Free Repeating History (History #1) by Hanleigh Bradley Page B

have to stop myself from pushing my face into his hold. I don’t want him to know how his touch affects me. How it makes my skin tingle or my sex clench. “I can see it in your eyes,” he trails his hand up my temple, “they tell me you crave me just as much as I crave you.”
    “You’re wrong,” I whisper but I’m still not pulling back like I know I should. In the back of my mind, I know that Ashley or Katie or worse his little sister could walk in at any moment but it doesn’t make me step back. Everything inside me is screaming to get away but I’m glued to the spot.
    “I’m not,” his voice is softer than it has been. It’s almost gentle. It’s definitely not teasing, but that scares me more because it’s when he’s sincere that he hurts me most. “I can see it in the way you are biting your lip,” he runs his finger across my lip, leaving the taste of his skin there. “I can feel it in the electricity that is always between us.” He squares his shoulders, challenging me to deny it. “I’m going to kiss you now.” He doesn’t wait for a response. He takes my head in his hands and lifts my chin. His lips are on mine again and it sends fire through my veins. I can feel his kiss in every inch of my body. My mind tells me to pull back. You shouldn’t be doing this, I tell myself but my body reacts completely on its own. One hand pulls on his shirt, pulling him closer so that I can feel his body against my own. He groans into my mouth as I kiss him back. My other hand is in his hair, tugging at it with desperation. He’s right. I do want him. I shouldn’t but I do.
    The door opens and we lurch apart. I rub the back of my hand across my mouth, “shit,” I mutter. The distance between us is enough to bring me back to my senses. What the hell am I doing kissing Andrew Contius?
    “Sorry,” Maya blurts out before literally running from the room. If I wasn’t so completely lost in my own turmoil, I’d find the whole situation unbelievably funny. A quick look at Andrew tells me he’s completely unaffected by what just happened. The door to my office is wide open and I can see several faces looking over their cubicles at us. Great. We’re going to be the office gossip for the next week.
    “That isn’t going to happen again,” I tell him with more strength than I thought I had.
    “Yes it will,” he argues with me.
    “No it won’t.”
    “I’m not going to argue with you,” he’s laughing now. I feel humiliated. I pull on the bottom of my shirt, feeling exposed. I feel sick. This is not the plan. I don’t need this complication.
    “Just go, please,” I sound like I’m begging him to leave. Then again, I think I am. I’m close to tears. I just want to be alone.
    “Clara,” he steps towards me, reaching out to me with his hand. All laughter is gone now. His eyes are worried.
    I pull back jerking away from his touch, “get out,” I whisper.
    He opens his mouth to argue but stops himself. He walks out of my office and into his own. I close the door behind him, keeping my eyes averted from all the staring faces. I crumple against the closed door and begin to cry. I call Anna. I need to talk to a friend.
    “Hey Clara,” she sounds bright and happy as always, “what’s up?”
    “Hi,” I reply, my voice sounding even more broken when in contrast with hers.
    “What’s wrong?” the therapist in her never misses a beat.
    “I...” I don’t actually know what to say to her.
    “Let’s get an early lunch,” her words are demanding. It isn’t an option. I glance at my watch. It’s only 11:36.
    “Okay.”
    “Meet me at the Kent Mockery?” she refers to one of Michael’s brother’s bars.
    “Be there in twenty,” I tell her before hanging up. There is a knock at my door. I quickly wipe my tears away and get to my feet. “Come in.”
    It’s Ashley, “did you want to go over the accounts now Miss Delos?” Her expression is kind and a little bit sympathetic.
    “Sorry,” I