One Wild Night

Chapter 850  What Is Stopping Us?

The muscles on his forearm flexed with each click on the keyboard. He looked incredibly handsome even with the weight of responsibility etched on his face. He looked so dependable. So… safe. Words she had never really associated with a man before.

A wave of unfamiliar warmth washed over her, laced with a sharp undercurrent of longing.

Should she ask him? Should she just blurt it out and get it over with? Did he feel something for her, or was he really just doing all of this because it was the kind of person he was?

Was it just the stress of going back with Henry clouding her judgment or was there a genuine spark between them? She stole another glance, and saw Jeff staring at her.

A blush crept up her cheeks as their eyes met and he arched an eyebrow in question. She quickly averted her gaze, pretending to be engrossed in an email herself.

Jeff tilted his head, his eyes searching her face, "Everything alright, Mia?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"Yeah, everything's fine," she mumbled, forcing a smile.

Jeff frowned slightly, "Alright. If you say so," Jeff said simply, his voice devoid of judgment.

Mia bristled internally. She almost hated how easily he conceded. Did he just let that go so easily? Didn't he want to press her, to know what was swirling in her head?

Part of her wanted him to press her, to pry until she revealed the tangled mess of emotions swirling inside her.

They worked in silence for a few more minutes, the only sounds the rhythmic click of the keyboard and their own shallow breaths. Finally, Mia couldn't hold it in any longer.

Frustration bubbled up inside her. "Why aren't you pushing me, Jeff?" she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Jeff looked up again, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes as he met her gaze. "Push you? What do you mean?" He asked even though he knew what she meant.

"When I said there wasn't anything on my mind," Mia clarified, sounding slightly annoyed. "Why didn't you try to find out what it was?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Since when did I become your interrogator? One moment you say you don't want me making you do things or controlling you, and now you want me to pressure you into talking when you don't want to?"

"I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "Maybe I just expect you to be more curious. How can you agree just like that? I practically had a neon sign flashing over my head saying 'ask me'! Don't you want to know what I'm thinking?"

His smile softened. "I do." he agreed, his gaze holding hers.

"So, why not ask until I am forced to say it?" She asked and he shook his head.

"Look, Mia," Jeff said, his voice laced with amusement, "We are both adults. If something is on your mind that you want me to know, you can simply say it without expecting me to pressure you into talking. I won't play such games with you. If you want to speak, go on. If not, let's keep working," Jeff said firmly.

Mia took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest.  This was it.  Now or never.  She met his gaze squarely. "Uhm. Alright," she said, and then cleared her throat, while Jeff kept his gaze on her.

"Go on."

"If I asked you to…" she began, then trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper. "Would you…?"

Jeff leaned closer, his gaze intense. "Would I what?"

"Uhm, would you…" She hesitated, her cheeks flushing crimson. Taking a deep breath, she blurted out, "would you have sex with me, Jeff?"

The question hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, the only sound was the soft hum of the laptop fan.

A shadow crossed his face, a flicker of something she couldn't decipher. "Today?" He asked, and she nodded.

"No," he said, his voice gentle and firm, "I wouldn't."

Rejection, swift and sharp, sent a wave of sadness crashing over her. He didn't want her. It was that simple. Mia's heart sank and disappointment washed over her, sharp and searing.

She forced a smile, trying to mask the hurt, "Oh, okay. No worries," she said and looked away from him so she could blink away the tears of shame and disappointment that now stung her eyes.

Sensing her dejection, Jeff watched her for a moment without saying a word, and then he sighed, "Mia…"

"It's fine. You don't have to say anything. I mean, I understand. It's understandable that you don't want me that way. I'm sorry for making assumptions. I just thought maybe there was something. But I should have known better. Why would you be interested in someone like me? I have a lot of baggage and then I have those ugly scars and…"

"Shut up, Mia. You're babbling," Jeff said quietly and he reached out and took her hand.

Mia tried to pull her hand away, but he held her firmly, "I didn't say I did not want you. I said I wouldn't have sex with you if you asked me to today." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Mia looked at him then, "What about tomorrow?"

He shook his head again, "I wouldn't," he said and she scowled at him as she snatched her hand from his grip.

"So, what's the difference? I'm not your type, am I?" She asked and this time Jeff smiled.

"Honestly? I didn't even know I had a type until I got close to you," he said and she frowned.

"What do you mean?" Mia asked in confusion.

"Is that what you really want, Mia?" he asked, his voice gentle. "You want me to sleep with you?"

"You didn't answer my question. What did you mean? Am I your type or not?" Mia asked without answering his question.

"Do you want to have sex with me or do you want to know how I feel about you?" Jeff asked and Mia shrugged.

"Both. But I can't do one without knowing about the other. So, tell me what you meant," Mia said and Jeff held her gaze.

"I didn't have a type in mind until I realized I had a thing for you. It means you are very much my type or rather the prototype of my types. Beautiful, bold, strong, intelligent, funny, kind, playful, honest," he shrugged.

"Don't flatter me. I'm not all that," she said as she turned away from him, her cheeks burning.

Jeff smiled, "Yes, you are. You are all of that and more. So, tell me. Do you really want to have sex with me?"

Mia bit her lip, unsure of how to respond.  Part of her wanted to run, to hide from the sudden rawness of her emotions. But another part, a stronger part, forced her to be honest.

"Yes," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.  "A part of me does."

"Why?" Jeff asked, his voice soft and devoid of judgment. "Why do you want this, Mia?"

She met his gaze again, the truth spilling from her lips before she could stop herself. "I… I just want to hold onto the memory," she confessed. "The memory of feeling… wanted. Of not being alone in the coming weeks."

His eyes softened, a hint of understanding flickering in their depths. "Is that all?" he asked gently. "Is this just about the situation, or… is there something more? Do you like me, Mia?"

Hesitantly, she met his gaze. "I… I think so," she whispered.  "I think I like you, Jeff.  A lot."

She hesitated, then nodded slowly. "I think so. I think I like you, Jeff. These past few days… with everything that's happened, you've been a rock. A constant source of support, of… of something more."

"So, it could be just gratitude. Maybe you're mixing it up…"

"No. That's not it. I know it's not just gratitude. Maybe it's because you look so damned fine after getting your makeover. Or maybe I'm just horny because I haven't had sex in longer than I care to remember. But I really think I like you. I mean, even being horny, I don't want to do it with just anyone. It's you I want. Alright. I think I'm rambling again. I'm going to shut up now," she said and pressed her lips together.

A slow smile spread across Jeff's face, and his dimples winked at her. "Then take your time, Mia. Figure out what it is you feel and want. When you are sure, let me know. And then, maybe, we can talk about this again." He said as he squeezed her hand gently.

"Talk again? Not even doing it? But talking? What's there to talk about? Don't you feel sexually attracted to me?" Mia asked and Jeff frowned.

"Of course I do. I just told you that you're my type. How can you still ask that?" Jeff asked in disbelief.

"Then what is stopping you? What is stopping us from doing it now? Time is not on our side. In a day or two from now, Henry will be here. I don't want to have any regrets," She said and Jeff sighed as he took both her hands this time.

"I'm positive that time is on my side. Time isn't going anywhere, Mia, we are. I'm not going to touch you or do anything until you are a fully divorced lady. Henry might not deserve you, but you are still married to him and bound to him by law. I don't want any allegation he might have against you to have any element of truth in it. So, no matter how much I want you, I won't let you commit adultery. Not with me," Jeff said softly.

"Is that the reason you said you won't have sex with me?" Mia asked, and he nodded.

A flicker of hope sparked within her. His words weren't a rejection. Maybe there was a chance. Maybe this wasn't the end. Squeezing his hand back, she offered him a tentative smile. "Alright, Jeff. Thank you."

"You are welcome. So, can you stop ogling me now and focus on what we have to do?" Jeff asked and Mia rolled her eyes.

"Not yet. When did you realize you liked me?" Mia asked curiously.

"Why do you ask?" Jeff asked and she shrugged.

"I'm just curious. You never gave me any reason to feel uncomfortable around you," she said and Jeff shrugged.

"When I thought you were pregnant," he said and her eyes widened in disbelief.

"What?" She asked, not expecting that.

"I always thought you were weird. I just didn't realize I liked you. But when I thought you were pregnant, I felt sort of saddened by the thought," he admitted.

"You were sad yet you cooked up a storm the next morning? (Chapter 581)" She asked in disbelief.

"Well, if you are pregnant you need food. I couldn't be mad at you for being pregnant when I didn't even know I was interested in you," Jeff said reasonably.

"Was that the reason you kept talking without meeting my gaze that morning?" Mia asked in amusement.

Jeff shrugged without saying anything and pretended to be busy on the laptop. Not having it, Mia shut the laptop, "Does that mean you meant it when you said you were interested in me last week? (Chapter 792)" She asked, and he raised an eyebrow.

"What do you think?"

"Why then did you deny… oh! Because I said you were making me uncomfortable you said you weren't interested in me romantically," Mia said and Jeff met her gaze.

"And now you're the one making me uncomfortable with your ogling," he said and Mia grinned.

"Who would have thought the table would turn in such a short time?" She asked and he angled his head.

"I told you time is on my side. You're proof of it," he said with a wink.