Felix – Excerpt

.  “Before I give you my list, I’m going to show you something.”

“What’s that?”

“You’ll see,” he replied mysteriously. 

As he led her over to his car, she protested.  “But my car is here.”

“I’ll bring you back.  I promise.”

Giselle eyed his elegant sports car with trepidation. “I might scratch the leather seat,” she argued.

“Don’t worry, Giselle.  Just get in and enjoy the ride,” he urged, moving closer and putting his hands on her waist. 

They both froze, startled by the sudden intensity.  Felix gazed down into her eyes and noticed the heat there that mirrored his own.  In a flash, he suddenly realized exactly why he’d arranged his entire schedule so that he could be at the pub when she walked in every Thursday. The idea had been there all this time, but he hadn’t realized how powerful the need was! 

He wanted her!  It was the most intense, most amazing sensation.  It wasn’t like anything he’d ever experienced before.  In the past, he’d been intrigued by women and he’d felt desire for them.  That desire had been a low hum in the back of his mind.  It never lingered when the ladies hadn’t been around. 

But with Giselle, he was beyond fascinated.  His need to know her, to touch and understand her went well beyond something as mild as intrigue.  It was an aching, clawing hunger.  He excused himself from not understanding what was going on because it was such a new sensation. 

But now that he understood it…!  He looked over at her, eyeing her soft, dark hair and her delectable curves.  She was beautiful and he wanted to pursue this attraction. 

Unlike Giselle, who blushed sweetly, then ducked into the vehicle so that she could hide from him.

Felix closed the car door and started to walk around to the driver’s side.  But he paused, contemplating his reaction.  How had he been so obtuse?  How could he have been so completely oblivious to how he felt about her? 

He stared at the vehicle, wishing he could tell her how he felt. 

But Giselle was just coming out of a bad relationship.  No wonder she was so hesitant to venture into a new one.  Especially with a man like him! 

Okay, so she didn’t know what an ass he truly was.  But he could change.  Felix thought about the list in his pocket and vowed to change.  He would update the list so that it was more personal, something that would call to her specifically.  He wanted the list to be perfect for her!  He didn’t want to change in order to become the ideal husband and lover to some generic woman that he may or may not meet someday. As far as he was concerned, Giselle was it.  She was the woman he’d been waiting for! 

He didn’t deserve her.  Not after all he’d done in the past.  But he could become a better man.  He could find out exactly what she wanted in a man and he would become that man!  Wasn’t that what this whole exercise was about? 

Giselle watched through the side mirror, praying that she hadn’t made a complete fool of herself.  Her reaction to Felix’s touch had been unexpected and off the charts!  The two spots on her hips where his hands had been still tingled.  She could still feel the heat from his hands, from his body, even! 

She would have to be extra careful to ensure that she didn’t reveal her true feelings. 

She breathed a sigh of relief when he came around to the driver’s seat.  “We don’t have to do this, Felix,” she told him, reaching for the door handle.

“I need your help, Giselle,” he pointed out, laying a hand on her forearm, stopping her from leaving him.  “We’re a team, remember?”

Giselle hadn’t said anything about becoming a team, she thought, ignoring the tingling in her breasts caused by his fingers on her bare skin.  This was even more intense than his hands on her hips moments ago.  She liked it.  Too much! 

Her reaction was dangerous.  It could do real damage to their budding friendship.  And yet, she couldn’t quite manage to get out of the car.  Her fingers were still on the door handle and Giselle knew that he wouldn’t stop her.  It was only the look in his eyes, the promise of…something…that kept her in the passenger seat.

“Okay,” she replied softly. 

“Thank you.”

There was another tense moment when she looked into his eyes, trapped by the heat she saw in those blue depths.  Was she imagining the need?  The hope?  Surely, she was.