Read Online Remembering You: Pushing the Boundaries, Prequel by Audra North - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Audra North
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personal.”
He huffed out a laugh. “We just had sex, Nina. You swallowed my come and I had my mouth on you.” She flinched at the rough words that felt like a slap in the face, but she didn’t object. She deserved it.
“I’d say it’s pretty personal,” he finished, but the words lacked heat.
Rather, he looked so dejected she wanted to go to him and comfort him. To keep him safe and make him happy.
Of course. The memory returned. That was why she had felt the need to protect him, even when she’d seen him this morning. When they’d met in the hospital, she’d woken up in time to hear a woman dump him.
This bizarre connection she felt was probably only pity. Right?
It had to be.
Which was why she ignored the feeling her heart was breaking when she turned away and whispered, “I can’t,” and ran out of the room.
Chapter Eight
From where he still sat on the bed, Ben heard the front door shut softly.
Alone in his room, he swore, harsh and loud. That definitely hadn’t gone the way he’d intended. But then, he hadn’t really intended anything, since it had all happened so fast, but deep inside, he knew he’d been thinking about this moment for years.
He wanted this woman. Not because of some fantasy he’d dreamed about, but because the real Nina had lived up to the dream, and now he wanted the reality.
He wanted to go after her…but no. Not now. It would be too much, too soon. Instead, he’d made himself stay where he was, listened to her dress quickly, the ratcheting of the long zippers on her boots a few seconds before the front door snicked open, the soft thud of it settling back in the jamb as it closed behind her, and then…silence.
He swung his legs off the bed, marching into the bathroom to brush his teeth. There, he flipped on the bright overhead light and stared at the used condom in the trash can.
It had been beyond good. And yet, it wasn’t enough. He wanted her. She wanted him too. He knew it. But something had her running scared.
“I’m not giving up yet,” he muttered to himself.
He finished up in the bathroom, switched off the light and climbed back into bed, which smelled of sex and perfume and Nina herself.
But a long time passed before he found any comfort in sleep.
* * * * *
“So what went down with you and the hot journalist from last night?” Brewer shouted the question at Ben’s back.
“She did,” quipped Donahue, elbowing Brewer as the two laughed. Ben could see them in the mirror as he ran on the treadmill in the station’s downstairs gym.
Ben scowled and swiped at the sweat pouring off his brow. “Fuck you both,” he panted, flipping them the finger for good measure.
Donahue arched a brow at him. “Hey, Crewes, take it easy. I’m sorry. We didn’t realize this was serious.”
He shook his head. “It’s not. I mean, it is. But not yet. Shit.” He reached out and brought down the speed on the treadmill until it slowed to a stop, then he hopped off and grabbed a towel to mop his face. He’d worked harder than usual today, trying to work out what to do about Nina.
Brewer and Donahue only grunted in agreement.
“Where’d you meet her?” Donahue asked.
In a hospital room , he wanted to say, because that was how he felt—like he’d met her there and had known her for the past three years instead of less than forty-eight hours. But then he’d have to tell his friends how he had remembered her for all this time, had dreamt about her and always kept an ear cocked for her, and he was fairly certain he’d be opening himself up for mockery. Lots of it.
“I ran into her car on the 116 yesterday morning. Stop-and-go traffic, and I wasn’t paying attention.”
Brewer whistled. “I’m almost convinced I should side-swipe someone on my commute home, if it means getting a girl like her.”
Davis sauntered over and scowled. “I heard you talking about the Lang girl. Don’t mess with her, Crewes.”
Too late.
It was interesting Davis had
He huffed out a laugh. “We just had sex, Nina. You swallowed my come and I had my mouth on you.” She flinched at the rough words that felt like a slap in the face, but she didn’t object. She deserved it.
“I’d say it’s pretty personal,” he finished, but the words lacked heat.
Rather, he looked so dejected she wanted to go to him and comfort him. To keep him safe and make him happy.
Of course. The memory returned. That was why she had felt the need to protect him, even when she’d seen him this morning. When they’d met in the hospital, she’d woken up in time to hear a woman dump him.
This bizarre connection she felt was probably only pity. Right?
It had to be.
Which was why she ignored the feeling her heart was breaking when she turned away and whispered, “I can’t,” and ran out of the room.
Chapter Eight
From where he still sat on the bed, Ben heard the front door shut softly.
Alone in his room, he swore, harsh and loud. That definitely hadn’t gone the way he’d intended. But then, he hadn’t really intended anything, since it had all happened so fast, but deep inside, he knew he’d been thinking about this moment for years.
He wanted this woman. Not because of some fantasy he’d dreamed about, but because the real Nina had lived up to the dream, and now he wanted the reality.
He wanted to go after her…but no. Not now. It would be too much, too soon. Instead, he’d made himself stay where he was, listened to her dress quickly, the ratcheting of the long zippers on her boots a few seconds before the front door snicked open, the soft thud of it settling back in the jamb as it closed behind her, and then…silence.
He swung his legs off the bed, marching into the bathroom to brush his teeth. There, he flipped on the bright overhead light and stared at the used condom in the trash can.
It had been beyond good. And yet, it wasn’t enough. He wanted her. She wanted him too. He knew it. But something had her running scared.
“I’m not giving up yet,” he muttered to himself.
He finished up in the bathroom, switched off the light and climbed back into bed, which smelled of sex and perfume and Nina herself.
But a long time passed before he found any comfort in sleep.
* * * * *
“So what went down with you and the hot journalist from last night?” Brewer shouted the question at Ben’s back.
“She did,” quipped Donahue, elbowing Brewer as the two laughed. Ben could see them in the mirror as he ran on the treadmill in the station’s downstairs gym.
Ben scowled and swiped at the sweat pouring off his brow. “Fuck you both,” he panted, flipping them the finger for good measure.
Donahue arched a brow at him. “Hey, Crewes, take it easy. I’m sorry. We didn’t realize this was serious.”
He shook his head. “It’s not. I mean, it is. But not yet. Shit.” He reached out and brought down the speed on the treadmill until it slowed to a stop, then he hopped off and grabbed a towel to mop his face. He’d worked harder than usual today, trying to work out what to do about Nina.
Brewer and Donahue only grunted in agreement.
“Where’d you meet her?” Donahue asked.
In a hospital room , he wanted to say, because that was how he felt—like he’d met her there and had known her for the past three years instead of less than forty-eight hours. But then he’d have to tell his friends how he had remembered her for all this time, had dreamt about her and always kept an ear cocked for her, and he was fairly certain he’d be opening himself up for mockery. Lots of it.
“I ran into her car on the 116 yesterday morning. Stop-and-go traffic, and I wasn’t paying attention.”
Brewer whistled. “I’m almost convinced I should side-swipe someone on my commute home, if it means getting a girl like her.”
Davis sauntered over and scowled. “I heard you talking about the Lang girl. Don’t mess with her, Crewes.”
Too late.
It was interesting Davis had
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