I heard a creak in the hall outside my door then the rapid patter of feet. Worried, I flew from bed, making it to my door just in time to look down the hall and see the boys disappear out of the apartment. Calling their names, I raced after them.
As I reached the end of the hall, Emmitt stepped into my path. He caught me in his arms and spun us, absorbing my momentum. It didn’t prevent my nose from connecting with his sternum with enough force that my eyes watered.
“Ow!” I squinted up at him.
“I’m sorry.” A tender look crept into his gaze as he studied me.
My breath caught as he slowly lowered his head. Was he really going to kiss me? I hadn’t even brushed my teeth! I closed my eyes. My heart started to beat erratically, and I couldn’t control my breathing. Then, his lips touched the tip of my nose. My eyes flew open.
“I wouldn’t have stepped in front of you if I’d known you’d get hurt.” He reached up and gently pushed back a strand of my hair that had fallen forward during our collision.
“Uh. It’s okay.” My thoughts jumbled together. “Just a minute.” Instead of continuing my chase, I pivoted on my heel and fled to the bathroom.
I rejoined him a minute later, minty fresh and with untangled hair. He stood at the stove, watching the pan on the burner until he heard me approach.
“How are you feeling?”
I tried not to stare at his chest as he spoke. Smacking myself against it, though painful to my nose, had been wonderful for the rest of me.
“Fine,” I said. “No permanent damage.”
He gave me an odd look but said nothing. Instead, he handed me a plate with a single egg and toast. After a few home-cooked breakfasts, he’d caught onto my portion size.
With the second bite in my mouth, I realized he hadn’t been asking about my nose but about how I felt in general. My fears revolving around Blake had abated with some decent sleep, but thanks to the platonic kiss on the nose, I was confused again. I took a drink of the juice he’d set before me, calmed myself with a slow breath, then asked the big question.
“What are we?”
He paused mid-chew to look at me, just like he had in the diner. It made me smile. He swallowed and tilted his head.
“I’m not sure I understand the question.”
Of course not. I needed a morning blush to start the day off right.
Frustrated, I stood.
“I get this.” I leaned forward and planted a light kiss on his nose, surprising him.
“And I get this.” I moved close to his neck, inhaled his scent, and trailed my nose against his skin as he’d done several times to me.
“And I’m told...” His skin suddenly rippled beneath my touch, and I pulled back.
His eyes glittered as he struggled for control.
“I’m sorry,” I said, stepping away.
He followed me, moving fluidly from his stool. His calm, midnight eyes tracked every move I made.
“Don’t be. I’m fine. Finish your question.” His voice was rough and intense, and it made my heart drop into my stomach.
Holding my ground, I let him crowd me. Better to leave room to turn and run than to be backed against a wall. Not that I thought I’d need to run from Emmitt, but it never hurt to leave options open.
He didn’t stop moving until he was a hand’s width away from me. I struggled to maintain eye contact. I knew what I’d done to him, and I really wanted to touch him again. But I couldn’t. Not until I understood how he saw us.
“I, uh, was just going to say that...um.” I cleared my throat. “You said I’m yours and that biting equals an engagement. But I don’t understand where that leaves us now. What are we?”
“As you asked, we are friends,” he said.
I felt a brief stab of disappointment. Then, he leaned in again. He didn’t inhale or use his nose this time. He dropped his mouth to my neck. It wasn’t a kiss exactly, just a brush of his lips that blazed a path on my sensitive skin. I couldn’t help myself; I lightly rested my hands against his chest and leaned into the feeling as I struggled to focus.
“But, I hope we are friends who are working their way to dating.”
It took a moment for his words to register. Ah. That’s right. His dinner invitation.
“I’m not good at being friends,” he said softly, breaking contact but not pulling back. My hammering heart appreciated the move, but my tingling skin felt bereft. “I struggle with the boundaries of friendship.”
It was good to know I wasn’t the only one struggling. I swallowed and dropped my hands.
“What boundaries?” As soon as I said it, I knew the answer because something in his gaze told me he wanted my hands back where they were.
“Friends don’t get this close. They don’t touch each other like I just touched you. And I really want to be that close.”
I wanted that, too. Especially when he whispered it near my ear.
“What else?” I couldn’t believe I asked.