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“Well, good day to you too, Prince Maximus,” I take the chance to tease. “Quite a throne room you have here.”
He’s waiting with a long, intentional growl. “Professoris just fine, Miss Valari. You know that.”
“Of course. Because you were busy earning it back at Alameda, with thelesson planning?”
“And who says that wasn’t what was happening?” His half-smirk has my pulse skipping in equal measure. “There are these things calledfield trips,you know…”
“Ahhh,” I offer. “Yes. I think I remember a few. Visiting the La Brea tar pits…the zoo…”
I’m stopped from lengthening the list when my secret surprise leans in to take my lips again. As we’re clinching and my heartbeat is tripping harder over itself, there’s an approving catcall from the parking lot. My sister is beyond proud of herself, and I don’t blame her. I don’t want to.
The only thing I want right now is more of what my gorgeous professor is offering—and then some. Enough to make up for what he put me through last night. No. More. So much more.
Thankfully, as we pull apart and I stare up into the beloved angles of his face, I already catch the hint that he’s aligning plans the same direction.
“Well, Miss Valari, I can guarantee no tar pits for tonight’s excursion.”
I tilt my head, all too happy about flashing a returning grin full of devilish entendre. “What about the zoo? I’ve always enjoyed wild animals.”
His low chuckle matches the timbre of heat from his aura. “That part’s up to you. But if we’ve got to crack whips to make it happ—”
I cut him off by mashing our mouths harder than before. The man, and his lusciously sinful mind, deserve no less. This surprise adventure is already off to an amazing start.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
MAXIMUS
Despite the initial—and holy damn, wonderful—passion of my reunion with Kara, I’m as nervous as a kid at prom during the drive that takes us a little farther north on the coast. Surprising a woman like her…have I blown my whole wad on this idea? After tonight, am I going to be the baby daddy working to live this disaster down even when our child turns thirty?
Kara Valari. Even the syllables of her name are evocative of things like diamond bracelets, gourmet chocolates, and imported lace.
But in less than a month, she’s going to be Kara Kane.
And everything in my psyche says that Mrs. Kane was created for a little escape like this. Right now, perhaps she needs it as badly as I do.
I make my mind stick to that belief as I take the exit for El Capitan Beach. But instead of turning toward the state park, we continue up the small surface road. Framed by a variety of local palms and some flowering trees, an even smaller road branches off from it, cutting up toward the hills.
Now that I don’t have to worry about other vehicles, I dare a lengthier glance toward my little demon. Inside of ten seconds, it’s less difficult to find my confidence. She’s already lowered the window on her side of the truck and is leaning her head out like a kid bound for an amusement park.
But following that theme, there are hints of trepidation in her expression too. Maybe she’s wondering if this is a similargotchato the one Kell delivered this morning. Part of me is tempted to ensure her that it’s not. I’m even ready with a disclaimer, primed to suggest some backup plans just in case.
In less than a minute, I’m exultant about ejecting them all from my brain. But a thousand times more joyous about witnessing Kara’s first reaction to our field trip destination.
“Are youevenserious?” she gasps out. “It’s like…the Garden of Eden. You bribed the staff not to tattle that I’m here, right?”
I grunt my way through an affectionate buss to her neck. “If I’ve done everything right, we won’t see the staff at all.”
She’s dutiful about obeying my hand signal to stay where she’s at. But as I arrive at her side of the car and reach up to help her out, it’s clear she hasn’t been idle. The gears in her mind are whirring so fast, I can almost hear them.
“So last night…you were here and not at Alameda?” She huffs as soon as I swing a guilty-as-charged side-eye. “But I sent a text to Jesse too, asking him to make sure you guys ordered dinner. He answered me—”
“From his own apartment,” I supply. “Or maybe from one of our building’s hallways. I told the guy he was risking his mortality if anything happened to you while I was away. But I had to make sure everything was perfect for this. For you. For us.”
She stops swiftly, clutching both my hands so I do the same. Once our gazes meet, she presses a hand to my face.
“Being with you is perfection, Maximus Kane.This, right here…moments for us…that’s what’s perfect.”
For a long moment, I’m hopelessly lost in her stare. As excited as I am about what’s ahead, the bright satin of her eyes brings a tactile effect as well as an emotional one. I’m so taken. So stricken. So indigent if she’s not wrapped around me, mind and soul.
