Stop. The. Presses.
Every particle in my body screamed a raucous yes.
I squeezed my trembling hands more tightly around the steering wheel. “Yes.”
How I managed to say that without melting into a dribbling pile of goo was as mysterious to me as why any parent thought stuffing some elf on a shelf was festive.
His hand traveled dangerously higher, and my body jerked, nerve-wracking excitement shooting through me.
I swerved out of the lane. “You have to keep from doing that if you want us to get there in one piece.”
“Fair enough.” Lucas chuckled and removed his hand.
My thigh cooled, and I immediately regretted my request. I blew out a slow exhale and then turned the volume up on the radio. Chris Isaac’s “Wicked Game” enveloped us as he crooned about wanting to fall in love.
Crap, maybe that wasn’t the best of songs in my hyperaware state. Besides, I didn’t want love. This was simply about lust.
Then why did it seem far more potent?
Somehow, someway, I made it through the rest of the drive without doing anything erratic like leap across the front seat while stopped at a red light or spew jumbled phrases about the naughty things on my mind.
Nova’s bedroom light was on. I drove past the house and parked on the road a few houses away.
Lucas pointed behind him. “You can park in the driveway.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to deal with any speculation about why my car’s there overnight.”
Lucas nodded. “Right. I get it.”
Once we exited the car and walked toward the house, he placed his hand on my lower back. My legs were as wobbly as if my knees turned into jelly donuts.
“Everything okay?” Lucas asked as he welcomed me inside.
“Just a bit nervous,” I admitted while taking off my coat. “It’s been a long time for me.” I bit my lip. “And I’m not as experienced as you.”
Lucas took my coat and hung it in a closet. He placed his forefinger on my lower lip. “You don’t have to worry about that.” He flashed a boyish grin. “I’m nervous, too.”
I furrowed my brows. “You?” I blinked at him. “Why?”
He searched my eyes. “Because it’s you, Zoe.” He swallowed. “And there’s no one quite like you.” Then he bent down and kissed me.
Lucas
My body trembled with anticipation as I finally kissed Zoe again. What I’d admitted was true. No one had ever affected me this way, and I was having a hard time controlling my emotions.
During the drive back to Salem, I ached for her. She’d allowed herself to be vulnerable by trusting me with her secret, and that drew me ever closer to her. What could I do to take away her pain and ensure she never had to face anything like that again? My dragon roared for vengeance.
He only calmed his rage after the mood shifted in the car. When Zoe agreed to come home with me, my dragon turned jubilant.
I wrapped my arms around her and ran one down her back. My yearning had grown, so much now that finally having her in my arms, at my place, seemed as magical as a dream. All I wanted was to touch her, to care for her, to bring her to the highest realm of pleasure. But I couldn’t push her too hard and too fast.
Shadow purred, announcing his arrival in the room as he rubbed against our legs. With reluctance, I pulled away from Zoe. “Someone demands attention the second I walk through the door.”
Zoe bent down and rubbed Shadow’s cheeks and chin. “Hello, Shadow. Sorry, I’m stealing some of Lucas’s attention.”
As she cared for my furry little buddy, a smile spread across my face. It wasn’t the playful or mischievous one I often showed the world, but from a place deep within. Was this what pure happiness felt like?
“Do you think you can share him with me this one night?” Zoe asked Shadow.
