For a moment I wasn’t sure if he would join my game, but he bit his lip as if he was trying to figure out his answer.
I knew it was all fake, yet for some reason I was still nervous to hear his response.
“I’d absolutely love to go on a second date with you, Lewis.” He tried, badly, to hide his smile, and I took a deep breath and did what I’d wanted to do again since the moment I’d stopped kissing him in the castle gardens.
I dragged him close to me and cupped his cheek with my free hand. I met no resistance as I tilted his chin up and touched my lips to his. A cold palm came to rest on my chest, then travelledup to slide around my neck, nudging me deeper into the kiss. It remained a close-lipped exchange, but bloody hell. Never before had I been this aroused by a kissthischaste—or this confused.
Or not, I thought as I laid in bed a few hours later, one arm under my head and stared up at the ceiling.
We had shared three kisses so far, and every single one of them had left me in emotional turmoil.
My phone vibrated with a message and I picked it up from my nightstand to read it.
Noah: Thank you for the wonderful day Lewis
Noah: Good night x
I sighed like the lovesick fool I was, and typed out a reply.
Lewis: I had the best time
Lewis: and I can’t wait for our next date
Lewis: Sleep well x
In that mangy old shack of yours.
Maybe I should have offered him half of my bed, but fucking on the first date had never really worked out for me. And as much as I pretended it was all fake, I wanted to get this right.
To enjoy the illusion that Noah and I have a future together while it lasts.
Chapter 13
Lewis
Ispent most of the rainy weekend cleaning my flat, and then had lunch with the LFD family. More than once I almost caved and called Noah, just to hear if he was okay, but I didn’t want to appear needy.
We spent most of Monday morning working on the plan for our beer brewing workshop and then I caved. I lingered outside the staff room for a moment to text Noah before my lunch break. A minute longer of not hearing from him afterthatdate andthosekisses and I’d flip the fuck out.
Lewis: Hi, I just wanted to check in real quick. How about I come over later and take you shopping? Hope you’re not out of food yet x
I slipped the phone into my pocket and entered Lone Fox’s pub, assessing the room.
Ariah cradled a bottle of rhubarb pop in their hands on the far end of the table. They had one foot propped up on their chair and their sleek black tail furled and unfurled behind them.
Perla sat across the corner from Ariah. Seeing her chatting happily with our Pooka colleague filled my heart with joy.
Something had changed with Perla. She’d been a bit of a recluse for most of her first year with us. I’d put it down to her being the only water creature on our team.
Looks like she’s finally starting to feel at home here.
A gentle buzzing next to my cock made me flinch and I wrestled my phone out of my jeans.
Noah: Hey, Lew
Noah: How was your weekend?
Noah: I’d be super grateful if I could top
