Page 139 of All at Once

He’s doing a terrible job trying not to laugh.

And just when I was about to cry, I’m somehow laughingagain.

Luca has a funny way of doing that. Making me forget why I’m sad about anything.

Then he reaches out and gently takes my hand, pressing a kiss to it so softly that I barely feel it.

And with that, I almost pass out.

As we lay out on our beach towels, I glance over at our creation again, turning my head to the side. “You’re right. If you tilt your head slightly, it’s perfect.”

“I told you. Art is in the eye of the beholder,” he gestures with his hands so dramatically.

“What a masterpiece,” I declare.

It’s just then that two kids come running across the sand, knocking over the entire castle.

“Never mind,” I take back my compliment before Luca and I burst into laughter.

“Shit. That was brutal,” he says.

I add, “I feel like that was a perfect depiction of my life thus far. And then justrepeat.”

As our laughter subsides, I pick up my book again, turning on my side and resting on my elbows to block the view of the sun and thegreaterdistraction a few inches away from me.

Although it only works for a few minutes when I feel Luca’s chest press against my back. His warm lips make my neck shiver as they touch my skin while his hand holds onto my hipbone from behind. Without turning around, I try not to close my eyes even though I already feel myself growing wet. “Luca, what if someone sees us?” I whisper.

This is the closest his mostly bare body has touched mine, and it’s making me throw out all the logic in my brain that if he wanted to touch me right here I wouldn’t stop him.

He kisses right below my ear, making me slightly whimper before he replies, “So you want us to leave then?”

I turn around, gasping at how striking his eyes are glowing. “I’ve been wanting for us to leave ever since we got here.”

When he removes himself from our position, I groan inside, almost wishing I didn’t even say anything.

Luca gets up before reaching out his hand toward me, grinning. “What are we still doing here then?” He wraps his arms around my waist with a sparkle in his eyes. “Do you mind if we went back to my apartment instead?” Before I can respond, hepositions his nails so that they gently scratch against my back as he adds, “I want you in my bed.”

That’s the kind of love confession that could make you have an orgasm on the spot.

I know I almost just did.

_________

The drive back to his apartment feels like a lifetime’s worth of anticipation.

After taking a shower, we should logically decide on what to eat. Instead, as soon as we’re both standing in the kitchen, Luca looks at me and asks in the most facetious way, “Do you want a glass of water?”

I ignore him and instead cup his face as I go in for a kiss.

He immediately picks me up as my fingers find their favorite spot in his hair while he effortlessly guides us to his room. My heart continues to flutter at the idea that this will be the first time I’ll be in hisroom. And more importantly in hisbed.

Even though the location isn’t what’s important, it doesn’t leave my attention that this setting resembles one I could have experienced when I was younger. And for some reason this only adds to the intensity of the moment.

His room doesn’t disappoint. It’s even cozier than I pictured it would be with a lively surfing photo in the corner that rests nicely against the light beige walls. But it’s nothing compared to his spacious bed that looks so comfortable I fear I won’teverwant to leave it.

This is sadly confirmed as soon as he gently sets me against his soft sheets. Pulling his weight over me, I almost gasp at his scent before fully losing my breath when his lips move to my neck.

As he catches his breath, he asks, “Do I still have permission to touch you?”

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