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“It is,” I said slowly. Technically. But we’ve been living together for a while now, I thought.

“Well, don’t sleep with him on the first date. Leave him hanging. Make sure he comes back wanting more.”

I almost laughed out loud. We’d already exchanged orgasms, so that ship had sailed, too. Instead, I nodded. “I’ll do my best.” After another moment of quiet, I turned to her, hoping to change the subject. “Remember that weird, smelly guy you went on like two dates with freshman year?”

“Oh, my God. The guy who smelled like salami?”

“That’s the one,” I said with a laugh.

“Ew, and when I asked why, he said he was using the fragrance like a cologne, to attract women and get them ‘in the mood.’ Can you imagine thinking that’s a good idea?”

“Is he better or worse than the guy you dated who went out of his way to stomp on ants every time he saw them?” I asked.

Lena cringed. “Gross. Walking around with the ant stomper was like walking with a toddler. You had to stop every five feet sometimes. But hey, no worse than the girl you dated who only spoke in iambic pentameter.”

“That takes talent, at least,” I countered. “She was a Shakespearean scholar. She wanted to ‘be one with the Bard,’ as she put it.”

Soon, we were giggling and reminiscing about our terrible college dates, rather than focusing on my date with Ellis, and not only was I relieved to have steered the topic away, I felt lighter than I had in a long time. This was the Lena I missed, the one I could be silly with, relax with, and shit-talk other people with.

Finally, after about an hour of that, I got off the couch and took a shower. Lena helped me pick out clothes, because I’d planned on wearing what I’d worn all day and she said that was unacceptable. Instead, I settled on a dark gray Henley and dark blue jeans.

My stomach fluttering with nerves, I made my way outside and into my car before heading to downtown Pine Bluff. I picked up takeout from a pizza place—it seemed like a safe food choice—and drove to the new shop. I parked behind the building, quickly finding the correct door, before I shot Ellis a text.

Kieran: Here. Back door.

Ellis: On my way.

As I waited, my entire body sang with anticipation and excitement. I didn’t have to stand there long. A moment later, the back door swung open and Ellis stepped out. When he saw me, his face lit up with a bright smile. We’re really doing this, I thought, my heart in my throat, my breath hitching. We’re really going to give us a chance. I could hardly wait to be alone with Ellis again—not in hopes of getting busy, but even taking the time to get to know him a little better. The thought made me feel the way his kisses did—dizzy, excited, and hungry for more.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ellis

My body buzzed with nervous anticipation as I held the door open for Kieran. He stepped in through the back door of the retail space I’d rented that morning and as he did, I took a deep breath, in hopes of calming myself down. Everything is going to be fine, I told myself over and over. Don’t overthink this. Just go with it.

It had been a long time since I’d felt this way about someone, an intense attraction combined with the urge to really get to know them. Since Eva and I’d split, sure I’d had a few one-night stands, but this was different. Something about Kieran made every part of my body and brain light up with desire.

I locked the back door behind us, for safety’s sake, not that I had anything worth stealing, and not that theft or unlawful entering were common crimes in Pine Bluff. A moment later, I followed Kieran inside. He stopped between the two doors in the back of the room and waited for me.

I pushed the office door open wide and flipped the light switch to illuminate the tiny room. It was big enough for a desk, a single chair, and a file cabinet, all of which the previous tenants had left behind. I could imagine maybe fitting a second chair in, but for the time being, what I had would have to suffice.

Kieran put the pizza box on the desk and gave me a little smile. “It’s cozy.”

I grimaced. “That’s one word for it. Unbearably small is another.”

“That’s two words,” he pointed out.

I laughed and nodded. “Fair.”

For a moment, we stood there, looking at one another, tension stretching between us, my mind and body warring for dominance. Pizza and conversation, or pounce on him right now? I wanted both and I didn’t know how to decide.

Kieran made the choice for me. He stepped in close, until there was barely a breath of space between us. “Hi,” he murmured. His gaze flickered down to my mouth and back up to my eyes, his breathing shallow.

“Hi,” I echoed. When his tongue slipped out to wet his bottom lip, I lost the battle and pulled him in for a kiss.

Immediately, Kieran made a pleased sound in the back of his throat, a hum that turned into a rumble in his chest as my tongue found its way into his mouth. His hands gripped the back of my shirt as mine cupped his jaw and neck. We kissed for several moments, my chest tightening as I worked to restrain myself from devouring him.

The kissing was deep and measured at first, gradually becoming more needy and desperate. When Kieran slid his hands under my shirt and his warm palms pressed against my back, I groaned and stepped forward, crowding him until he was backed against the wall.