He hesitates.

Pulls back, wiping his mouth on my inner thigh like he’s marking me, before starting the slow ascent to my upper body.

Luca trails his hands up my waist first, palms dragging along my sides, causing me to shiver again. His lips follow the path—hip, rib cage, sternum—until he’s hovering over me, one hand braced beside my head, the other cupping my jaw.

He smells like cologne and spice and…

Like me.

Wet mouth.

It crashes into mine like he’s starving; like he’s been holding back this entire time and finally—finally—let go.

The kiss is deep and sexy, his tongue diving into my mouth without a formal invitation.

His hands grip my waist, pulling me so close I can feel every line of his body. There’s no space between us, just heat and want and the desperate urgency of two people who’ve danced around this for way too long. I arch into him, helpless under the weight of it, fingers sliding up the back of his neck and threading into his hair.

He groans, low and rough, the sound vibrating against my lips, and it sends a bolt of electricity right through me. Every nerve lights up. Every thought vanishes. There’s just him. His kiss. The way he tastes like spearmint and sin.

His mouth moves with purpose now—exploring, claiming, devouring. My breath hitches when he breaks away just enough to press kisses down my jaw, to nip at the sensitive spot just below my ear.

“I’ve wanted to do that forever, too.”

I smile against his lips. “It’s a night of firsts.”

“I can’t stop,” he breathes against my lips, and it doesn’t sound like an apology. It sounds like a promise.

My heart pounds as I tug him closer. “Then don’t.”

It’s all the permission he needs.

Luca dives back in, lips crashing against mine with so much force, I feel it all the way to my toes.It’s messy and hungry and wild and I don’t want it to end.

His hand slips under the hem of my top, the brush of his fingers against my bare skin sends sparks shooting through my bloodstream. It’s not just the kiss anymore. It’s the way he touches me. The way he’s looking at me. The way he can’t get enough…

We come up for air only when absolutely necessary, foreheads pressed together, breaths mingling.

Breathing heavy…

Fingers trembling.

He tugs at the hem of my tank, eyes flicking to mine like he’s checking, making sure?—

I nod. Yes.

Yes!

And then?—

“Hey! Nova! Where you at?”

We both freeze.

My entire body locks up, panic exploding in my chest like a fire alarm.

“Shit,” I whisper, scrambling back from Luca so fast I nearly trip over the edge of the rug. “Shit, shit, shit!”

He looks just as shocked, his hair a mess, lips pink and swollen. “That your brother?” he asks, voice low and slightly hoarse.