“No cults.No exes.Just...sleep.Swear.”I cross my fingers as I spout the lie.
“You’re sketchy as hell right now.I canhearit.What aren’t you telling me?”
My heart rate ratchets up a notch as I realize my best friend knows me inside and out, and can tell I might be bullshitting her, but I’m all in now, so I keep going.“Nothing!I’m just tired.I’m good.”
“Mm-hmm.”She murmurs, not buying what I’m selling for one minute.“Sure.I’m putting you on high-level best friend probation until I can look you in the eyes to sniff out the truth.”
I wait a second to see if she’s done with her rant, then chime in with my next lie.
“I’m heading home now to try and catch up on some of the sleep I missed.Are you still at the hotel?”
“I’m home.”She lets out a little growl of frustration.“And thanks to you, I barely got a wink of sleep because I couldn’t stop pacing the floor waiting for you to text me.”
I cringe and attempt another apology.“I really am sorry.”
“I know, I know.”I can hear her take a sip of something.“I’m caffeinating up and then heading to work.I have a shift at the restaurant today.I’m on until six.”
“Okay, maybe meet up later then?”I suggest, trying to redeem myself.
“Let’s meet for brunch tomorrow.At our regular place?I’m pretty sure all I’m going to want to do after being up all night and now all day, is crash.”
“It’s a date.”
I grin, relief flooding through me that she seems to have already forgiven me.“Ten-thirty?”
“Perfect.”She makes a kissing sound.“Bye, bitch.”
The line disconnects between us just as Luc walks out of the bathroom, a towel secured around his waist, steam trailing behind him.
“Everything kosher?”
I nod.“Yep, just had to check in with Bri.”I clarify for him who she is.“The friend I was here with last night that hooked up with Dean.”
“I remember.”His mouth crooks up in a wicked grin.“Did you tell her about me?”
“None of your business.”I shoot back at him.“Nothing personal, remember?”
“Oh, so we’ve started the game?”His head angling as he drops the towel, and prowls in my direction.
“Is this a game?”I take two tentative steps away from him, my back hitting the wall, stalling my escape.
“Well, you did assign rules.”He reaches me before I have time to change course, his arms coming up to rest on either side of me, effectively caging me in.
His breath smells minty as he leans his body into mine.“I think it’s only fair I get to assign some as well.”
“Okay…” I manage to mumble, my eyes transfixed on his, their color mesmerizing me all over again.
“Rule two, I kiss you when I want.If you don’t want it, you say it.Otherwise, it’s happening.Rule three, wear a skirt.Not for them.For me.”His gaze skims down my body, then back up, his simmering look making it clear he won’t argue on this point.“Rule four, no makeup, I want the freckles.And rule five, I’m going to fuck you at least one more time.”He pauses, his eyes staring directly into mine.“Probably twice.”
Yep, face is definitely red, my bottom lip now clenched between my teeth.His thumb is suddenly under my chin, tilting it up as he angles his mouth to mine before capturing my lip in a gentle nip, pulling it free from my hold.
“Stop destroying this beautiful mouth.”His tongue darts out to swipe against the tender skin, and I swear, my knees almost buckle.
“Last rule-” His hand slides up to caress my cheek, fingers sliding to the back of my head as he rests his forehead to mine.“No matter what happens, you promise you’ll give me your number when we say goodbye.”
I go to speak but he shakes his head and keeps talking.“No excuses.No more fucking rules.I can guarantee one day with you won’t be enough.”
Holy shit.Is this guy for real?
