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“For what?”
He hesitated briefly. “This. I mean, first of all, I hate that I didn’t even realize it was Valentine’s Day two days ago, but it’s more than that. I understand that this wasn’t exactly a traditional Valentine’s Day date, considering there was a baby in tow.”
Horrified to think he believed I was upset about any of what had happened tonight, I instinctively reached my hand out to his arm and squeezed. “I loved this. I loved everything about this tonight. Rhys is honestly one of my favorite humans, and I’m more than thrilled by all that you both did for me tonight. It’s been lovely.”
His eyes roamed over my face. “I love the way you care about my son, Lamise.”
There was something in his voice that was different than any other time he’d spoken to me. I didn’t think it was bad at all, especially considering his words, but it certainly caught me off guard.
“I adore him. It’d be difficult not to fall in love with him,” I said softly.
“You should also know that I really like the way you make me feel.”
“What?”
Something changed in his expression, and I sensed he was nervous about what he’d already said to me. Adding anything to it was causing him a bit of stress. Despite those nerves, his voice was a deep rasp when he revealed, “I like you, Lamise. And I like how I feel when you’re around.”
I could finally let out a sigh of relief. My feelings for Banks had been growing stronger, and I hadn’t had a cluehow he’d felt. It was nice to finally hear the feeling was mutual, and warmth moved through me at his admission.
I couldn’t miss the look in his eyes, the one that was silently pleading with me, hoping I felt even just a smidgen of what he did. “I love the way I feel when I’m around you, Banks. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this good.”
Banks covered my hand that was still resting on his arm with his opposite hand. His eyes dropped to where he was touching me, and his fingertips began stroking gently over the back of my hand.
Shivers ran down my spine at the intimate touch, as I eagerly anticipated his next move. His fingers lingered a long time on my hand before they began traveling up my arm.
My heart was pounding wildly in my chest, my lungs barely functioning.
“You have to keep breathing, Lamise,” he whispered, just as his eyes locked on mine again. He hadn’t moved his body much closer, but with the way he was looking at me, it felt like we were suddenly closer than before.
The air rushed out, but my belly began trembling. The higher his fingers climbed, the more intense every reaction I was having to his touch became. And when they hit the bare skin on my collarbone, my eyes locked on his.
“Banks.” My voice was barely a whisper as I leaned forward into his touch.
Our faces were mere inches apart when he said, “I think I’d like to kiss you.”
“I think I’d like you to kiss me.”
There was no hesitation.
In an instant, Banks had his lips on mine while his hand drove back into my hair, and his other arm slid around my waist.
God, it felt good.
So good.
The scent of Banks surrounded me, holding me captive, the same as his arm around my waist was. Only, this wasn’t a situation from which I felt the need to escape.
It was wonderful.
His mouth on mine, our bodies close.
Nothing could compare.
Or, so I thought.
When Banks’s tongue slid along the seam of my lips, I parted them. That’s when I realized that having his tongue exploring my mouth was even better. He tasted magnificent, and he kissed like he was being paid to do it.
Perfection.
