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I just had to get through this lunch without making a total dink of myself.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
So This Is…
Larkin
“Do you think they liked me?” I asked Seb nervously as we drove away from his parents’ house later that afternoon.
He glanced over, settling his big hand on my thigh. “I know they did. Why wouldn’t they?”
I squirmed in my seat. “Because I talk too much when I’m nervous and it’s probably annoying. And I… They might think I’m too… young for you,” I added timidly. “Immature or whatever.”
Seb frowned, shaking his head. “Larkin, that’s not… It’s the other way around. I worry constantly that I’m too old for you. This kind of age gap…” He wiped a hand over his face, brows still pinched. “There’s just naturally going to be a power imbalance.”
I made a face. “What do you mean by power imbalance?”
His jaw tensed a little, eyes fixed firmly on the road. “I just have more experience than you. In everything, not just relationships. I just worry about… inadvertently pushing you into things you’re not ready for.”
“You haven’t pushed me into anything,” I said quietly. “I approached you about the lessons. I asked you if you wanted this to be… you know, more. A relationship. If I was so easily pressured, I would’ve had sex a long time ago, Seb. It’s not like I haven’t had plenty of opportunities. I didn’t feel ready, so I didn’t.” I swallowed, reaching over to grab his hand. “I felt ready with you. You never made me feel pressured about anything, Seb. Including this becoming more. This is what I want. I just want you.”
He let out a shaky breath and squeezed my hand, throat working as his chin dipped in a nod. “Alright.”
I looked down at his long fingers as I played with them absently, before blurting, “I like you so, so much, Seb. I… more than like you. Do you… know what I mean?” I peered over at him nervously, hoping he’d get what I was trying to say.
Seb’s face tightened, a muscle in his jaw ticking wildly. He blinked rapidly, then pulled over to the side of the empty road and drew the car to a stop.
His wide shoulders heaved with a shaky breath as his hands slipped off the steering wheel. The car was totally silent until he hoarsely asked, “Do you?”
“Yes.” I felt hot under my clothes, blood pounding in my ears.
He nodded, his throat bobbing convulsively until he looked over at me. His eyes were burning with emotion, features still tight as he raised our linked hands to kiss my knuckles.
“I do too.”
My breath hitched, mouth trembling a little. “R-really?”
“Yes. I’ve—” He stopped and swallowed again, his brows pinching as he gazed at me. “I love you, Larkin.”
I had to clamp my lips together as the back of my throat started to ache. Wow, the actual word sounded so… big. Terrifying, but amazing. I found my mouth stretching into a huge grin as I leaned over awkwardly and flung my arms around his neck.
I was still smiling as I kissed him, wishing we weren’t in the car on the way to Holt’s birthday party so I could climb into his lap and just cling to him for as long as possible.
Pulling back, I licked my lips and shyly said, “I love you too, Seb.”
His brows pinched again before he crushed his mouth back to mine, big hands cradling my face. The kiss quickly grew deep and desperate, and we only stopped when a car passed us on the road and the driver honked their horn.
Gurgling a laugh, I pulled back and grinned at him. He smiled back, stroking my cheek with his thumb, then leaned in for one more kiss before sitting back and loosing a slow breath.
“Guess we better get to the bowling alley to set up, huh?”
“Yeah.” I was suddenly filled with restless, overjoyed energy, wanting to bounce in my seat as Seb checked his mirror before pulling back out onto the road. “And by the way, I don’t think there’s any power imbalance, because I’m deciding what we’re doing tonight.”
His mouth twitched. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” My belly clenched with nervous excitement. “After the party, we’re going back to your place and you’re going to fuck me. All night. You’re going to work your knot inside me and lock us together. No arguments, dude. Okay?”
He huffed in amusement, reaching over to squeeze my thigh as he murmured, “Yes, sir.”
