Page 98 of I Can't Help It

“You don’t know that.”

“And even if he did,” she repeats herself with raised eyebrows, “that doesn’t mean you and I couldn’t be together. I’m in charge of my own love life, and I choose you. You’re my right kind of guy, Luke. Any feelings I had for Wyatt stayed in the past, and that’s not going to change just because he still might have feelings for me.” She slips her hands out of my grasp and proceeds to cup the sides of my face instead. “Do you believe that?”

My nerves are buzzing with adrenaline as she watches me expectantly. Even though I already knew Ava wanted me, hearing that she chooses me—and not Wyatt—is the reassurance I desperately needed. “Yeah, I do. I believe that.”

She bites her lip while giving me a smile, and somehow, it’s even sexier than the last two times. “Good, then you should kiss me like you wanted to last night.”

LIFE IS WEIRD SOMETIMES

Ava

Part of me expects that he won’t kiss me because he still hasn’t talked to Wyatt, but I’m also hoping he’ll just agree with me. After all, we talked everything out, and I feel like kissing would be the next best step.

“You know what?” he asks, his voice soft and husky.

I hold back a shiver as I move my hands to the back of his neck. “What?”

“I think you’re right.”

And then his mouth lands firmly on mine with a hot, ravenous kiss.

Thank God I’m sitting down, because my head is already spinning from the intoxicating effect he has on me. My lips slide apart as I kiss him back with the same amount of intensity, and he makes a throaty sound before gripping my waist like he’s worried I’m going to disappear. I’m not going anywhere though. Why the heck would I want to when I’m kissing the man of my dreams?

Needing to be closer to him, I scoot forward until I’m able to comfortably wrap my legs around his midsection. I’m pressed against his chest now, and I can’t help wondering how all of those firm muscles would feel beneath my fingertips. Would Luke freak out if I slipped my hands under his shirt and explored a little bit?

I consider asking him about it, but a little moan escapes instead when he drags his teeth over my lower lip and begins to trail kisses along my jawline. Every fervent touch from his mouth is better than the last, and I tilt my head to the side, so he’ll have easier access to my neck. But he seems to have something else in mind, because it’s his nose—not his mouth—that traces a slow path all the way down to my collarbone.

“You always smell so freaking good,” he mutters, pressing his face into the crook of my neck. “I can’t figure out what the scent is, but I love the way it smells on you.”

His lips caress my skin as he says the last part, making it incredibly hard to focus, but I still manage to form a breathy reply. “It’s cucumber melon.”

“It’s perfect.” He gives me a gentle nip before lifting his head to kiss my mouth again. “You’re perfect.”

This time, I’m incapable of saying anything. I’m too preoccupied with kissing him harder and deeper as my hands slip over his shoulders and down his arms. Next stop: Luke’s beautiful abs.

At this point, it’s a need.

But then I hear something, and it sounds a lot like knocking.

“Hey, Luke! You still in there, man?”

And what would be the sound of Wyatt outside of Luke’s door.

Luke curses under his breath as we break apart from each other, and I reluctantly unhook my legs from around him. Seriously? What is Wyatt doing outside of Luke’s door??? Did he hear anything? Oh my gosh, what if he did?

“Yeah, I’m in here!” Luke calls, pushing himself off his knees with total ease. “Give me a sec and I’ll come get the door.”

He shoots me an anxious look, and I point to the bathroom before pointing to myself.

Do I want to hide? No. But I know we both don’t want Wyatt to find out about us by seeing us together ALONE in Luke’s room. So, I go into the bathroom. Then I carefully slide the door shut and hope that another spider doesn’t show up while I’m waiting in here.

Luke

Ava is hiding in my bathroom. How the heck did I let things get this out of hand? I should’ve told Wyatt about me and Ava when I first saw him here. No, I should’ve told him when I first started having feelings for her.

Well, it’s too late for that, so focus on right now.

Dang it, why didn’t he just text me like a normal person?

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