Page 33 of Hothead

“Well”—a mischievous grin started to spread—“if you tell me what’s going on, then I won’t have to guess, will I?”

If she really wanted to know, then so be it. The old Luke would have told her. What was he waiting for?

“Okay, fine. You want the truth? I’ll tell you.” His elbows hit the table as he leaned forward, his eyes holding Bella in place as his smile was replaced with something else. Something darker. “Right now, it’s taking all of my self-control not to strip you of that shirt and bend you over this table.” He heard her breath hitch, but it didn’t deter him. His big mouth wasn’t done. “See, Bella, I want you. I want everything. I want the taste of you on my tongue. I want to know how your soft skin feels pressed against me. I want to swallow those sexy moans you make while I’m inside of you. And see the look on your face as you come apart. I want it all.”

Way to scare the shit out of her.

He still wasn’t listening, and his mouth was still running.

“So yeah. I’m acting weird. Mostly ’cause I have no idea how I’m supposed to act around a woman I want so badly. ’Cause I’ve never been in this position before. And that’s the God’s honest truth.”

By the time he was finished, he felt breathless. Despite their eyes never leaving each other, he was finding it hard to decipher her expression. He was starting to regret being so honest. There was a real possibility Bella was about to slap him in the face. Or throw hot coffee over him. Maybe hit him with a muffin too for good measure.

He would deserve it. A real-life angel was sat before him, and he’d just confessed every sinful thought he’d had about her.

Well, noteverythought.

Luke lost her eyes as her chair scraped back over the tiles. He held his breath as she rounded the table and pushed him and his seat backward, making room for her. Her legs went either side of his and she lowered herself onto him. But he still didn’t dare breathe. Not until her ass was in his lap and her palms were safely resting on his shoulders.

“You want me that bad, Cappelli?” Her head cocked to the side.

“Yes.” He searched silver for answers.

“If we do this, then we need rules.”

“What do you want?” That was better than what he really wanted to say. That he’d do anything she asked.

“I don’t want to be treated like one of your hook-ups.” A look of hurt flashed before she had a chance to hide it. It was enough to make him feel nauseous.

He wanted to be offended. Tell her that there was no way in hell he’d ever treat her like that. But reality set in real quick. He’d not given her reason to believe he’d treat her any other way. That was all he knew.

Until now.

“Never, angel.” The words felt raw, like they were ripped from the deepest parts of him. “You could never be just a hook-up. That’s not what this is. I know that. And I promise to do everything in my power to make sure you never feel like it is.”

She gave him a single nod. “Look, I get that I’m leaving in a few weeks and whatever this is won’t go beyond that ... but I’ve never done casual. I’ve dated, I’ve had relationships, but being with someone, knowing it won’t go further is new to me, okay?”

Why did those words feel like sharp stabs to the chest? He swallowed down bile and nodded. Urging her to continue.

“What I’m trying to say is ... I need more than just jumping into bed.”

He understood. At least he thought he did as he processed her words.

“You want to be wined and dined, angel?”

The look she gave him told him that, actually, not only did he not understand, but he was also very, very wrong.

“You really do only have one setting, don’t you, Cappelli?”What does that mean?“No ... I don’t exchange sex for food. I’m talking about actual conversations, getting to know someone. To have good ... y’know ... I need to be able to connect with a person on another level. Something deeper.”

“Oh.” He did not know how to do that. “I’ve never ... I’m not sure ...”Shit.“I can try.”

That was the right thing to say. Bella’s head dipped, and he finally got another taste of heaven. A soft gentle glide of her lips over his, which was over too soon as she pulled back to get another look at him.

“Any other rules I should know about, sweetheart?”

A small smile graced those perfect lips. “Yeah. You have to promise not to fall in love with me, Cappelli.”

Now that, he could do. Love was not something he was looking for. Or wanted. And he was pretty damn sure he wasn’t even capable of it.

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