Read Online Contractual Obligation: The Trilogy by Lauren Keller - Free Book Online
Authors: Lauren Keller
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change that.” He smiled. “Maybe do a food challenge together.”
“I’d gag. I’m not good with textures, and sometimes just the thought of a food can gross me out.”
The conversation went from one topic to another, and the more they spoke, the easier it became. Two hours later, Michael was ready for sleep. “I should get some rest . Can call you tomorrow?”
“I’d like that,” Natalie said, realizing she’d worn a smile this entire time.
The calendar didn’t seem to move fast enough. After talking during the rest of his trip, Natalie was ready for him to come home. There was no mistaking that the connection was growing between them. It started with talking, and then random texts would come in…something was happening.
When Michael’s flight came in, he never made it home. He went straight to Natalie’s apartment, desperate to see her. The car dropped him at her building, and realizing he had to climb all of those stairs with his luggage, he sighed. It had been a long flight. Maybe he should head home first, grab a shower, clean up, and take her out for dinner.
It’s not that five flights of stairs were really that big of a deal. He worked out, but now that he was standing in the lobby of her building, he was having second thoughts.
Was he rushing into something because he was lonely? Or was it truly about the two of them? He liked her, but how much did he really know about her? He laughed at his own thoughts. He could easily name her favorite movie, favorite pizza topping, what school she went to, and tons of other trivial facts after talking to her during his trip. He knew enough. It wasn’t about Natalie, it was him. He’d never wanted anything more than a fling. He didn’t do relationships. And if they went there, if they crossed that line, what would it mean?
Taking a deep breath, he started to climb the stairs. It was now or never.
Standing in front of her door, Michael knocked. There was no answer. He didn’t even think; he should have called first. Turning to leave, the neighbor’s door opened. Natalie was letting herself out after checking in on Emily. Word was that Mrs. Burton would be home the following week.
“Michael?”
“I thought this was…” He shook his head.
“It is. I was feeding my neighbor’s cat. What are you doing here?”
“This.” He dropped his bags, and pulled her into his arms. Pressing Natalie’s back to her door, he leaned in close. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while.”
He took her breath away, his lips brushing hers tenderly. Hunger and desire drew up as his kiss asked for more. Parting her lips, she accepted him in, and as the seconds passed, her body responded. She was thirsty for affection, and he was quenching her need.
Michael’s hands moved up into her hair, his fingers raking through her long locks, and then he pulled her even closer. Pressing his body to hers, he needed to feel her, taste her, and make her his own.
“Inside,” Natalie whispered, reaching for her doorknob. Shit, she’d locked herself out. She only had Mrs. Burton’s key. She’d have to call maintenance . Shaking the handle, her frustration came out. She wanted him, wanted this, and of all the times…
“My place,” was all he said.
“I’m in my pajamas,” she laughed.
Michael sighed. The moment was lost. “Let’s call the maintenance guy.”
“My phone is locked inside.”
“Here, you can use mine.”
“The number is inside, too.”
“Would your neighbor have the number?”
“Oh, good idea,” she said, wiggling the key into the door. Going inside, she scanned the fridge for the familiar magnet that held all of the important numbers on it. They gave them out when you moved in, and surely she had to have one. Finding it on the side of the fridge, she dialed the number and let herself out.
“He’ll be here in a few minutes.” She sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I should really get home and clean up,” he
“I’d gag. I’m not good with textures, and sometimes just the thought of a food can gross me out.”
The conversation went from one topic to another, and the more they spoke, the easier it became. Two hours later, Michael was ready for sleep. “I should get some rest . Can call you tomorrow?”
“I’d like that,” Natalie said, realizing she’d worn a smile this entire time.
The calendar didn’t seem to move fast enough. After talking during the rest of his trip, Natalie was ready for him to come home. There was no mistaking that the connection was growing between them. It started with talking, and then random texts would come in…something was happening.
When Michael’s flight came in, he never made it home. He went straight to Natalie’s apartment, desperate to see her. The car dropped him at her building, and realizing he had to climb all of those stairs with his luggage, he sighed. It had been a long flight. Maybe he should head home first, grab a shower, clean up, and take her out for dinner.
It’s not that five flights of stairs were really that big of a deal. He worked out, but now that he was standing in the lobby of her building, he was having second thoughts.
Was he rushing into something because he was lonely? Or was it truly about the two of them? He liked her, but how much did he really know about her? He laughed at his own thoughts. He could easily name her favorite movie, favorite pizza topping, what school she went to, and tons of other trivial facts after talking to her during his trip. He knew enough. It wasn’t about Natalie, it was him. He’d never wanted anything more than a fling. He didn’t do relationships. And if they went there, if they crossed that line, what would it mean?
Taking a deep breath, he started to climb the stairs. It was now or never.
Standing in front of her door, Michael knocked. There was no answer. He didn’t even think; he should have called first. Turning to leave, the neighbor’s door opened. Natalie was letting herself out after checking in on Emily. Word was that Mrs. Burton would be home the following week.
“Michael?”
“I thought this was…” He shook his head.
“It is. I was feeding my neighbor’s cat. What are you doing here?”
“This.” He dropped his bags, and pulled her into his arms. Pressing Natalie’s back to her door, he leaned in close. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while.”
He took her breath away, his lips brushing hers tenderly. Hunger and desire drew up as his kiss asked for more. Parting her lips, she accepted him in, and as the seconds passed, her body responded. She was thirsty for affection, and he was quenching her need.
Michael’s hands moved up into her hair, his fingers raking through her long locks, and then he pulled her even closer. Pressing his body to hers, he needed to feel her, taste her, and make her his own.
“Inside,” Natalie whispered, reaching for her doorknob. Shit, she’d locked herself out. She only had Mrs. Burton’s key. She’d have to call maintenance . Shaking the handle, her frustration came out. She wanted him, wanted this, and of all the times…
“My place,” was all he said.
“I’m in my pajamas,” she laughed.
Michael sighed. The moment was lost. “Let’s call the maintenance guy.”
“My phone is locked inside.”
“Here, you can use mine.”
“The number is inside, too.”
“Would your neighbor have the number?”
“Oh, good idea,” she said, wiggling the key into the door. Going inside, she scanned the fridge for the familiar magnet that held all of the important numbers on it. They gave them out when you moved in, and surely she had to have one. Finding it on the side of the fridge, she dialed the number and let herself out.
“He’ll be here in a few minutes.” She sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I should really get home and clean up,” he
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