Read Elements of Retrofit for Free Online Page B

haven’t misread anything.”
    He exhaled in a rush, pure relief, and ran his hand through his hair.
    “But I’m not sure,” I said, taking a step closer to him, so we were almost touching.
    “We don’t have to,” he said quickly. “I shouldn’t have suggested—”
    His words died when I slid my hand along his jaw, I leaned in and could feel his warm breath on my lips. “I’m not sure if once would be enough.”
    His eyes were wide and he licked his lips. “Probably not.”
    Our lips met, open and soft. It was tender and wary, scared of what was happening, of where this was going. Neither of us moved for a long second, but I gently pulled his bottom lip between my lips and he gasped.
    It seemed to kick him into gear because he let his satchel fall to the floor so he could use two hands to hold me. His mouth opened as he deepened the kiss, his hands slid around my waist as his tongue slid into my mouth.
    I think I groaned. Or maybe it was him.
    I held his face as we kissed, taking in everything about him—the warmth of his body, his soft lips, his taste, his smell. He made my head spin and my knees weak, my heart was thumping and I wanted more.
    But then the elevator arrived at our floor and before the door could open, I pulled Cooper’s hand, leading him back into my apartment. He grabbed his satchel off the floor and made it inside, just as old Mrs Giordano walked out of the elevator. I gave her a polite wave and smile as I closed the door and Cooper burst out laughing.
    I leaned against the closed door and grinned at him. “Mrs Giordano doesn’t need to see that.”
    Cooper put his satchel down against the wall near the door, and with smiling lips, he said, “Mrs what’s-her-name might like to see it.”
    “Mrs Giordano is ninety-two years old,” I told him. I was still leaning against the door and he was right in front of me. He wasn’t pressed up against me, but he wasn’t letting me move either. His eyes were flickering from my eyes to my mouth, as though he was about to kiss me again. My voice was just a whisper. “I thought you said just one kiss?”
    “I thought you said it wouldn’t be enough,” he whispered back as he touched his lips to mine again. He held my face this time, as he opened my lips with his own. Our tongues met and he pressed his body against me.
    I wrapped my hands around his back and pulled him tighter against me. I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want to want him. I didn’t want to like it. I didn’t want to need it.
    But I did.
    He slowed the kiss, dragging his lips from mine, looking down until his forehead rested on my cheek, then my chin, and eventually he took a small step back. He was breathing hard, but he was smiling. My hands were still on his hips, so he took another small step back, stepping away from me. “I think I should go now,” he said.
    I worried that he might panic at the realisation of what just happened. We had just kissed. Twice. Me, his friend’s father, a man twice his age. His boss.
    “There’s no need to panic,” I said, realising how stupid it sounded as soon as I’d said it.
    “Oh, I’m not panicking,” he said gruffly, then he very obviously readjusted the bulge in his jeans.
    “Oh.”
    Cooper laughed, embarrassed. Then he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly and looked me in the eye. His eyes were bright and playful. “I will see you in the morning at the office.”
    “Okay,” I answered, trying to gauge his mood.
    He picked up his satchel, put his hand on the door handle and said, “I’m going to need you to move from the door.”
    “Oh,” I said, stepping around him. “Sure.”
    Then he stepped right up close and pecked my lips again, kissing me for the third time.
    “That’s three,” I told him.
    He opened the door. “I’m not counting,” he said as he walked towards the elevator. He looked around and smiled at me before he stepped in. I closed the door to my apartment, wondering what the fuck I’d just