“And I can’t skate for shit, so that makes us even. Let’s do dinner again then,” he counters.
“Sounds like a plan.” I give myself a virtual high five. He’s already planning what we’ll do the next time we meet. Him, as Hope’s dad, and me, as her agent.
“Do you have time to do anything before your flight tomorrow?” Erika asks in a curious tone.
Eden explains their plans for tomorrow. “We have all day to explore. Do you have any suggestions on what we should do?”
Erika lists a ton of places they should visit before suggesting, “But of all the places you must go, visit the Cute Little Bakery in the Westmount area. They do these chocolate mousse puddings in the shape of pandas and teddy bears. They also do the best donuts. Leon buys them for me all the time.” Our eyes meet as I walk toward her.
“Strawberry glazed is her favorite,” I say, mesmerized as her mouth lifts at the corners. “The ones with the sprinkles,” I add, the world shrinking around me, and all I see is her. “I’m afraid she might love those donuts more than me.”
She chuckles, her cheeks turning the same color as the strawberry-glazed donuts when I loop my arm around her waist and kiss her temple.
“You two are so cute together,” Hope says, then asks, “How long have you been dating?”
“A day.” We both answer at the same time, making the Kings laugh at our absurd answer.
I clear up any confusion. “But we’ve known each other for over twenty years.”
“Ah, that explains it,” Eden says dreamily. “Friends to lovers. That’s my favorite romance trope.” She clutches her chest.
“You read romance books?” Erika asks, sounding excited about a hobby they might share. I’m glad the conversation shifted to that. While I could talk about our love story all day, I don’t want to discuss it now.
“Dozens of them every month,” Eden replies, then points her thumb at her husband. “Hunter likes to refer to them as clit literature.”
“See.” I lay my hand out flat, making my point. “That’s what I called them earlier today, too.” Before Erika came all over my fingers.
“Can we stop talking about spicy books?” Hope appears disgusted with her mother’s choice of book genre, lowering her voice so no one can hear.
“It’s time for us to go anyway.” I chuckle, sharing an eye roll with Hunter as we say our final goodbyes, and I inform Hunter that I have already settled the bill.
“That was fun.” Erika shivers as we hit the cool night.
Removing my jacket, I drape it around her shoulders and pull her in close as we wait for my driver to arrive. This isn’t our first or second time being huddled together outside a restaurant, but tonight is the first time we’ve left dinner together as acouple. Finally.
Blood pumps through my veins with excitement, enjoying every moment of being able to touch her in public, show her off to the world, and let anyone watching know she’s mine.
“I like the Kings,” Erika announces, snuggling into my chest.
“They loved you.” How could they not?
“They love you too, Leon. They’ll sign.”
“I love you.” I plan on telling her every day for the rest of her life.
“Say that again,” she pleads, looking up.
I eat up the small space between our mouths. “I love you,” I whisper, our breathing gradually syncing in a moment of stillness before our lips finally meet.
I close my eyes when her soft lips cover mine, sparks of desire bursting through my body, making my cock twitch in my boxers. The sensation of her mouth slanting over mine causes me to groan. She tastes like the lemon sorbet we ate.
Our slow kiss feels endless. A lifetime, ideally, as she melts into me.
When I slide my hand down to the curve of her waist, then the hollow of her back, exploring her body made for sin, a wave of goosebumps spreads across my skin, making me crave more of her.
I press my hips to hers, my erection pushing against her stomach, my piercings making my cock more sensitive as the skin stretches.
“Leon,” she breathes softly, her voice trembling slightly. “We’re not doing slow. I want you. All of you.”
