Page 147 of My Temptation (Kingston Lane)

“Let’s see . . .” He thinks again. “I think about fucking you . . . a lot.”

“I already know that.”

“Oh, do you now?”

“Uh-huh.” I smile goofily. “It’s obvious.”

He chuckles. “Is it? I thought I hid it well.”

“Not at all.”

“Umm, what else is there?”

I smile as I listen.

“Never been in love.”

Oh . . .

“Well, don’t fall in love with me,” I tease as I tap his glass with mine.

“No chance of that.” He smirks. “You’re hideous.”

“Facts.” I giggle. “Come on, more.”

“I . . .” He pauses.

“You what?”

He falls serious. “I didn’t want to leave the other night either.”

“So why did you?”

He twists his champagne glass on the table by the stem as he stares at it. “Because I’m fucked up.”

Progress.

I take his hand in mine and lift it to kiss his fingertips. “I don’t believe that.”

He puffs air into his cheeks, and I know that was a lot for him to admit. Quick, onto the next question before he can think too much.

“Okay, last one . . . What is the one fact I don’t know about you?” I smile playfully.

“The one thing?” he asks.

“The one thing.”

His eyes hold mine. “It’s my birthday.”

“What? Today?”

He nods shyly.

My heart swells. He chose to spend his birthday with me.

Oh . . .

“Happy birthday, baby.” I lean over and kiss him, and he kisses me back, and somehow this kiss is different. I don’t taste a hint of the game we’ve been playing.

---