‘Next you’ll be telling me that you only opened a bookshop on Capitol Hill to get my attention.’
‘It worked, didn’t it?’
‘Despite myself.’
They’re at a crossing now. They’ll be there for at least fifteen seconds. Lexi really wants to kiss him. She can’t take it anymore. She turns to look at Sam, but with a glint in his eye, he shakes his head.
‘What?’ she asks, trying the innocent approach.
‘Nope. Not yet. You’ve got yourkiss meface on, and I am not starting this in the middle of I street.’
She wiggles her eyebrows. ‘Starting what, exactly?’
‘Our night together. Don’t make me start and stop again. That’s just cruel.’
Lexi huffs a little but has to admit he is right. Her body is primed, ready. If she gives it the go signal, things might get a little graphic even for Overheard in DC.
‘Not long now,’ he says.
‘Wait,’ she deadpans. ‘We’re not waiting until we’re married?’
‘Don’t even joke about that.’ And then, after a pause: ‘People don’t actually do that, right? That’s, like, an urban myth?’
Lexi pictures her group of Christian friends. ‘I think they do, yeah.’
‘I can’t decide if they deserve respect or mockery.’
‘It’s a little bit impressive, I think.’
‘It’s a little bitsomething, that’s for sure.’
They’re crossing New Jersey Avenue now; she can see his building from here, its name emblazoned on the front.
‘I can’t believe you live at The Novel. So appropriate.’
‘I’m glad you approve.’
Somehow, they make it, stumbling through the doors to the building and into the lift. It’s just them in there and Sam stares resolutely ahead so that Lexi doesn’t go getting any ideas. But the second they’re through his door, all that self-control is a distant memory. He leans her against the wall and kisses her deeply, hungrily, before she’s even had a chance to drop her bag. It lands with a thud. It’s possible her phone breaks. She doesn’t even care.
‘Hi,’ she says, when they break to catch their breaths. She doesn’t know why. It just seems like the thing to say.
‘Hi,’ he says back, breathing hard. ‘Might I enquire whether you are having a pleasant evening?’
It’s impressive to string together this many words at this kind of moment, let alone engage in some light Austenite role play.This one’s a keeper, Lexi thinks.
‘Exceedingly pleasant, thank you.’
‘Perhaps you might find yourself more at ease with fewer garments?’
It’s a sign of Lexi’s twisted brain that the correct use offeweris the hottest thing about this moment.
‘I should like that,’ she tells him, impressed with her own use ofshouldand mildly disappointed in herself for caring right now.
She turns and scrunches up her hair with one hand so he can unzip her dress, then she lifts up her arms. He pulls it over her head, then spins her back to face him in one swift motion.
‘No corset,’ he notes. He’s trying to be smooth, but his voice sounds a little strangled. ‘Very daring.’
He kisses her neck and makes his way down her body.
