“Kind of. I retain information easily.”
“That was never my strong suit. College for me was basically a week of caffeine and crying before every exam.”
“You passed. That counts.”
“Barely,” I admit, grinning. “You got the brain stuff. I just squeaked by.”
He shakes his head. “But you had friends. You could talk to people. People like you.”
His words catch me off guard. “Miles,” I say softly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, “people like you too. I like talking to you. You’re fun. And thoughtful. And kind.” His smile turns shy and my pulse quickens.
He huffs a quiet laugh, as if he doesn’t quite believe me, then glances down for a second before looking back up. “I met your mom,” he says gently. “But… what about your dad?”
I hesitate. I don’t talk about my dad much. It’s easier to pretend he doesn’t exist. “He left shortly after my mom’s diagnosis.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s better this way. He’s an asshole.” Setting my wine glass down, I steal another piece of pasta and pop it into my mouth, mostly to keep myself from spiraling into a full rant about my father. For a moment, my attention lingers on him, searching for anything that might shift the conversation somewhere safer. “I was wrong about you.”
His brow lifts. “Oh?”
“You didn’t propose to anyone while using OneDate. Which, unfortunately, cost me several handbags from Rylee, Eve, and Dessa.” I shrug. “But it’s fine. I’ll survive.”
He chuckles. “So you were placing bets on me?”
“Kinda.” I steal another piece of pasta. “But you proved me wrong.”
Miles steps closer, squinting slightly. “You’ve got sauce—right there.”
Before I can wipe it away, his thumb brushes the corner of my mouth. The touch is simple. Casual. But my heart clearly missed the memo. I take his hand and lift his thumb to my mouth, closing my lips around the tip as I slowly lick away the sauce. My gaze never leaves his. His irises darken as lust swirls in them. When I let go, his hand falls to the counter, but his eyes stay fixed on mine. Memories of yesterday—his bed, my mouth on him, his on me—flash through my mind. Heat rushes through me, and my nipples tighten instantly. I wonder if he’s thinking about it too?
Neither of us move away. Instead, he steps in closer, settling between my knees with his hands braced on the counter beside my hips. The air between us is charged, one spark away from ignition.
“You always look at me like you’re about to say something,” I murmur.
“I usually am. I just… overthink it.”
“Try not thinking.”
He leans in slowly, giving me plenty of time to stop him. I don’t. His lips meet mine, warm and soft. His fingers grip my chin, his thumb drawing the smallest circle near my jaw, and everything gets hotter. My heart thumps once. Then again. I shouldn’t be falling for this. For him. For the way he takes his time. But here I am. He steps closer, and I inch nearer to the edge of the counter, my knees framing his hips, my hands resting on his shoulders before I realize I put them there. When he pulls back, his forehead rests against mine.
“This is dangerous territory,” I whisper.
He smiles softly. “I kind of like dangerous with you. I want you. Not just… like this. I mean—really want you. More than yesterday. If you do too.”
My heartbeat trips over itself, not with nerves, but with how right it feels to hear him say it out loud. “I do,” I admit. “Any chance your parents are going to walk in? I don’t need a repeat of the other night.”
“No. They’re at a resort up the shore for a week.”
“Good.” I take my own advice and stop thinking. I fist the front of his shirt and yank him to me, crashing my lips to his. I tilt my head, deepening our kiss, and his breath stutters. With my ankles hooked around him, I draw him closer, rolling my hips to feel his hard cock pressing against me. A deep groan sounds from the back of his throat, and I do it again. My hands slide into his hair. His reaction is instant. He doesn’t try to hide it, doesn’t try to control it, he just rocks into me. I kiss him harder, letting my body move the way it wants to, letting friction do what words don’t need to explain.
I break away from the kiss. “Miles.”
His lust-filled eyes meet mine. “Yeah?”
I take his hand, lace my fingers through his, and hop down from the counter. “Come with me.” My teeth sink into my lower lip, and he grins.
“Wait.” He gives my hand a gentle squeeze before letting go. “I just—give me one second.”
