Page 45 of Deck the Fire Halls

“Twice, actually.”

“Sorry. Now that I’ve kissed you twice, I want to kiss you all the damn time. I’m happy to wait until you’re ready for more. I just want to spend time with you. I wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted to give you the time you needed. I don’t want to rush this. I want to get it right.”

Well, damn.

I had some difficulty speaking for a few seconds. “I’d like that,” I finally managed. “Dating. Kissing all the damn time sounds kinda great to me too. And for what it’s worth, I’ve not been with anyone younger than me... that I know of.” I made a face. “Certainly never dated anyone younger.” I put my hand to my chest. “But to be fair, I gave up eight years of my life for medical school, so we’re basically the same age.”

He laughed and threaded our fingers, looking at our hands on his knee. “I’m glad we talked, and I’m glad we’re on the same page.”

“Me too.”

“And I know it’s early days, and honestly, as tempting as the offer of fuck buddies is, like sex right now—because believe me, I’m tempted, and I’m sure my dick hates me right now—but I really want romance. And I know that sounds sappy and stupid, but dinner dates and flowers for no reason, and all that sweet stuff. I want that too.” He worried his bottom lip with his teeth. “I see how the guys are with each other—the smiles and the looks—and I want that. Sounds kinda lame, right?”

“No. Not at all. It’s not lame to want to feel appreciated and wanted.”

His eyes met mine. “Thank you for saying that. Iswear, Chucky thinks I’m so desperate for love that I’d take anyone.”

I recoiled at that. “Oh.” Because that was . . . that was . . .

Soren grabbed my hand tighter, his eyes wide. “No, not you. I mean before you. He used to say I was such a sucker for love that I was gonna fall head over heels for the first guy who looked at me twice.”

“And that’s not true?”

“No. You looked at me once. You actually came stomping across your yard to yell at me, holding your coffee cup with your hair all messed up?—”

“Please don’t say wearing those damned pajamas.”

He chuckled. “They’re burned into my memory.”

I smiled at him. “Romance, huh?”

He shrugged. “Well, yeah. Do you not want me to sweep you off your feet? Make you coffee, make you smile. Bring you flowers.”

“For me? I thought you wanted those things.”

“Well, I’m not opposed, but I meant for you. That’s what I like to do; I like to spoil my partner and look after them. Some guys find it too much, and I might get carried away.”

“I don’t want to come home to a thousand red roses.”

He snorted. “I wish I could afford that, but no. I’m more of a one single rose kind of guy.”

“One rose is completely acceptable. But I won’t come home to find my pet bunny in a boiler on the stove, will I?”

He looked positively horrified. “Who the hell have you dated?Ted Bundy?”

“It’s from a movie.”

“Jesus Christ.”

“Yeah, it wasn’t my favorite film.”

“Okay, so no, that’s a hard, hard pass. But maybe some dinner on the stove sometimes. Though it’ll probably be vegetarian after the bunny visual.”

I laughed. “I like vegetarian. I make a mean chickpea curry. Well, I used to. I haven’t made it in a long time.”

“Then I would love to try it sometime.”

I glanced back at the kitchen. “I was going to cook you dinner tonight, but then I was certain you wouldn’t be coming over so I didn’t plan ahead, sorry.”

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