Page 16 of The Alpha's Addiction
Our food arrives, and we eat in comfortable silence.The ravioli melts in my mouth, and I moan quietly at the taste.Rhodes stares, and I know my face must be beet red again.
"What?"I ask, flushing.
"You’re just...perfect."
I laugh, embarrassed.“Hardly.”
He chuckles and shakes his head.“No, you are.”
He says it so confidently that a part of me believes him.
By the time we finish our meal and split a slice of tiramisu, my body is relaxed, the food warm in my veins.I feel good.Not jittery or awkward.Just good.
He pays the check, and we walk back to his truck.The air is cooler now, and I shiver slightly.Without a word, Rhodes shrugs out of his jacket and drapes it over my shoulders.
“Thanks,” I say shyly.
He nods and opens the door for me, offering me his hand to help me into the passenger seat.
We drive in silence for a while, but it’s the kind of silence that hums with possibility.When he pulls up in front of my building, he cuts the engine but doesn’t move.
"Can I walk you up?"
I nod, heart racing.
We climb the stairs together, and I fumble with my keys, unlocking the door.
"Thank you," I say, turning to face him.
"For what?"
"For tonight.Dinner.Talking."
“Anytime,” he says as he steps closer.
He looks at me as he slowly, carefully leans in.
His lips brush mine, soft and tentative.I inhale sharply, but don’t pull away.The kiss deepens slightly, his hand resting gently on my waist.And then he pulls back.
"Can I see you again?"he asks intently.
I nod."Yeah.I’d like that."
His smile is slow and real."Goodnight, Adeline."
"Goodnight, Rhodes."
I step inside, close the door, and immediately press my back against it.
Holy.Crap.
Heading to my bedroom, I take a cold shower, tug on my pajamas, and call Holly.
She answers on the first ring."Well?"
I collapse onto the couch."He kissed me."
She screams.
