Fuck, I can’t take this unspoken thing between us. Not talking about it is making it worse. Surely having it out in the open would be better than this. Anything would be better than this.
“Do you ever think about it?”
Luke’s eyebrows rise. “Think about what?”
“The plane.”
“Are you kidding?” He grunts a disbelieving laugh. “I haven’t been able tostopthinking about it.” The rough edge to his voice makes my blood rush hot under my skin. “And after last night—” he cuts himself off with a shake of his head. “Never mind.”
“Last night?”
“When you were… bent over the kitchen island like that…” He swallows thickly. “I’ve thought about it even more.”
Holy shit.
Molten heat spreads down my limbs, pooling low in my belly. He’s thought about me bent over the kitchen island? I almost can’t breathe at the thought.
Well, I was wrong. Talking about this is not helping in the slightest.
His eyes search mine, as if looking for some kind of answer from me, but I can’t form words. Just when I think I can’t take it for another second, he wrenches his gaze away.
“We should probably go,” he mumbles.
I suck in a breath, snatching up the game and taking it back to the shelves. He’s right—we need to go. I need to get some space from him. Now.
17
Michael and Alex are on their way out when I arrive back at the apartment that evening, and I’m relieved to have some time to myself.
Alex, however, is plagued by guilt. “I’m so sorry we have to leave,” she says as I kick my shoes off. “Michael’s agent wanted to have dinner with us, and—”
“It’s fine! Seriously. I hope you guys have a nice time.”
Alex slips her heels on with a grin. “I had an idea, though. Since I’m so swamped with work, I thought I’d ask Luke to take you sightseeing.”
My stomach wobbles. “Oh, you don’t have to do that. I’m sure he’s busy.”
“He’s off work right now,” Michael says, pulling on his dinner jacket. “He can spare a day to show you around. After all, we’re about to be family.”
Something about those words makes me a little uneasy, but I push the feeling aside. “Are you sure—”
“I just texted him.” Alex grabs her bag and leans in to peck me on the cheek. “He said he’ll take you tomorrow.”
“Great,” I mumble as the door closes behind them. I head into Henry’s room and set my bag down with a frown, processing this. It’s hardly ideal. Not just because I don’t want to play tourist; I also shouldn’t be spending extra time with Luke.
After that conversation at the board game cafe this afternoon, I had to get out of there. The chemistry between us was intense and it freaked me out. It’s getting harder to ignore how attracted I am to him, despite the fact that he’s still technically married and—I seem to keep forgetting—I’m here for Alex. Nothing good can come of pursuing the attraction between us.
But, fuck… I’m so drawn to him. Sure, he’s gorgeous—anyone with eyes can see that—but it’s not just his good looks. He loves all the same things I do, maybe even more than me. I’ve never met a guy who is happy to spend hours playing games, or discuss the merits of different game formats, or compare the book version of my favorite stories to the films. He’s a nerd, through and through, like me. We’re kindred spirits in that way, and I think part of me recognized that on the plane, even before I knew any of that stuff about him. It’s like my soul just knew his, or something.
And not only that—he’s thoughtful, too. He called me when he thought I was upset, he went out of his way to take me to that cafe today, and he’s been so encouraging with my own cafe idea. No one has ever cheered me on like that before and it’s really nice.
I know I’m not the only one feeling this thing between us, not after what he said to me today.Every time I replay his words—I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it—I feel like I’m going to explode.
If I’m going to spend the whole day with him tomorrow, I need to take the lid off this pressure cooker. At least I have the apartment to myself. I wouldn’t normally attempt this; I never feel the urge since it’s always proven to be fruitless. But ever since I met Luke, let’s just say… I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. About sex. Abouthim.
My gaze lands on my bag and I reach down, pulling out the John Stamos box. Alex spent good money on this, and Iamin a bit of a pickle with the whole Luke situation. May as well do the logical thing here. And I’m not going to lie, I am a little curious what all the fuss is about…
With vibrators, that is. Not John Stamos.
