Her lips part. “You planned that?”
“I thought you’d like it. You can talk to Zorina about organizing events. She’s good at managing people. You could learn something from her.”
Something flickers in her expression, a mix of surprise and warmth. “That’s… thoughtful. I didn’t expect that from you.”
“I like surprising you.”
“I can’t decide if you’re a good surprise or a bad one.”
“I’ll let you find out.”
We drive through the city, streetlights flashing over her face. Every time she moves, the hem of her dress shifts, revealing another inch of smooth skin. I grip the steering wheel tighter.
“Why do I get the feeling this isn’t just a date?” she asks.
“Because it’s not.”
“What is it, then?”
“A lesson.”
She arches a brow. “In what?”
“Trust.”
She turns toward the window, hiding a smile. “You’re so dramatic.”
“At least I’m consistent.”
Her laugh slips out, light and real, and it does something to me. She doesn’t sound like the girl who always has to hold everything together. She sounds free.
“You’re different tonight,” she says softly. “Not as cold.”
“Maybe you’re imagining things.”
“Maybe I’m not.”
At the next red light, she looks out the window, her reflection glimmering in the glass. Her profile glows under the city’s neon haze—the curve of her cheek, the bow of her lips, the dark shimmer of her hair.
I can’t help it. She’s so unguarded, so vulnerable. So mine. I can’t resist the sweet temptation of her plump lips stained with red lipstick. Just like I told her. Pride swells in my chest. She followed my instructions, and I’m going to reward her for it.
I reach out, take her face in my hand, and pull her toward me.
Her eyes widen for a second before she closes them, breath stuttering as my lips find hers. The kiss starts slow but deepens when she parts for me, her fingers gripping my jacket like she’s falling. The world outside dissolves into a blur of color and light.
She tastes like sweetness and defiance. My tongue finds hers, mingling in a heated dance that makes my body temperatureskyrocket. It’s a short kiss, but I make her moan, make her grip my jacket and lean in for more.
When I finally pull back, she’s breathing hard, lips glossy and swollen.
“Traffic light’s green,” she whispers.
“I noticed,” I say. “That was your reward for listening to me, by the way. That lipstick looks good on you.”
“So good you couldn’t resist eating it?” She chuckles.
“So good I’m going to want to feel your mouth on me all night, leaving those red marks all over my body.” I tuck my fingers under her chin, pushing her face up to meet my gaze. “Wait for it, babygirl.”
Our romantic moment is broken by someone honking behind me.
