Page 152 of All at Once

“You don’t believe me when I tell you how many other ways there are to feel good?” I look at him unconvinced as he continues, “Do you have any idea how it feels like to hold your hand? Having my dick sucked wouldn’t even come close.”

“Okay, Romeo. Holding my hand?Really?”

“You think I’m joking, don’t you?”

“I don’t think you’retryingto mock me, but I mean, come on…that’sthe hottest thing you could come up with?”

Luca tilts his head and replies, “The sexiest thing you can do is doing things that makeyoufeel good, so yeah I’d say holding someone’s hand is pretty hot only if you reallywantto do it.”

I can’t say anything. Not when he reaches toward my hand and touches just the tips of my fingers with his. A tingle softlyspreads down my body when he gently brushes about an inch down my fingers and then back up.

“Where do you feel that?” he asks seriously and then taunts, “justin your hands?”

As my breath grows shakier, he takes the opportunity to trace the inside of my wrist when I almost moan, confused how I’m actually feeling pleasure like this. “What abouthere?” he asks as he caresses over the same spot, now gently pressing against my pulse, teasing his fingers over the sensitive skin in a swirling motion.

Luca knows he’s proved his point when I spot the smug glint in his eyes through my half-shut ones. His fingers thankfully don’t leave my skin as he confidently says, “Can you do something for me?”

I nod without hesitation.

“Don’t ever try to please me in any way if it’s not what you want.”

I don’t know if I nod again. All I know is he removes his fingers from my wrist before leaning back, pretending like nothing just happened. “You were saying you like these potatoes?” he asks nonchalantly before taking a piece of potato in between his teeth, intentionally making sure to show his tongue as he opens his mouth.

My burning glare doesn’t leave his eyes, too flustered to respond, when he adds, “So do you have an embarrassing story from college that tops mine?”

At least this is enough to temporarily redirect my attention as I snort at the memories. “Pretty muchanyencounter with all my crushes, most of which didn’t even know I existed.”

Luca’s brows crease with so much disbelief that it makes me blush. “I don’t buy that for a second. I bet most of them liked you back.”

“There’s no point in making me more delusional than I already am, Luca,” I say, but smile on the inside at his indirect compliment.

“Just because a guy doesn’t show you he notices you, trust me it doesn’t mean he’s not,” he says with a knowing glance.

And then suddenly I notice himlookingat me with a daze in his eyes.

It’s so beguiling that my voice grows timid. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking how all those guys missed out.”

My heart flutters.“Missed out?”

“Yeah. You’ve told me so many stories about things you feelyoumissed out on. But every time I learn something new about you or notice a quality that only you have, this sort of presence that you carry, I’m dumbfounded at how any guy could have let you slip away like that.”

And there I am. Speechless again.

“You might think you missed out on experiences earlier. But every single one of your crushes missed out onyou.”

Just when I think I’ve heard the most romantic remark from Luca, he manages to outdo himself. And now with cheeks that must be burning the brightest shade of red, I admit, “If that was your way of seducing me, I’m happy to confirm that it worked.”

“That was my way of telling you that you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he confesses as he brushes a strand of hair off my cheek.

I push my lips so quickly into his that he immediately groans against mine. I’ve never needed to feel his tongue more than I do right now. As I slip my tongue into his mouth, he takes it between his lips and returns the favor. A breathy moan escapes me when Ifeel him growing hard against me as we both unravel onto the floor. “I want you, Luca,” I murmur. “Right now.”

And with that, he lifts me from the ground, surprising me yet again with his strength as he leads us back to his room that I already miss desperately.

As my back reaches his familiar sheets, the rest of my body groans when he moves his weight over me, grips my hips, and says, “You don’t know howbadI want you.”

Using all the restraint in me, I place a finger on his chest before he tries to lean in again. “Wait. I thought you only sleep with people who you’re in love with?” I ask the question almost without thinking. I’m not trying to get a love confession out of him. I just don’t want him to change his rules for me.

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