“Wasn’t joking.” He steps closer. “Thing is, I’ve got a working theory about why you’re such a spaz whenever I come around. You wannahearit?”
“Definitelynot.”
“Too bad, I’m in a sharing mood.” His eyes glimmer despite the darkness. “See, at first I figured you just didn’t like me. Weren’t into it. Didn’t feel the attraction. Slight blow to my ego, but I could deal… if that was actuallythecase.”
Gulp.
“But, then, I started watching you. The way your eyes would go all wide whenever you saw me. How you’d never make direct eye contact, or even look at me if you thought I was paying attention, let alone flirt with me, despite the fact that flirting is your varsitysport.”
Iscoff.
Rude!
I mean…true… butstillrude.
He leans down to trap my gaze. “So, I got to thinking, maybe all those times you bolted when I came around weren’t ‘cause you weren’t into me. Maybe you acting nervous and flighty and downright off-your-rocker was because of the exactoppositereason.”
My throat feels tight. “Is there a point to all this hypothesizing, or can I go tobednow?”
His eyesflash.
Oh, boy. Taunting him may not have been thebestidea.
He leans close, so close his lips are practically on mine, andhisses.
“Here’s thepoint,babe.”
And then, before I can move or breathe or object, his mouth crashes down in a kiss so intense, it makes my knees shake. I swear, if not for his hands sliding around my waist in a vise, I’d have fallen straight down the stairs with Fenway in my arms, a blur of fur and flailinglimbs.
This kiss is different than our first — stripped of all sweetness. It’s no casual goodbye peck at the end of a first date, no chaste brushing of lips between two almost strangers. No. It’s hard and angry, demanding my unconditional submission. His tongue is domineering as it sweeps into my mouth, an unapologetic invasion, an unequivocal declaration of ownership that doesn’t bother to ask my permission or care to find out whether or not I want to be owned in the firstplace.
I should fight back, to convince him he’s wrong about us, but Idon’t.
Hell, I don’t evenpretendtofightback.
As soon as his lips land on mine, my back bows in an arch of desire. I let him ravish my mouth without restraint, not an objector but a willing participant in my own seduction. Lust spikes through me like a hundred degree fever. I’m burning up, so hot I can’t help the muffled cry that comes out as he angles his head down to deepenourkiss.
Cursing the puppy for monopolizing my hands — which, honestly, would be better served clinging to Luca’s shoulders for dear life — I feel my bones turning to water beneath his touch. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s possible to orgasm from no more than a kiss when abruptly, Luca tears his mouth from mine andpullsaway.
Stepping out of my space so we’re no longer touching at all, his eyes flash with frustration and so much passion, just looking into them makes me want to writhe on the steps of my apartment, in full view of anyonewalkingby.
“That,” he hisses furiously, breathing hard, “Is my point, Delilah. You let me know when you’re ready to talk about what itmeans.”
He’s gone before I can begin to catch my breath, bounding down the stairs, climbing into his truck, and roaring away from the curb in the time it takes me to summon a single word to my still-tinglinglips.
“Goodnight,” I whisper to no one, as his taillights disappearfromview.
* * *
I’m having a great dream,featuring a certain burly redhead, his mouth trailing kisses over my neck… my nose… my cheeks. I’m thinking it may be the best dream I’ve ever had when, strangely, the kisses begin to feel somewhat less sexy andslightlymore…
Slobbery?
I snapawake.
Fenway is sitting directly beside my head, licking me with enthusiasm. The entire side of my face, from temple to chin, is covered indrool.
“Would you stop doing that?!” I exclaim, sittingstraightup.