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“Now we’re dating. Exclusive,” I say. “Unless that’s not what you want.”
She seems to think it over, poking at her salad and moving it around her plate. When she finally answers, my heart soars.
“I want you.”
“You have me.” Shuffling out of my seat, I move around the table and slide in next to her.
Lex rests her head on my shoulder as I wrap my arm around her, pulling her close. She smells like summer rain—clean and fresh—and I want nothing more than to nuzzle my nose in her hair and take a deep breath.
I also don’t want to come across as a creeper.
After tucking the list away in her purse, we finish our dinner in silence. I moved to sit across from her again even though I didn’t want to. There was too much distance between us. I wanted my body pressed against hers. To be able to see the tiny flecks in her eyes when I looked at her. And yes, to be assaulted by her scent.
Because summer rain was not all I smelled. Her arousal was also present.
I made sure to pay the waiter while she used the restroom. When she came back, I laced our fingers together and we walked hand in hand out of the restaurant. I saw the looks people were giving us. Women, assessing me. I was used to that. It was the eyes of the men that seemed to follow Lex that bothered me. I wanted to growl in their faces, to shout, “Mine!” at the top of my lungs. Claim her with a kiss so intense we became one.
But I couldn’t.
Because the lines had been drawn and kissing was a no go. In public, anyway. When I get her back to my place, that’s going to be a different story. I plan to kiss her until she’s struggling for her next breath, greedy with need, and writhing beneath me. The thought causes my pants to tighten as we wait for the valet to bring my car around.
It makes it hard to focus as I speed away from downtown and toward my apartment.
And it makes me crave her even more when I pull into my apartment, and she looks at me with lust in her eyes. She never questioned where we were headed. I didn’t ask if she wanted to come over. The fact she doesn’t have an exam tomorrow means tonight is approved.
The only hiccup I didn’t see in our plan was my brother naked in my kitchen—for the second time today—and Kendall standing next to him in only a tank top and underwear when we walked in the door.
So much for keeping this a secret.
“Shit,” I mutter under my breath as Lex attempts to release my hand.
Not gonna happen. I’m not letting her run away. And even if she tries, I’ll chase her and bring her right back here.
“Wanna put some pants on?” I glare at Declan as he attempts to cover himself with his hands, his eyes flickering between me and Lex. So are Kendall’s, only she has a knowing smile on her face.
Thankfully, they both head down the hall toward Dec’s room, giving me a moment alone with Lex. There are tears in her eyes when I wrap my arms around her and pull her close.
“Everything is going to be fine. I promise.” Her body continues to shake as I stare deep in her eyes, attempting to reassure her of my words.
“Kendall wasn’t supposed to find out.” The words are barely above a whisper but every insecurity in her voice rings loud and clear.
“We said we were going to tell Declan and Piper. What’s one more person? Besides, the more you’re here, the better your chances of running into her would have been.”
“And Kendall lives with Lo, who’s dating Finn, who lives with Max …”
“Secrets are hard to keep in this circle. You already knew that.” Pausing, I take a deep breath and let it out slowly before I ask her the one question I’m not sure I want to know the answer to. “Is it my reputation? Is that why you don’t want people to know about us?”
“No,” she retorts immediately. “It’s just... I, uh, I don’t know. What if it doesn’t work out? Then there’s this weird vibe and—”
“Only if we make it weird.”
“We can’t go back to being friends after this, Micah.”
“We weren’t friends to begin with, and I don’t want to be your friend.” She tries to hide her smile by ducking her head, but I tilt her chin back up so I can appreciate her beauty. “And that’s not what you want either. So, let’s talk to Kendall and Dec. Ask them to keep this between the four of us and go from there, okay?”
Lex nods her head reluctantly as Kendall and Declan round the corner to the kitchen, both dressed more appropriately, though Declan still isn’t wearing a shirt. When I raise an eyebrow at him over Lex’s shoulder, he shrugs and says, “You asked if I wanted to put pants on. You never said anything about a shirt.”
Kendall giggles as Dec wraps his arms around her and pulls her to his side. It’s the reaction I wish Lex would have as well. Instead, her body stiffens in my arms and her eyes go wide.
