But that comforting feeling was quickly overpowered by the renewed desire at the closeness, at the delicious scent of him.
My arms went around him of their own accord. My face pressed into his chest.
“Hey, you’re alright,” he murmured, his other hand lifting to start gliding up and down my back, mistaking my reaction for fear. “I’ve got you.” His arms went tight around me then, holding me close. And I could have sworn I felt his lips on my hair.
“Ah, can I get by?” a voice called, breaking the little spell we’d been trapped in.
I tried to spring away, but Nico had me held tight, only releasing me slowly, inch by inch.
“Sorry,” he murmured, not sounding apologetic at all as he walked us through the arch.
We paused at the exit, letting the man run past.
“You alright?” he asked once the runner was gone, watching me with those gorgeous blue eyes of his.
“Yeah. Yes,” I said, sucking in a deep breath. “I wasn’t paying attention,” I admitted, trying to shrug it off.
He gave me a nod. “Do you want to run or just walk the rest of the way?”
“Maybe walking will be better.”
That was what we did, taking some time to enjoy the sights. I hesitated in the spot where I’d fallen, where I’d been grabbed. But we made it past the Pool and out the exit where I’d run toward Nico just a few weeks ago.
“How’re you feeling?” he asked as we walked back to our building.
“Better.” About the park, that was. Not about my unexpectedly overwhelming desire toward him. “I think I just needed a little help to get back out there. I don’t know if I’m going to be doing the North Woods by myself often, but I’m glad I could go back through there.”
“Good. I’m glad. And if you ever need a little support—or just some company—I’m happy for the push.”
“Thanks, Nico. Really,” I added as we stood in the elevator.
“Anytime,” he said as the car stopped at my floor. “I mean it,” he added as I exited. “Anytime.”
With that, the doors slid closed and I made my way to my apartment.
I had my key in my hand.
But as I went to stick it in the lock, the knob turned.
My pulse pounded hard once, twice.
Had I forgotten to lock it?
Been that distracted by the idea of seeing Nico again?
It was possible.
Not like me, but possible.
With my throat tight, I eased my way into my apartment, moving through it room by room, terrified someone might jump out at me.
But there was no one.
And as far as I could tell, nothing was askew.
I must have just been careless.
A strange discomfort clung to me for the rest of the day, though.
