Tempted

Chapter 19

Taylor

Reis and Logan sit on the floor of the rec room, battling each other in some zombie video game. MJ and I lounge on the couch alternating between watching the action on their game and having girl talk. She’d had a case translating sensitive reports from German to Portuguese. When she comments on her absence, I blush realizing I hadn’t even noticed she’d been so wrapped up with the case. I’ve been spending all my free time with Reis.

Despite the hour drive, he’s been here most days after school and stays over on the weekends too. This weekend coming up will be Colt’s third weekend away. His daily phone calls have turned into occasional texts and emails. We’ve only spoke twice in the last week. And even then, I could hear Bria in the background and he cut the conversation short.

Reis drops the controller on the floor. “You killed me.”

Logan smiles proudly.

Reis scoots back against my legs, resting his head on my knees. MJ lifts her eyebrows seductively looking between Reis and I. I roll my eyes and shake my head. I know MJs thoughts on Reis. She thinks he’s a better choice – less emotionally damaged than Colt, my age, and strikingly normal, without the demands of a fulltime job. That idea is crazy. Even with Colt’s issues, he’s still the one I want.

Reis skims his palm along my calf. His fingertips are feather light and teasing, absently tracing patterns into my skin. It’s innocent, yet sensual at the same time. My heart jumps in my chest. The way his fingers dance over my skin leave a lingering awareness of my ache for Colt, to be touched, held, close to someone. I try to rationalize my reaction, maybe it’s just homesickness disguised as hormones brought on by the too-good-looking-for-his-own-good Reis.

I avoid MJ’s watchful eyes, knowing she’s suspicious of just how close Reis and I are becoming. Over the past few weeks, Reis has become more comfortable around me, his gazes linger longer and penetrate deeper, and his touches and hugs are more frequent. I knew it was all adding up to him having feelings for me, possibly more than a friend, yet I felt powerless to do anything about it. The truth was, I enjoyed his attention. I didn’t want to do anything to stop it.

Instead of looking at MJ and Logan who were now watching me, waiting to see if I’ll stop him, I focus on Reis’ hand slowly massaging my leg.

He gives my leg a playful squeeze, and slaps the top of my foot, breaking me out of the spell. “Let’s go for a run or something.”

“Sure.” My voice sounds thick and unsure.

I follow him out of the room without another glance at MJ. As much as I preached about Colt’s behavior with girls and worrying over him being trustworthy, I knew MJ would call me out for allowing Reis to flirt with me. And I just didn’t want to hear it.

We stop to part at the stairway and Reis waits for me to pass. “Come get me after you change.”

I nod and race up the stairs. I can feel him watching me as I go. Why do I feel like something’s changed between us?

I throw on my shorts, sports bra and tank top and head down to Colt’s room. I push the door open without knocking. Reis stands in the center of the room in his shorts, bare-chested. He’s tan and perfectly toned. Reis smiles at me appreciatively. “Like what you see?”

“Hush.” I brush past him to make his bed while he laces up his running shoes.

I fish the pillows out from under the covers, wondering how someone can get the bed this messy from just sleeping. I straighten the sheet and pull the comforter tight over everything. Satisfied it will do, I stand and turn around to see if he’s ready.

He stands in place, staring at me, his eyes soft and hooded, his mouth slightly open.

“What?” I ask, pulling at the hem of my shorts.

“Sorry,” he chuckles to himself and runs his hand over the back of his neck, “but you have the hottest fucking ass ever.”

His words rock through my body and my knees nearly buckle. Am I so needy for male attention that Reis is affecting me this much? Colt had only been gone two and half weeks. My cheeks flame at his words and the view I must have given him, bent over in these little shorts making the bed.

“Reis.” I can’t help the pleading in my voice. “You can’t say stuff like that to me.” I unconsciously tug the little running shorts lower to be sure they’re covering everything they’re supposed to. My curves are typically a source of frustration, as I’m constantly on the hunt for jeans that make my butt look smaller, but now Reis is telling me it’s the hottest ass ever. I wonder if Colt feels that strongly about it.

He steps in closer. “Sorry, but it’s just a fact, sweetheart.” His fingers graze down the length of my arm.

I swallow roughly. My mind shouts at me to pull away, to walk out of the room, but my body is held captive, enjoying his closeness, the scent coming from his skin, the longing his eyes reveal.

His gaze drops to my mouth and my mind shouts at me to move, but I can’t. Reis wants to kiss me…and all I feel is curiosity.

As if suddenly realizing what he’s doing, he steps back and gives me some space. I pull a breath into my lungs. It succeeds in clearing my head just enough. “What are you doing?” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I’m sure he’ll laugh, blow off my comment and say he was only joking, but his eyes burn with intensity. They have the same flecks of gold and green making them hazel in a certain light, just like Colt’s.

He looks down and wipes his palms on his shorts, buying more time. “If you were with me…” He stops himself and shakes his head.

“What?” I probe. If I walk away now, he won’t tell me what he’s about to say, and maybe we need to have this conversation.

He meets my eyes again. “You deserve more than having to duck around his past.”

We stand in silence, watching each other, neither of us moving, or even blinking. I note the warmth I feel under his admiring gaze, the comfort of being near him. And even though I’ll admit I like him, I don’t feel that electricity, that indescribable pull toward him like I do with Colt. “I’m sorry Reis. I don’t…”

He stops me with a fingertip across my lips. “It’s alright. You just need to know. You have options. Okay?”

I nod softly.

“Let’s go run.” He takes my hand securely in his with no nervousness, no awkward fumbling despite what just occurred between us. Twining his fingers in mine, he pulls me from the room. The fact that he’s still touching me makes wonder if I should have been more firm. If I should have told him this closeness between us isn’t appropriate. But I can’t bring myself to do that. And besides, we haven’t done anything wrong. As we begin our run, the pounding of my feet on the trail pushes it to the back of my mind.