”
“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I just …” He sighs, and then releases me from his grip. “I don’t want to fuck this up.”
“I think you’re better at this than you think. These flowers were a great start.” I flash him a wink which makes him smile warmly.
“Okay. Well, how about you come over tomorrow night and I cook you dinner and you stay the night with me?” He lifts one brow as he pulls my body close to his again, encircling my waist completely this time.
“See. You’re a top notch boyfriend, Javi,” I murmur before finding his lips again and losing myself in his kiss. I struggle with breaking away from him because tasting his lips is my new favorite addiction.
“Fuck.” He groans as we part and I feel how hard he is between us. “If I had less respect for your job, I’d bend you over your desk right now and fuck you senseless.”
I giggle, feeling my cheeks turn pink with his declaration. “As much as I’d love that, it’s probably not a good idea. If I had money on it, I’d bet Tessa’s ears are pressed up against my door right now.”
“Yeah, okay. I’ll just save my stamina for tomorrow night then. Pack a bag, but don’t bother with too many clothes, Princess. You won’t be needing them.” He nibbles on my earlobe, sending a bolt of arousal through my body straight for my core.
“Sounds like a plan,” I reply breathlessly as we part, and then bite my bottom lip. “Have a good rest of your day, Javi.” I walk him to the door and hold it open for him, surprised that Tessa isn’t milling around in the hallway.
“You too, Princess.” He flashes me a smirk that doesn’t quell the ache between my legs at all, and then saunters off as I watch his long legs retreat from the building. As I stare down the hallway and watch him exit, Tessa scares the shit out of me as she jumps from her doorway right in front of my face.
“Shit, Tessa!”
“Sorry, sorry,” she rambles and then widens her eyes at me. “Um, care to explain the fine hunk of man meat that just came in here with flowers for you?”
I turn on my heel and then head back into my office as she trails me. “That is Javier.”
“Oh, Javier,” she says his name with a roll of her tongue. “Have you taken a Latin lover, Sydney?”
I bite my lip to fight my smile again. “Something like that.”
“And is he the reason you can’t stop smiling.”
“Yes … but it’s new, okay? Don’t jinx it.” I point a finger at her as if she has any control over what
