“Not the same.”
I turned to face him. He’d let the shadow on his chin and jaw grow into scruff, trimming it. His hair had been styled and I could smell the musk of his aftershave. “I know.” Because I did. I preferred him near me.
The next three weeks were going to be hard.
“We should go.”
“What time’s the table booked for?”
“Eight-thirty.”
“It’s only seven.”
“If we don’t leave now we’ll be getting take out in bed in about three hours and I want this to be more than just getting into your bed.”
I stepped towards him, putting my hands on his shoulders and standing on my tiptoes to press my lips to his. It was the first time we’d kissed since the airport and it had been too long.
His hands were on my waist and my lipstick stood no chance. He tasted of mint and him, his body hard under my hands. It was coming home but I didn’t know to what.
That cliff; the leap into the unknown.
My first kiss had been with a boy called Gareth. My heart had pounded and I hadn’t known what to do. Now was that first kiss again, but without the insecurities. A door was opening and stepping into what was beyond was flying having never spread my wings before.
“I feel like I’ve just become my father.” Seph’s voice forced us apart.
Callum’s hands were still on my ass, but his eyes were on his brother.
“For your sake I hope you’ve not.”
Seph laughed. “Thought you had reservations? For eating food, not each other.”
Callum didn’t respond at first, the pressure from his hands becoming a little tighter and I felt the control he was needing to use.
“Are you staying here tonight?”
Seph laughed loudly. “I’m staying at Claire’s and looking after Eliza while her and Killian go out so I won’t be cramping your style.”
“Good.” His grip loosened.
“Should we head out?” I was aware that I probably needed to change my underwear first as that kiss had woken up other parts of me.
“Probably.” He didn’t move.
Seph laughed again. “I’ll be in my room for about fifteen minutes, just so I don’t catch you kissing like two teenagers again.”
Callum just glared. When Seph disappeared his gaze focused back on me. “I don’t think I’m meant to kiss you until after the date.”
“Maybe not. But you’ve already done more than that. And I wasn’t sure we were following any rules.”
He rested his chin on my head. “I broke my rules a long time ago for you.”
It was the second time he’d said as much. I hadn’t asked why or what those rules were. I had a feeling I already knew.
“We should go. Or cancel the reservation.” I was itching to push that shirt off him, maybe tear a few buttons in the process. He was tense, bothered. I wanted to ease it.
“Go. I want to take you out.” His words were a murmur. “If you still want to go.”
“Yes.” I did. And this was important to him. “But I don’t want this to be just one more night.” That was important to me.
