I wasn’t expecting him to do that. In fact, I was expecting him to say something equally sarcastic and we would end the conversation. Now that I am in this position, I had no idea what to say next.
“I don’t-,” I trailed off when I saw that he had raised a brow expectantly. “How do you feel now that it’s ending?”
“You’re not ready for that answer.”
“That’s a bold assumption,” I crossed my arms over my chest and I saw his eyes follow the movement. “Try me.”
He opened his mouth to speak but he shut it almost immediately. He ran his hand down his jaw and in contemplation, I wondered what was going on in his head. I have never seen him speechless so I know that isn’t it. I know he’s probably just thinking of how to phrase whatever thinly veiled insult he is going to throw my way.
“Go out with me.”
I was not expecting that response and my head snapped up to his so fast that I swear I got whiplash. He was staring at me intensely and it took everything not to allow myself get lost in the intensity.
I stood to my feet and walked past him and towards the door. “You should leave.”
I could feel his frustration seeping from every pore in his body and when he stood up, I thought he was going to leave but instead, he pushed the door shut and locked it.
“Why are you doing this?” he asked but I refused to meet his eyes. “You want this just as much as I do and you know it.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
One of his hands came down to grab my chin and he tilted up my face so our lips were brushing. I knew I should pull away so my actions would match my words but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
My eyes fluttered shut against my will and as his lips brushed against mine, I let out a small gasp.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” he whispered against my lips, “Why don’t you just accept it?”
It felt like there was a noose around my neck and no matter which way I went, I was going to suffer for it. I closed my eyes and attempted to pull away but he didn’t let me. He held me in place and stepped even closer so that his body was pressed up against me.
“We work together,” I scrambled through my brain to look for excuses.
“As of today, we don’t anymore.”
“People will say the documentary is biased.”
“I don’t give a shit what people say,” he pressed a feather light kiss onto my lips, “You’re going to have to give me a better reason as to why you don’t want this.”
“My job is the most important thing to me.”
“I know and it has been a privilege watching how much you care for it,” he mumbled before adding. “I’ll support you and your job no matter what.”
His words seemed to break down each of my defenses and I knew that I was approaching a point where I wouldn’t be able to defend myself anymore. He had a reason to each of my excuses and if I were smarter, I would have ran for the hills because Nathan Cowe is capable of completely wrecking me.
After Joseph I swore that I would never give a man that kind of power over me again but here I am, about to fold from just a few words.
“We shouldn’t,” I was losing this battle and we both knew it. I was grasping for straws at this point and he was well aware of that fact.
“Allow me to convince you of all the reasons we should.” He pulled back softly so he could look at me, “One date Adira, and then you can change your mind after.”
I had already lost this battle and all of this was just semantics. From the moment he asked, I knew what my answer would be. I knew what I wanted my answer to be.
“I could always just force you to come,” he mused, “I’ve done it before and I can do it again.”
I punched his upper arm but I was sporting a small smile. “Fine, one date and that’s it.”
His lips turned up in a victorious smirk and I rolled my eyes at him. He finally took a step back and I felt like I could breathe properly for the first time. I stepped away from the door and he unlocked it then disappeared through it.
Marissa was leaving her office just as he was leaving mine and her eyes went to him then me and I saw a knowing look cross her features. I kept my face carefully blank but I knew how observant Marissa is and I know that she probably already knows that something has happened. She probably knew the moment I agreed to spend one week away from work with him.
