its spin before opening into the red light of the darkroom. Sure enough, Harlow was standing exactly where I suspected.
“You’re avoiding me,” I said as I stepped fully into the room.
Harlow released a sharp gasp and spun around. “Shit, Noah! You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“You’re avoiding me,” I repeated as I stepped up next to her, the familiar smell of chemicals reminding me so much of the past.
She let out a long sigh, purposely avoiding answering my question by transferring the photo from one chemical bath to another. Looking down, I studied the photograph she was working on developing, in awe of the natural talent she still had. It was a simple black and white shot of the outside of several storefronts around Sinful Sweets. The boardwalk that made up our small town’s downtown sidewalks had recently been cleared of snow. Everything about the photo was beautiful, from the angle to the people walking through the streets laughing or holding hands. With that one shot, she’d created something so picturesque it looked like a painting.
“You were always so talented, baby,” I spoke reverently, moving in so my chest brushed against her shoulder as I leaned in closer. Her entire body tensed, but the feel of her against me was too desirable for me to pull away. “Why have you been avoiding me, wildflower?” I whispered, my lips near her ear I could feel her tremble.
“Noah, please move back.” Her voice was breathy and thick, the tone belying her words.
“Answer me, baby,” I pressed. For some reason, now that I had her cornered, had her where I wanted her, I couldn’t bring myself to back away until I got an answer. I knew I needed to act cautiously or risk spooking her, but having her within reach unleashed a desperation in me that was growing too strong to ignore.
Her shoulders rose and fell on a heavy breath as she turned in the small space between us to face me. Her breasts brushed against my chest and my body reacted like a damn fifteen-year old, my cock twitching behind my zipper.
As her gorgeous hazel eyes focused on me, the color only slightly tinted by the glow of the red lights, I saw determination flicker in her gaze. That goddamned shield of hers was falling into place right before my eyes and my jaw hardened at the sight of it.
“Please move back,” she repeated. Her voice was much stronger this time so I heeded the warning, but only giving her a few extra inches.
A relieved whoosh of air passed through her plump lips at the added distance. “What do you want, Noah? Huh?”
“I want you to stop acting like I don’t fucking exist,” I answered in frustration.
Her face softened just a touch, her tone was a little less harsh when she said, “I’m not acting like you don’t exist.”
“Bullshit, Harlow. You run in the other direction every time you see me. You put more distance between us than you would someone carrying the bubonic plague, for Christ’s sake.”
“That’s not true,” she replied.
“Really?” I argued. “Then what would you consider it? Didn’t we agree we didn’t want things to be weird around each other, or did I just imagine that conversation?”
“We did… it’s just…”
“Just what?” I asked, stepping into her space once again. My gut was telling me I was finally getting somewhere, and if this was my shot, I was damn well going to take it. “Come on, wildflower. If I’m wrong, then explain it to me.”
Harlow’s hand came up and ran through her hair agitatedly. “Jeez, Noah. Have you always been this pushy?”
“Only when there’s something I want at stake.”
“See?!” she shouted, sidestepping me and moving a few feet away. “This is the problem right here! I don’t know what to do with you. You can be so… intense. I don’t know how to react or how to feel. It’s like my head’s spinning whenever you’re around. I don’t know what you want from me!”
“I think you do,” I told her, getting so close
“You’re avoiding me,” I said as I stepped fully into the room.
Harlow released a sharp gasp and spun around. “Shit, Noah! You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“You’re avoiding me,” I repeated as I stepped up next to her, the familiar smell of chemicals reminding me so much of the past.
She let out a long sigh, purposely avoiding answering my question by transferring the photo from one chemical bath to another. Looking down, I studied the photograph she was working on developing, in awe of the natural talent she still had. It was a simple black and white shot of the outside of several storefronts around Sinful Sweets. The boardwalk that made up our small town’s downtown sidewalks had recently been cleared of snow. Everything about the photo was beautiful, from the angle to the people walking through the streets laughing or holding hands. With that one shot, she’d created something so picturesque it looked like a painting.
“You were always so talented, baby,” I spoke reverently, moving in so my chest brushed against her shoulder as I leaned in closer. Her entire body tensed, but the feel of her against me was too desirable for me to pull away. “Why have you been avoiding me, wildflower?” I whispered, my lips near her ear I could feel her tremble.
“Noah, please move back.” Her voice was breathy and thick, the tone belying her words.
“Answer me, baby,” I pressed. For some reason, now that I had her cornered, had her where I wanted her, I couldn’t bring myself to back away until I got an answer. I knew I needed to act cautiously or risk spooking her, but having her within reach unleashed a desperation in me that was growing too strong to ignore.
Her shoulders rose and fell on a heavy breath as she turned in the small space between us to face me. Her breasts brushed against my chest and my body reacted like a damn fifteen-year old, my cock twitching behind my zipper.
As her gorgeous hazel eyes focused on me, the color only slightly tinted by the glow of the red lights, I saw determination flicker in her gaze. That goddamned shield of hers was falling into place right before my eyes and my jaw hardened at the sight of it.
“Please move back,” she repeated. Her voice was much stronger this time so I heeded the warning, but only giving her a few extra inches.
A relieved whoosh of air passed through her plump lips at the added distance. “What do you want, Noah? Huh?”
“I want you to stop acting like I don’t fucking exist,” I answered in frustration.
Her face softened just a touch, her tone was a little less harsh when she said, “I’m not acting like you don’t exist.”
“Bullshit, Harlow. You run in the other direction every time you see me. You put more distance between us than you would someone carrying the bubonic plague, for Christ’s sake.”
“That’s not true,” she replied.
“Really?” I argued. “Then what would you consider it? Didn’t we agree we didn’t want things to be weird around each other, or did I just imagine that conversation?”
“We did… it’s just…”
“Just what?” I asked, stepping into her space once again. My gut was telling me I was finally getting somewhere, and if this was my shot, I was damn well going to take it. “Come on, wildflower. If I’m wrong, then explain it to me.”
Harlow’s hand came up and ran through her hair agitatedly. “Jeez, Noah. Have you always been this pushy?”
“Only when there’s something I want at stake.”
“See?!” she shouted, sidestepping me and moving a few feet away. “This is the problem right here! I don’t know what to do with you. You can be so… intense. I don’t know how to react or how to feel. It’s like my head’s spinning whenever you’re around. I don’t know what you want from me!”
“I think you do,” I told her, getting so close
Similar Books
