Page 52 of The Billionaires

He finally moves to stand me upright, and I become hyperaware of the trajectory of our lips. Specifically, the minor corrections I need to make to put them on a collision course. They’re only a few inches apart. Now three inches, two, one… liftoff.

By the space saguaro, NASA would be proud of me.

Like a shuttle docking with a space station, our lips lock. Heat rushes through me, like a solar flare, and our tongues dance, like a planet and its moon. If mouths could see, mine would be blissfully admiring stars, nebulas, and distant galaxies. Endorphins explode in my brain like supernovas, and I feel a dampness between my legs, like… err …something wet in space.

I arch against him, and something hard presses into my stomach.

His erection.

Oh, shit. What are we doing?

I let go of his neck, staggering back—and it’s a miracle I don’t end up on my ass after all. Or break another priceless something.

Panting, I touch my lips, staring at him. “I… I’m sorry.”

The edges of his cheekbones are painted with dark color, and his breathing seems equally uneven. Then, even as I watch, a hard mask drops in place over his features. “I kissed you,” he says harshly. “Shouldn’t I be sorry?”

He did? I thought I kissed him. Whatever. Whoever started it, we sure went at it with an enthusiasm that breaks every rule we’ve agreed upon.

“I think I should go.” I look around stupidly—as though an exit from the mansion will magically materialize in this room.

“Understood.” He rings a bell hanging on the wall.

I blink as Elijah appears almost instantly. Apparently, opening limo doors is only one of his mythical butlery skills.

“Take Juno home,” Lucius says imperiously.

With a curt nod, Elijah gestures for me to proceed to the door.

I follow him, my steps zombie-like, and only when I reach the limo do I realize that I never said goodbye to Lucius.

He didn’t say it to me either, though in his defense (if it could be called a defense), he’s a rude bastard.

As the car starts moving, the enormity of what’s just happened slams into me, like a bull into an inexperienced matador.

Lucius and I kissed.

And I liked it.

More than liked it.

But he didn’t. Or did he? There was an erection…

But then why kick me out?

Did he kick me out?

Either way, what was I thinking? I clearly wasn’t. That’s what happens when you let ovaries take over for the brain. Is our deal off now? Have I messed up our arrangement?

The questions swarm my neurons all the way home and as I go through my evening routine, I come up with exactly zero answers.

It’s not until I’m falling asleep that one more question rises to the surface.

Am I still going to Florida tomorrow?

CHAPTER 20

LUCIUS

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