The Dangerous Curves Series

Chapter 106

Her eyes fluttered shut and she fell into him. Her whole body shook, and she didn’t know now if it was from fighting back her tears or her desire. Matt’s hands were on her back, stroking and soothing, and he just stood silent. He let her take what strength and warmth she needed, and he waited for her to be OK again. Seconds passed, then a minute, and Naomi calmed.

She pulled back now, her beautiful eyes averted, her cheeks flushed. She was embarrassed, he saw, and he rushed to reassure her.

“Hey,” he said softly. “You OK?”

“Yeah.” She stepped back, her body unhappy that she’d broken contact. “I’m sorry about that.”

“No.” He shook his dark head. “Don’t be… I liked it.”

Her eyes widened. “You did?”

“Yep.” He smiled, glad to be honest and finally tell her how he felt. “Quite a bit, actually.”

“Oh. Oh, God.” She stepped back even farther. And this is what happened when she let her guard down, and when she didn’t maintain her boundaries: she sent out an invitation to the one goddamn man on the planet that she needed to stay the hell away from.

Her distancing made him pause. “Naomi?”

“I’m sorry, Matt… I didn’t mean to – to lead you on, or tease you. I swear I didn’t.”

“You didn’t.” He stared at her, taking in her distress fully. Any plans he had of asking her to dinner again were immediately scrapped, and he played it cool. “You just needed a hug, right?”

“Right.”

“Naomi –”

Her work phone rang now and she lunged at it, deliriously grateful to not have to talk to him anymore. She answered, hoping to God that she sounded semi-normal.

“Naomi Abbott.”

“Hi, Naomi. This is Caitlin Endridge.”

“Oh, hi, Caitlin.” She took a deep breath. “Are we still on to finalize details for the auction this afternoon?”

“We are. Three o’clock?”

“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”

She hung up, and was relieved to see that Matt had backed off completely. He was on the other side of her desk again.

“Sorry about that,” she said.

“Sure,” he said, trying to stop himself from reaching for her again, but it was hard.

Christ, she’d just fit so perfectly up against him, and she’d felt so good. He knew now – as sure as he knew the sun was going to rise tomorrow – that Naomi was meant for him. She was his and he was exactly the kind of man who claimed what was his – no apologies and no hesitation.

The problem was, of course, that she didn’t seem to feel the same way about him. She seemed to have no desire whatsoever to claim King as her own, as the man who’d do, and be, and give f*****g anything for her. Maybe she’d never get past what he did for a living, the kinds of people he dealt with. Maybe he’d always be dirty and dangerous, no matter how careful and caring he was with her.

As she stared at his gorgeous face, Naomi entertained a brief and wildly ridiculous fantasy of telling Matt the whole, unvarnished truth. Just setting it all down in front of him: her alcoholism, her mother, Patrick. Just being honest, honest to the point of being completely open, vulnerable, and out of control of the situation. Trusting Matt with her ugliest, darkest secrets; letting him see her as she really was, showing him her most hidden self.

Then she imagined his reaction to all of the things she’d done to get a drink, all the things she’d done while drunk, and that got her head on straight. If she had to bet, she’d say that he’d be horrified and disgusted at her, and he’d never look at her the same way again. The thought of him going all polite and impersonal on her hurt, and she stiffened her resolve to hold him at arm’s length.

Arm’s length… even though being in his arms was the closest thing to heaven that she'd ever, ever known.

“OK, well. Have to get going.” King stood up again, eager to get away from Naomi before he fell to his knees and f*****g begged her to be his. “Busy day at the office.”

She was hurt at his obvious desperation to flee her presence, but she forced a smile. “Here too. The auction is in a week, you know.”

“Yeah, I remember. How’s it going?”

“Oh, not bad. Under control.”

“Good.”

“Yeah, it is good.”

They looked at each other again, a million things unsaid between them. After a few seconds, King turned and left, and Naomi retrieved her red chip. She held it to her lips for a long time, just breathing and letting herself feel the waves of pain and loss yet again. Then she called Mirrie.