I wore the black jeans.
Maya video called as I was leaving. "Let me see. Turn around."
I rolled my eyes but did a spin.
"Perfect. Now go get your earring."
"Goodbye, Maya."
My heart beat fast the whole drive over. I parked and walked to the apartment door. I knocked.
Jax opened it. He stepped aside to let me in. The apartment was quiet.
He walked to the kitchen counter. The blue earring was there. He picked it up and held it out on his palm.
I reached for it. Our fingers brushed. A spark shot up my arm. I took the earring.
"Thank you," I said.
He just looked at me.
I turned to walk to the door.
His hand wrapped around my wrist. He pulled me back. I stumbled against his chest.
He looked down at me, his eyes dark. He ran his free hand over his head. "Are you leaving now?" His voice was rough.
"Why shouldn't I?" I asked.
"I thought we could do something," he said.
"Like what?"
"Like this."
Before I could answer, his lips were on mine.
The kiss was hard. It stole my breath. My eyes flew wide open in shock. His stubble scratched my skin. One hand stayed on my waist, pulling me tight against him.
By the time he pulled back, I was breathless. My lips felt swollen. I bit my lower lip.
He smiled, a slow, hungry smile. Then he pulled me in for another kiss.
This kiss was slower. Deeper. His tongue swept into my mouth. My arms went around his neck. His hands slid down to my hips, gripping me tight.
A moan escaped me. He swallowed it. His grip tightened, pulling my body flush against his. I could feel how much he wanted me. Hard against my stomach. Heat rushed straight to my core.
His mouth left mine, trailing down my jaw to my neck. He kissed the spot below my ear, his teeth grazing lightly. I gasped.
"Tell me to stop," he murmured against my skin.
I didn't.
His hand slid under my tank top, his rough palm on my stomach. I jerked at the contact. He stroked upward, his thumb brushing the underside of my breast.
I was shaking.
Suddenly, he went still. He pulled his head back, his breathing ragged.
"We can't," he said. "Not here."
He let go of me, stepping back. Cool air rushed in. My face felt hot and flushed.
He ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. "This isn't right."
"What isn't right?" I asked, my voice small.
"This." He gestured between us. "This place. Him." He meant Ben. "I want to talk to you. Actually talk. Without waiting for a key in the door."
"Where then?" I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly feeling exposed.
"I have a space. My workshop. It's private. No one else has a key." He looked at me, his gaze serious. "Come by tomorrow night. Around seven. We can... talk."
The way he said "talk" held a promise of more. It wasn't just conversation.
"Just talk?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
A real smile touched his lips. "We'll start there."
He found a pen and a clean piece of paper from a notepad by the fridge. He wrote an address in clear, block letters and handed it to me.
I took it. Our fingers didn't touch this time. "Your workshop?"
"Yeah. It's where I build things."
"Okay," I said, folding the paper and putting it in my pocket. "Tomorrow at seven."
"Tomorrow," he agreed.
I left without another word. The walk to my car felt different. The air was cooler. My lips were still tingling.
I got in and sat for a moment, the address burning a hole in my pocket.
I started the car and drove home. When I walked into my apartment, my phone buzzed immediately. Maya.
Maya: Well??? Did you get the earring? More importantly, did you get the MAN?
I smiled and typed back.
Me: Got the earring. And I'm seeing him tomorrow.
Maya: WHERE? Tell me everything!
Me: His workshop. At seven.
Maya: His WORKSHOP? Ella, that is either the hottest or the creepiest thing I've ever heard. I'm voting for hottest. What are you going to wear?
I laughed. I didn't know what I was going to wear. But for the first time in a long time, I was excited to figure it out.
I spent the rest of the evening in a daze. I tried to watch TV, but I couldn't focus. I kept touching my lips, remembering the hard pressure of his mouth, the scratch of his stubble, the way he looked at me before he kissed me.
I went to bed early but lay awake for hours. The darkness of my room felt different. It felt expectant. Like it was waiting for tomorrow to come.
When I finally slept, I dreamed of the smell of sawdust and the feel of rough, warm hands on my skin.