“Just give me a day.”I finally concede, unable to not match the smile he’s beaming at me.
“Thank you!”His hand is suddenly cupping my cheek, his lips pressing against mine, the action so unexpected and quick I barely have time to react.But I do.An electric current zaps all the way down to my toes and I find myself leaning into him to return the kiss, my fingers clenching the material of his t-shirt.
And then, he’s gone, cold space between us, his eyes wide as he takes two steps away from me.“I’m sorry.I didn’t-”
“It’s okay.”I bow my head, my cheeks flaming at my own reaction to him.When I swing my gaze back up to him, his fingers are brushing over his lips.
Yep, it was real.And holy hell, now I know why I slept with him so many times in such a short time.That was barely anything and I swear to all things holy, there’s a heat at my core I haven’t felt since before my accident.
“Larkin should be awake any minute from her nap.”I stride over to the baby monitor on another counter, praying for it to squawk to life and save me from trying to make small talk with Luc.
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”His voice gravely as he stands statue still.
“You didn’t.”I lie, not making any kind of eye contact so he can’t read right through me, busying myself with washing a cup in the sink.
“It’s just-” He pauses, a sigh sounding before he continues.“I forget sometimes.That you don’t remember what happened between us.”
I turn as he explains further, his head bowed as he stares down as his feet.“I’m haunted by it.How you felt in my arms.What you tasted like.The curve of your waist as I held you down and lost myself in you.What you sounded like when you moaned.”
My breath catches in a gasp and his head snaps up, our eyes colliding.
“Yeah, it was something like that.”He nods, stepping slowly toward me.
“Luc.”I breath, not entirely sure if I want him to keep coming or stop.
“My name-” He prowls closer, “on your lips.”He narrows his eyes, as he drags a hand down his chin.“I’ve dreamed of hearing you say it again and again.”
I take several steps back to counter his forward ones, my heart fluttering like a hummingbird’s wings, my chest rising and falling rapidly.I hold a hand out in front of me to stop him, but he doesn’t reach it, both of us freezing when a voice sounds over the monitor.
“Mama.”
Luc arches a brow, a wicked smirk appearing.“Saved by the baby?”
I laugh nervously, knowing my cheeks are flushed by the heat I feel in them.“I think so.”
“Let me go get her.”He offers, and I nod, needing a few minutes to recover from what just happened.
What in the hell would being on the road with him be like?Stuck on a bus together.For hours at a time.Was I actually considering this?And was I doing this for Larkin or for me?Because holy hell, I’m quite sure I would have let him throw me up on the counter if he had come any closer.
This man was pure sex on a stick.Danger should be stamped on his forehead in bright red letters.He’s the reason “unholy” is a category on playlists.There’s sex appeal, and then there’s Luc, the kind of man born entirely of chaos and bad decisions.
I needed to make sure I would be able to make good decisions when it came to my daughter.And that did not include how amazing I know he would feel on top of me.
“I think she might need a new diaper.”He’s holding Larkin under the armpits, both of his arms extended.He looks like he’s holding a bomb that might explode and has no idea what to do with it.
Larkin’s little legs dangle, toes tapping air, her eyes big and round with interest, not fear.She’s perfectly calm.He is not.His brow is pulled tight as he keeps repeating, “it’s okay, it’s going to be okay.”
Her tiny fist curls around one of his thumbs, and that’s when he freezes.Doesn’t pull her closer, doesn’t pull away.Just… pauses.Like he’s been manually unplugged.
I watch, caught between utter amusement and fascination.And I can’t help it.I smile.Not at the awkwardness, but at the care.The way he’s hyper-focused, hyper gentle.As if she is made of spun glass and silk.
He has no idea that it’s the single most endearing, disarming thing he’s done so far.He also has no idea that I just decided we’re going on tour with him.
“I’m sorry,I don’t think I heard that correctly.”Briana cocks her head, wide eyes gawking at me from across the table.“Larkin’s father is Lucifer Sarris?From Devil’s Halo?MyDevil’s Halo?The band I love and you hate?”
“Uh-huh.”I nod, taking a fortifying gulp of the wine in my glass.“Yep.One in the same.”
“This is a joke, right?”Her hand slams down against the wood, not in anger, but in disbelief, her mouth hanging open.
