He backed up a fraction of an inch, still standing close enough that I could feel his breath on me. “You’re not with this guy, right?”
“What?” I asked, having completely lost track of this conversation.
“The one you mentioned before. From high school?”
“No, we broke up after freshman year. He still texts me and wants to restart things since we’ll both be back in Hawaii after graduation. Falling back into old patterns with him would be comfortable but I’m too hung up on the fact that there should be more spark and chemistry.” I took a deep breath. “I know it sounds naïve, but both of my parents are desperately in love with their partners, their chemistry is palpable, and their love looks like they have fireworks going off in their eyes. I just want to have a sexual experience that shows me I’m capable of something like that someday.”
Leo looked down at my lips and back at my eyes. “My parents are like that too, so I know what you mean. I’ve had plenty of sex that feels good, but I’ve never felt the emotional connection that goes with what you’re describing. I can promise you one hell of a satisfying night but love that feels like fireworks might be setting your expectations a bit high for the evening.”
I looked at his lips and glanced down at the body he’d covered up, wishing he hadn’t. “No, I don’t imagine it will be that. But I’m hoping sex with an attractive male will at least feel like waving a sparkler in theair. Then I’ll know there’s something worth waiting for and I won’t settle for my ex when I go home.”
“First of all, never settle,” he said, pointing to the tattoo on his arm.
I swallowed at the intensity in his gaze.Is that what his tattoo means to him? Never settle in love?
I didn’t have a chance to ask before Leo’s eyes darkened as he moved back to my ear. His voice came out like a growl. “And I’ll give you more than a fucking sparkler, Hawaii.”
I shuddered, nearly melting into a puddle on his floor.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow at seven,” he said.
“For sex? Can’t we just strip down and do it now?” I asked, afraid I’d lose my nerve by tomorrow.
“No,” he said curtly. “I need you to be sure you want to do this. And you won’t get an answer to the question you’re asking if you just throw yourself into it. Let me take you out first.”
“I didn’t sign up for a date,” I said.
“Yeah, well, as of two days ago you also insisted you wouldn’t be sleeping with me, and yet here you are. Do you want the full Leo experience or not?”
“Does the full experience usually come with dinner from the fuckboy?”
He winced and shook his head. “Please don’t call me that.”
“Why not? Isn’t that what you’re known as?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Maybe it’s what I’ve been, but it’s not how I want you to think of me.”
I searched his face. He looked regretful and a little hurt.
“I’m sorry, Leo,” I said, feeling bad. “I shouldn’t have said that. I have no right to judge your actions.”
“It’s okay,” he said. “I know what I’ve done to earn the title.”
“Maybe,” I shrugged. “But you also seem like there’s more to you than that title presumes. So, I’m genuinely sorry. You can take me to dinner tomorrow.”
He smiled like he’d won something. “Calm down, Hawaii. No one said anything about dinner. I’m taking you for a drink.”
I chuckled and rolled my eyes, leaving his bedroom and heading for the front door before I got myself in more trouble. “Such a gentleman, Mr. Harrison.”
He followed me. “Careful. Talk sexy to me like that tomorrow and we might not make it through the drink. You know you don’t get school credit for this right? Even if there is a report card involved?”
I snorted and pulled open the door. “Good night, Leo.”
Chapter Seven
Leo
If someone had toldme that Sophia Grimes would show up on my doorstep asking me for a casual hookup, I would have assumed they were high as a kite. Which is why as soon as I shut the door behind her, I pinched myself on the forearm. And then on the other arm.
