I can't believe he said yes.
I can't believe I asked.
Noah's gaze drops, slow and deliberate, traveling over my face, down my neck, lingering on the curve of my breast before returning to my eyes.
The look is openly appreciative. Hungry in a way that makes my breath catch and heat pool low in my belly.
For a charged, crackling moment, we just stare at each other. I'm hyperaware of the rise and fall of his chest, still damp from the shower. The way his jaw tightens. The heat in his hazel eyes that matches the fire building inside me.
I see his Adam's apple bob as he swallows. See the way his fingers flex against the towel, knuckles going white with the grip.
He's close enough that I can feel the warmth radiating from his body. Close enough that if I just leaned forward a fraction, I could grip that darn fabric and give it just one quick pull.
No. Absolutely not.
I want to touch him. God, I want to close the distance and find out if his skin is as warm as it looks, if his mouth tastes as good as I've imagined in those late-night moments I refuse to acknowledge in daylight.
But that's insane.
"I should go." My voice comes out strangled, too high. I clear my throat and try again.
I'm already moving toward the door, clutching the robot toy to my chest, my wings fluttering with the urge to flee.
I yank open the front door and practically stumble onto the porch, the cool air hitting my flushed face. I speed-walk to my door. My hands are shaking. My whole body is shaking.
I only calm down when I'm safely inside my house, my back against the door.
What the hell did I just do? I just asked my manny on a date.
And he said yes.
Chapter 10
Noah
Istandinfrontof Rika's door, suddenly very aware of my hands and my posture. My palms are sweating, my heart hammering like I'm sixteen and picking up my prom date.
Ridiculous. This isn't a date. Rika made that crystal clear last night when she asked me.
This is just two adults going out as friends. Platonically.
Right.
I stare at the door for a second too long, then lift my hand and knock. A moment later, the door swings open.
And I forget how to breathe.
Rika stands in the doorway, backlit by the warm glow of her entryway, and she's stunning. She's wearing a deep-blue wrap dress that clings to every curve I've been trying very hard not to think about all week. The neckline dips in a V that shows just enough cleavage to make my mouth go dry and my brain stop functioning at full capacity. Her pale-blue hair is loose, tumbling over her shoulders in soft waves that catch the light. A delicate shawl in a lighter shade of blue drapes over her arms, and her wings, those gorgeous, shimmering wings, flutter slightly behind her.
She looks nervous too. Her cheeks are flushed, her hands fidgeting with the edge of her shawl. Adorable and sexy, all rolled into one.
"Hi," she says, her voice a little breathless.
"Hi." I manage to get the word out, though my brain is still trying to process the vision in front of me. "You look… wow."
Her cheeks flush deeper, and she smiles, a real, genuine smile that lights up her entire face. "Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself."
I glance down at my dark jeans and button-down shirt, suddenly self-conscious. "Thanks. I wasn't sure what the dress code was for a not-date."
