Page 55 of My December Darling

He brushes the pad of his thumb across my bottom lip. “That was…” He is breathless and his eyes are hooded as they drop to my mouth again.

I shiver, and he shakes his head. “Fuck.”

I take another step back despite the desire to close the gap between us again.

“Catalina,” he rasps, and my lower half pulses at the sound of pure need in his voice.

“Yes?” I keep my voice emotionless.

“Go on another date with me?”

I’m not sure what I was expecting him to say, but that was not it.

“Who said the last one was a date?”

He makes a face.

“You know, for someone who looks like a dark-haired Captain America, you sure lack finesse.”

“What can I say? You bring out a self-conscious side of me.”

“Really?” I thought as much but hearing him confess it aloud makes megiddy.

There he goes, rubbing the back of his neck again. Now that I come to think of it, I never see Luke do that unless I’m nearby, and the thought makes my chest all warm and tingly again.

Hm. Maybe I like throwing him off his game and ruining that image of confidence he puts on for everyone else.

“Are you thinking about it or…?” He doesn’t finish his sentence, another habit that I suspect only happens when I’m in his proximity.

I could reject him. It would be easy to throw up some walls, protect myself from the inevitable hurt I’m bound to feel once I leave town, and avoid the possible drama that could unfold if things became more serious, but at the same time, it feels like one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make in a while.

Truth is, I want to spend more time with Luke. Even if nothing serious comes out of us hanging out together, I can’t deny the impulse I have to see this through, regardless of all the reasons I shouldn’t.

“What do you have in mind?” I ask.

His smile comes back in full force. “Ordering takeout and working on the Galactic Command Base together at my place?”

I cross my arms and quirk a brow. “Is that Luke code for sex?”

“Shit.” His cheeks, which were red from the cold, deepen in color. He tucks his hands into the front pockets of his jacket, as if to stop himself from rubbing his neck again. “Would you rather us go somewhere else? I just thought you would like to build the set with me—” he rambles before I cut him off and give his shoulder a little shove.

“I was just teasing you. That sounds perfect.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I’d rather do that than go to a restaurant or something.” I’ve dated a few men throughout my life, and none of them have been interested in spending a night together doing something so simple yet some, and I’m not about to squander the opportunity.

“So, Friday? Let’s say seven p.m.?” His confidence grows, and my smile along with it.

“Sure.”

“And tomorrow we’ll meet up in the break room to work on the speech?”

“Only if you promise to have a cup of coffee ready for me.”

“Deal.” He drops a quick kiss on my lips, and they tingle as he steps away from me.

I turn and unlock the front door, keeping my excitement hidden as I quietly slip inside the house. The last thing I want to do is wake my parents up and have them question who I was staying out until midnight with.

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