Page 59 of Lunar Crest University

“Genevieve is sick,” I tell him as I approach.

He frowns, his eyes trailing from my head to my toes. “Areyouokay?”

“I’m okay.”

“Good,” he says.

“Yeah.”

My cheeks warm as he smirks down at me, and I wonder if he’s having the same thought running through his mind. I know I should be worrying about everything around us crumbling beneath our feet, but all I can think about is last night. My body aches in all the right places. Places where his hands, his mouth, and his?—

“Reminiscing,Princesa?”

“About what?” I quip softly, my brow quirking.

Luca steps closer, pulling his hands from his pockets and reaching up to brush my hair behind my shoulders. “Cheeky this morning,sí? Did I not punish you enough last night?”

Pressing my lips together to keep from laughing, I shake my head innocently.

“You arebad.” He twists me around in one swift movement, facing me toward the front entrance as he discreetly swats at my ass. “We’re already late. The cab is outside waiting for us. Stop distracting me.”

With a small giggle, I hurry out of the entrance with him right on my heels. His hand finds mine, interlocking our fingers as he guides me to our cab. I watch as he opens the door for us, motioning for me to get inside first. The disappointment flickersin my chest as he lets go of my hand, but I ignore it as I climb into the cab, scooting across the seat as he gets in behind me. My pulse jumps when his hand finds my thigh, squeezing gently.

No one knows us here, and Genevieve is in her hotel room. For the first time, we can justbe. We can co-exist without worrying about anyone seeing us.

“Are you excited?” I ask softly, leaning against his shoulder as I peek up at him.

“For what?” The amusement is prevalent in his eyes as he lowers his head and pecks my lips. “Touring Jane Austen’s home?”

“And spending time with me?”

I hope I don’t sound as pathetic as I feel saying that.

His thumb rubs against my stockings. “Por supuesto.”

I blink up at him with a sheepish smile, waiting.

“Of course,” he translates after a moment.

His hand never leaves my thigh for the entire ride, which is just shy of two hours long. He reads fromPersuasionto keep us occupied, and I’m fully convinced that it’s the hottest thing a man could ever do. I eventually swing my legs into his lap and rest my head against his shoulder as I listen to the soothing sound of his voice.

The anxiety imprinted deep in my bones that has been there practically since birth keeps reminding me that this exhilarating feeling is only temporary. This domesticated feeling can’t last. Our trip will come to an end, and we’ll have to go back to Lunar Crest. Back to reality.

The reality where Genevieve knows about us.

Don’t think about it now.

Jane Austen’s home is a beautiful brick cottage with white-paneled windows and obvious weathering, but it adds to the feel of the greenery and flowers around it. It’s a museum now, but it’s still incredible. To even be standing in the very place where shewrote her most beloved novels is astounding. If this was the only thing we did for the entire trip, I could go home content.

The group size for our tour is larger than I expected, allowing Luca and I to linger in the back where no one can pay any attention to us. We can talk to each other on and off while also stopping to inspect each room without anyone rushing us or listening in.

“What’s your favorite Jane Austen book?” I ask him as we walk through the house, my voice soft so no one can hear.

“Persuasion.”

Pleased with his answer, I nod my head with a tiny smile. It makes sense that it’s his favorite since he read it to me on the way here.

He read me his favorite Jane Austen book.

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