The Critic (26 page)

“You’re so fucking wet for me.” His voice was deep and dripped in the sexiness that was all Bentley.

His hand went between us, and he gently pressed on my tender spot, sending me into oblivion. His mouth covered mine as I let out a sound I didn’t know I could make. Our pace quickened, and my legs trembled.

“You . . . feel . . . so . . . good.” His voice was ragged and deep, making my orgasm more intense.

Knowing I was the one who made him feel this way was more than enough for me. He held my knees, which were almost touching the mattress, and I watched the muscles in his face contract and his eyes close. He pushed deeper and deeper inside me as he rode out his climax.

“God, that was just . . . I don’t know. Perfect?” He licked his lips then licked the thumb that had been rubbing my clit. “Yeah, perfect.”

I smiled because I couldn’t have agreed more—we were.

We finally got out of bed, and while I showered, Bentley made coffee. I relished the scent of his body wash as the liquid turned into bubbles on my skin. I thought of all that had transpired over the course of the past few weeks. How had it all happened? I guessed that everything did happen for a reason, even if we didn’t know what that reason was at first. Now I knew. Bentley was my purpose. His move came to mind, as it often did. I just didn’t know if I could walk away from New York. Yes, he was the most important thing to me, but I needed to make a living too.

Once I’d finished my shower, I grabbed a towel off the heated towel rack, which I could definitely have gotten used to. When I was dried and dressed, I headed to the kitchen. Bentley was on the phone. I hoped he was making plans with his brother, but when he set the phone on the counter, he just stared at it.

“Brett?” I guessed.

“Yeah.” He grabbed two mugs off the shelf and filled them with freshly brewed coffee. “Black?”

“Yes, please.”

He nodded and poured creamer in his.

“How is he?” I padded across the room and placed my hands on his hips. The rise and fall of his chest told me he was worried about him.

“He was ready to take the night off tonight and hang with us, but he said he needs to deal with some things first.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too.” He handed me my cup. “I’m going to go shower. Then we can figure out the rest of our day.”

I took a sip of my coffee and moaned. It was one of my favorite parts of the day.

“Want to wash my back?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

My lips curled. “As enticing as that is, no. I really need to get home.”

“I’ll go with you. Give me ten minutes.” He set down his mug and hurried into the bathroom.

I sat on the couch, sipping my coffee and taking in his apartment. I was happy, and that was because of him. I was reading a magazine that had been lying on his table when his sexy voice broke my concentration and made my stomach flutter.

“You ready to go beautiful?”

I smiled at him. “Yeah.”

We got in the car and drove toward my place. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it while weaving through the crazy Manhattan traffic. He looked tense as he squeezed my hand tighter with each turn.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

“Nothing. I’m just thinking about Brett. How could he have done this to himself?” Bentley slid his hand through his hair.

“Well, technically, he did it to her too.” I closed my eyes. “I’m sorry. That was out of line.”

“No, you’re right. I just wish I could do something, ya know?” He glanced at me and quirked his lips.

“You’re a fixer, and I get that, but you can’t repair this one. Whatever happens, just support him.”

“A fixer?” The muscles in his neck tensed. “What does that mean?”

“Ya know, you enjoy making sure that everything works out the way you think it should. Maybe this time, you should just let the pieces fall where they will.” I tried to sound sympathetic, but Brett had made his bed. Not everything was fixable.

He glared daggers at the road, and my heart raced. Had I said something wrong? His lips were set in a fine line. He looked too mad to talk about Brett anymore, so I decided to drop it and talk about something else.

I smiled at him. “So I was thinking—”

“You didn’t seem to mind me ‘fixing things’ when I helped you run lines. Shit, without me, you may not have landed the role you just had,” he snapped.

His voice shot through me like a bullet. I flinched, and I saw him grip the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. I clenched my jaw as I swallowed down the boulder of pride in my throat.

“You could be right. The difference is I asked for your help, and unless I’m mistaken, there isn’t a way to fix this. So just be supportive of him and the choices he makes.” My fists clenched in my lap, and I counted to ten. I felt as though the rug had just been pulled from under me . . . again. The hammering in my chest made it difficult for me to breathe. “When you say I wouldn’t have gotten the part of Victoria without you, what does that mean? Did you tell the director to hire me? I didn’t get this because of my talent?” My voice hitched as I felt myself begin to fall apart, and I hated myself for that.

He pulled the car over. All I could do was stare out my window.
What the fuck just happened?

“Andi.” His voice was softer, but that didn’t help.

I kept staring out the window and concentrated on a sprinkler in the adjacent yard. It moved effortlessly back and forth, nurturing the green lawn it sat on. I envied that sprinkler’s uncomplicated existence. What I wouldn’t have given to be like that.

“Andi, please look at me.” He placed his hand on my thigh. “Just for a minute.”

“Why?” I turned my head and looked at him. “Why would you say that to me?”

He brought my palm to his lips and kissed it. “I’m sorry. I really am. I had nothing to do with you getting your job. That was all you. I shouldn’t have said what I did. I’m just stressed over the fact that my brother may be a father soon. You didn’t deserve what I said, and I’m very sorry.” He raked his hand over his stubble. “Please forgive me. I need you, and I really didn’t mean a word of that.”

The calm of the scene I’d just been staring at washed over me like the water on the grass. “I’m on your side, so I don’t need to forgive you. You have me to lean on, but if you keep trying to push me away with your harsh words, one day you’ll lean, and you won’t be supported, because I’ll be gone.” I looked into his deep blue eyes, which were glassing over as he let out a breath. My words surprised me, but they were true nonetheless.

“I don’t deserve you, Andi, and I’ll remember what you just said.” He placed another kiss on my hand before laying it on his lap.

We rode in silence to my apartment. I had forgiven him, but it still bothered me that he’d spoken to me that way. He parked in front of my building. Would he want to come in? I shook my head and leaned on my hand as I continued staring though the window. I glanced at him, but he remained calm, stoic, and silent. The thought of leaving him like this didn’t sit well with me, but by the look on his face, I may not have a choice.

I was an asshole. Looking into her eyes solidified that for me. Actually, asshole was a bit too kind. My mind raced as she went to open the car door.

“Are you coming in?” She sounded so unsure.

Did she think I was just giving her a ride home? Shit, I’d really fucked things up. I needed to get back in her good graces, and she had asked me in, so yeah. Time to get this runaway train back on track.

I forced a smile. “That was my plan.”

Her lips curled into a sexy grin that put my racing thoughts at ease. “Okay, good.”

I opened my door and hurried to hers so I could help her out. I may have acted like an ass sometimes, but I knew right from wrong. When she put her hand in mine, I felt complete. We’d had amazing sex earlier, but for some reason, it didn’t hold a candle to the feel of her hand in mine. She swung her leg out of my SUV and paused when I didn’t move.

“Um . . . Bentley? I need room to get out.” She looked at me as if I were rooted to the ground.

“I love you, Andi.”

She looked as startled as I felt. I hadn’t planned to declare my love for her in the street. I hadn’t even realized I loved her until the words flew out of my mouth.
No, that’s not true.
It was high time I stopped lying to myself and to her. I’d been pushing her away for a reason unbeknownst to me, but I was done with that. She needed to know how I felt.

Panic set in as her face paled at my declaration.

“You don’t have to—”

She placed her fingers on my lips. “But I do.” The color came back to her cheeks as she remained still. Her beautiful eyes looked directly into mine. “I do . . . love you, Bentley.”

I was so relieved. I grabbed her face and kissed her as if I’d never kiss her again. When we broke our kiss, I scooped her out of the car and carried her into her home.

Once inside, I needed to make sure she hadn’t felt pressured to respond. “Andi . . . what you said . . .”

She tossed her purse on the sofa and wrapped her arms around my neck. Her hair dangled as she leaned back to look at me. “I know we haven’t known each other very long, nor did we get off on the right foot. Shit, we didn’t get off at all.” I chuckled, and she blushed as she swatted my shoulder. “You know what I mean. But sometimes the length of time two people know each other is insignificant when it comes to their feelings. I guess the saying is true—when you know, you know.” She shrugged.

I nodded.

“I’ve been falling for you since the first day I met you.” Her eyes filled with the words she’d just said, filling my soul with adoration. Her body pressed against mine, and I held her, never wanting to let her go

“You mean the day you yelled at me at the restaurant?” I bit my lip, remembering the day this feisty woman attempted to put me in my place.

“Yeah, that day.” She smirked.

“Andi, I fell for you five years ago when I wrote my first review. My heart started truly beating that night, and since I’ve had you in my arms, the beat keeps getting stronger.”

“Yeah?” Her voice hitched.

My chest clenched. My thumb caught the tear that escaped her eye and wiped it away. “Yeah.”

Our lips met in a gentle kiss. Then we walked hand-in-hand to her bedroom, where I planned on loving all of her.

In love with me? He’d said it and said it first. I knew that I’d fallen for him, but for this gorgeous man to fall for me? Well, that was just a dream come true. We stared at each other as if we were each memorizing the other’s face.

Bentley’s expression was serene and content, relaxed. His phone buzzed and broke our trance. He picked it up from the side table and sighed.

“Is everything okay?”

“I don’t know. Brett can’t meet us tonight.” He set down the phone and sat up.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” I rubbed his bicep.

He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “It’s okay. He has to go see Nikki about something.” Lines formed on his forehead.

“I see. Well, why don’t we just hang here? I’m sure we can find something to do.”