Page 38 of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

His hand slid around her waist, and he pulled her flush against him. “My pleasure, Loriana.”

Gazing into those nearly black orbs kicked her libido into gear—something that hadn’t happened in a very long time. She still had his right hand clasped in her left. With her free hand, she cupped his cheek.

He leaned into the touch.

“I’d like to kiss you.”

His lips twitched. “It’s nice to be asked.”

She managed a shrug. “Consent’s a thing.”

“Yes, yes it is.” He smiled. “I’d like it very much if you kissed me.”

The height difference meant she had to angle her face up while he lowered his. Their mouths met. Just a light brushing of lips. She applied more pressure to the next touching, but he didn’t reciprocate. A third time, and still nothing.

Well, hell.

She nipped his lower lip, and when he opened his mouth in surprise, she thrust her tongue in. She was tired of waiting. After all, she’d had this desire almost from the first time she set eyes on him. Yes, he was handsome. But he also called to her in a way men rarely did.

A growl tore from his chest as he seemed to fall into the kiss. His tongue mated with hers—and then demanded its own admittance. He slid his hand lower still and grasped her ass. Again, he dragged her closer.

Damn coat.

She wanted to rip it off him. So she could get to his sweater. So she could getunderhis sweater. She wanted to touch bare skin. She wanted to make him feel good. She wanted him to make her feel good.

So goddamn long.

He pulled back.

She groaned.

He pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose.

She opened her eyes to see a rueful smile.

“I think that’s enough for tonight.”

“You realize I’m about to ask you to come to my bed.”

He inclined his head. “And part of me is tempted. The rest of me needs to be way more secure in the relationship before I can take it to the next level.”

“I think that’s supposed to be my line.”

“Hardly.” He laughed. “Men are allowed to be cautious, and women are allowed to be open and honest. Trust me, I want to go to your bed. To explore this—to see where it’ll take us. But it’s too soon. I’m a traditional guy—closer to the tenth date than the third—and we haven’t even had one.”

Sometimes logical people annoyed Loriana. When she was trying to be a free spirit. Which, admittedly, wasn’t often.

Why am I feeling reckless tonight?

Something she’d have to consider.

Later.

She pressed another kiss to Mitch’s lips. “Well, Monday isn’t really a date because Marnie will be there. How about Tuesday?” Yet even as she asked, she remembered the little question niggling—might there be something between Mitch and Marnie? She didn’t think so, but Marnie’d been more comfortable with him than she had with any man. Completely understandable—the man could make even the most skittish person comfortable. She glanced over at her cat. He could even turn cats into traitors.

Plato glanced up and gave her awhat’s your problemlook.

She’d have words with him later.

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