“That’s what I’m getting. You’ll need your own.”
Luc chuckled. “All right. I’d like tonight to be my treat, but I know these things can be tricky on dates. Would you be comfortable with me paying?”
It was considerate to ask rather than assume paying would be fine, and Dex found he was comfortable when he wouldn’t have been otherwise. “I don’t mind you treating me.” Especially if it pleased Luc as much as his smile suggested.
“Excellent,” Luc said in a low rumble.
Something seemed to sizzle between them, and renewed heat flooded Dex.
Did Luc feel it, too? The gleam in his eyes had Dex thinking he did.
Luc ordered a scoop of strawberry in a waffle cone, and Dex got his salted caramel. “I figured we could share,” Luc said once they both had their cones.
“Did you?” Dex grinned. How cute.
“If you want.” Luc’s attention traveled from the ice cream to Dex. “Or I can taste it off your lips. I’m fine either way.”
Dex’s heart skipped. “I like your thinking.”
Mischief lit Luc’s expression. He licked his ice cream, tilting his head as his tongue wrapped around the scoop. He hummed, closing his lips over the tip. “Tasty.”
Fuck, Dex’s mind was back in X-rated territory. “Careful. If you treat that ice cream any better, you’re going to need some privacy.”
Luc’s eyes seemed to flash in the low light,reflecting the red of his shirt for a split second. “This is nothing, my dear Dex. But I like where your head is at.”
Dex’s stomach swooped, and he almost lost his footing. “Can’t wait for you to deliver on that promise.”
Luc chuckled. “Waiting certainly won’t be easy. Oh, careful. Yours is about to drip.”
Dex quickly licked his ice cream. Thank fuck he hadn’t canceled this date. Being around Luc was exactly what he needed after the day he’d had.
They ambled slowly along the path, eating their ice creams, and every time he looked over, Dex caught Luc eyeing him.
Dex stopped at a small lookout nook with a bench and leaned against the wall. “Here, let’s swap.”
He held out his cone to Luc, urging him to hand his over. Dex held Luc’s stare as he licked the ice cream, the strawberry a fresh burst of sweetness on his tongue.
“You’re beautiful,” Luc murmured, the caramel ice cream forgotten.
Dex sucked his bottom lip between his teeth. “Right back at you.”
Luc was wearing his subtle red lip stain again. It suited him perfectly, even without any other makeup. He shifted closer to Dex and swiped ice cream from the corner of Dex’s mouth. Bringing his finger to his lips, Luc sucked it slowly.
Oh, dear god. Dex was ready to get on his knees.
“Why was your day draining?” Luc finally tasted the caramel ice cream and hummed, considering the flavor.
His question brought Dex’s heated thoughts to a halt. It wasn’t what he’d expected Luc to say after licking his finger like that.
Was he not trying to seduce Dex? Was the wholeyou’re beautifuland sharing ice cream not a move? Could this be how Luc acted normally? Fuck, that made it hotter, and made hisquestion seem sincere. Like he wasn’t asking why Dex’s day was draining out of social obligation, but because he’d considered it and wanted to know.
“I’ve had a draining week, to be honest.” Dex had another taste of Luc’s ice cream. “Actually, a draining month. I’m selling my condo.”
“Is that stressful?”
“Yeah. I’ve never dealt with anything this major. The money will go right into buying a new place, but still. I didn’t buy the condo myself, so I don’t know what I’m doing.” The financial transaction was out of his depth, that was for damn sure.
Luc swapped their ice creams back. “Do you have anyone to help you?”
