“To the date,” he said.

I glanced at Doctor Knight-Hemlock about to apologize for the scene unfolding in his office, but he grinned and nodded. It took me a second to realize he thought I should say yes. Yes was a word that could eventually bring empires to their knees. A yes had certainly ruined careers and grades before, but I said yes anyway, because I knew tomorrow I wanted to wake up with the scent of Del’s raspberry shampoo filling my head again.

Chapter Nine

Del

After work, we walked home arm-in-arm. I caught a few of Rex’s fellow medical schoolers shooting us questioning glances, but Rex just smiled and said ‘hello’ as we passed them. On the walk home, we agreed that our date would be next weekend after we were both paid.

“Though, technically, maybe last night was our first date,” Rex teased as he pushed open our building’s door for me to step through.

“You cannot retroactively make something a first date,” I teased as I stepped inside.

“Why not?” He asked, following me inside and leading the way down the corridor.

“Because I asked you out on our first date and I didn’t ask last night,” I laughed. “Too bad we don’t live up on one of the other floors.”

“Why’s that?” Rex asked.

“Because elevators are very private boxes for kissing,” I smirked.

“You know where else is private and mostly boxed shape?” Rex teased. “Our apartment.”

“You just don’t want to kiss me,” I stopped and looked up at him.

“Is that what you think?” He arched a brow.

“Maybe,” I said, unsure if I did or not.

He raised both eyebrows and turned me to face him head on. I swallowed hard as I looked up into his amber eyes. Without speaking, he cupped my chin gently and his lips hovering inches from mine. Then, before either of us lost our nerve, his lipsbrushed against my mouth, gentle, almost hesitant as if he was unsure that I wanted him to kiss me.

I took a step closer and rested my hand on his side. My lips parted under his and I let out a quiet sigh. It was a short kiss, but one that led to another before either of us had the chance to swipe the card that would open our apartment door. Rex walked me backward until the heels of my shoes found the door. I sighed into his lips surrendering to whatever pull had danced between us since we met.

What was it between us exactly? London? The war? Both of us being displaced? Just proximity?

“Stop overthinking it and kiss the man!”My wolf scolded me from inside his inner sanctum.

Rex’s hands found my hips, warm and strong, everything I imagined his tender grip would be. His tongue slid over my lips sending a tingle down my spine. I leaned back against the door giving it my needy weight.

The beep of the lock unclicking sounded behind me. Somewhere in the middle of all the kissing, Rex had managed to swipe his card. His lips pulled into a grin, still pressed against mine. He slid his arm around me as he opened the door. I moved to lean forward against him, but he stepped forward walking me into the apartment. The kiss broke as I laughed.

“Bloody box shaped enough for you?” He chuckled against my ear as the door shut behind us.

Groping with one hand, I ensured it was locked. Campus had a low crime rate, but I didn’t want to test the fates while Rex’s tongue swirled around my mouth. With the lock fully engaged, I could focus on other things – like imaging how Rex’s nimble tongue might feel gliding moist and firm against other parts of my body.

He pulled away long enough to shrug off his messenger bag and kick his shoes off into the corner where most of our shoeslived together. I followed suit, kicking mine off too, so they wouldn’t be in the way later. My fingers trembled as I glanced around our living room.

All the living rooms in the building looked more or less the same. Same sofa and armchairs. Same coffee table and bookshelf on the far wall. The academy probably purchased them all in bulk. I’d been in and out of the room at least five hundred times since moving stateside, but now it was strange. Where did one kiss his roommate if he wanted it to lead to more? Did I want it to lead to more? How much more? Did Rex want it to lead to more too?

“Hey,” Rex said, his voice low. “You alright?”

“Yeah,” I grinned. “It’s a bit warm in here.”

I wanted to tug my shirt off over my head. I’d walked around the apartment half naked before, but this felt different. The room was warm – growing almost too warm but taking my shirt off now meant more than being uncomfortable with the temperature. Tugging my t-shirt over my head now would feel like making an invitation I wasn’t one-hundred percent sure Rex wanted.

“Warm?” Rex said, his voice evening out.

“Don’t kill the mood! He’s going to be a doctor! Warm is a code word for fever!”My wolf whined inside my head.