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“They won’t hurt. But I don’t want to move yet.” Even with the aching of my joints from lying on the floor, I wanted to stay right where I was, afraid that if I moved I would lose my grip on the edge and plummet into a drop. I hadn’t explained any of that to Luca and I wasn’t in any condition to do so now.
Luca’s crackly purr reignited, his fingertips tracing patterns on my stomach. I closed my eyes tightly, perilously close to slipping down that slope.
“Did I do okay?” Luca asked softly.
He said it so sweetly, so earnestly, that I could imagine the puppy eyes.
“Yeah.” I brought his hand to my face and kissed the pulse point of his wrist. “You were a good boy, Luca.”
His purr grew stronger, his grip on me pulling me impossibly closer.
“Did you have fun?” I turned my nose to his wrist, letting his hand cradle my head while I breathed him in.
“I think so. I mean, I like doing things you like, and it’s hard to beat the sounds you make when you’re desperate. My everything is starting to fall asleep, though, so I vote we move on to that shower and snacks we planned.”
Before letting him up, I rolled in his arms, clutching his face to devour his mouth. Moment by moment I eased back, happy to match his softer pace before he finally pulled away. The kiss he planted on my forehead had my insides squirming over the tenderness.
We both walked on unsteady limbs and tangled back together in the shower. He went through the painstaking process of cleaning us both up and braiding my hair before making us some loaded scrambled eggs and toast.
“Why the fuck are you still single?” I asked between bites.
“Never liked anyone enough to not be, I suppose.”
“Lots of people date anyway, though,” I pressed. “You’re telling me no one’s tried to snap up your dinner-cooking, hair-braiding, cute little ass before?”
Luca laughed, stalling his answer with a sip of juice. “Sure they have. I’ve been on dates. I’m just really picky.”
“Why do I make the cut? I guess being secret helps since you can avoid all that inevitable drama with your mama.”
The heat in Luca’s gaze had me pausing a bite halfway to my mouth. “You make the cut because you’re sunshine to me. Bright, beautiful, and I feel warm whenever you’re around. I’d be a dumbass if I didn’t like you, honestly.”
Lust replaced the pool of emptiness I’d been carrying around. “Luca Marino, if we weren’t already fucking, that would’ve convinced me to start.”
His laugh warmed me. “What about convincing you to have a second round?”
“Mhmm. Mind you don’t get burned too bad playing with me.”
Luca’s phone went off, startling both of us. Dread snaked through me. Calls didn’t usually come in this late for anything good. He fished out the phone, his face paling when he saw who was calling. “It’s my mom.”
“Well, answer it.”
“Hey, Mom. What’s going on? Are you okay?” He got up to pace, running his hands nervously through his hair. “I’m out with a friend. No, I haven’t heard from Nicky. What’s happening?”
My own phone went off a moment later. Allie’s name appeared on the screen. “Hey, girl. What’s up?”
“Have you heard from Nicky?” Allie sounded breathless.
“I haven’t. Why?”
“It’s all over the news. The library she works at is burning down as we speak and no one can get ahold of her.”
“Fucking hell. What are we supposed to do?”
“I dunno. Let us know if you hear anything?”
“I absolutely will. Keep me posted.”
When Luca and I were both off our calls, we stared at each other for a long moment before tears snuck up on him.
