“Anything.”
“Hendrix has been loudly proclaiming that I fancied you since you moved in. Why ask me out now?”
“Because I didn’t think he was right until now. And I’ll admit I was a little hesitant to go there.”
Stefan’s eyebrows knot together. “Why?”
I shrug. “Things could get messy and awkward. We have to live together.”
“It worked out for Beau and Fraser, and Theo and Preston.”
I smile. “It did, didn’t it?” I wince and drop my gaze.
“But?”
“That’s no guarantee, is it?”
“There are never any guarantees.”
“True.” I half smile. “I think the bigger question is, why did you take so long? Why didn’t you do something about it if you were interested in me? Why wait for me to make the first move?”
“That wasn’t what I was waiting for.”
When I look up, I realise he’s leant in a little closer. My breath catches in my throat. Stefan is intense in a beautiful way. “What were you waiting for?”
“An indication that you were interested in me. I’m not in the habit of asking guys out who aren’t interested.”
I arch an eyebrow. That tells me he doesn’t like to be rejected, which makes sense, as his mum walked out on him. My heart hurts as I contemplate that. Maybe we’re both a little messy—him with his emotional baggage and me with my tendency to fall fully or partially asleep. The question is, do either of us want our lives to get messier?
“I’m interested,” I whisper.
Neither of us moves. It’s a little awkward.
“That was your cue to kiss me.”
Stefan chuckles. “That’s my job, is it?”
“Well, yes. You’re the Dom. You should be taking control and sweeping me off my feet. Not literally obv—" My eyelids flutter as his lips crash against mine.
His hand settles on my neck, his fingers tickling my nape. My lips tingle from the intensity of the kiss. I question whether it’s happening or whether I’m dreaming. Fireworks light up the bar around us. An unfading red heart is the centrepiece of the display. Spiralling white fireworks that look like streamers dance through it. Pops, bangs, and whistles punctuate our toe-curling kiss.
“Quinn?”
I blink. The fireworks vanish. Not that they ever existed. I touch my lips. I can still feel the pressure of Stefan’s mouth against mine. Even if I did dream my way through most of it, the kiss was real.
“Good kiss.” What a lame thing to say as my heart crashes and I try to keep my emotions under control. I lick my lips. “You’re a good kisser.”
“So are you.”
My cheeks heat, and I shake my head. Or at least I try to, but Stefan uses the pressure of his hand to gently stop me.
“You are.”
“I… I sometimes dream when I’m awake.”
Stefan’s eyes widen a fraction.
“Not daydreams. They’re more vivid and real than that. I get confused about whether I’m awake or asleep.” I look away from him. “I just wanted to explain why I spaced out for a moment.” I smile sheepishly. “It was a great kiss. What next?”
