Page 75 of Reluctant Chemistry

“Yeah?” he panted as he kissed his way up her body.

“Condom.”

“Shit!” He opened the drawer of the hall table, pulled out a condom, and ripped it open with his teeth. “Sorted.”

* * *

They finally made it to Luka’s bedroom well after two. By then, CeCe felt a little chilled, and all she’d wanted was for him to hold her while she slept. For a moment, she thought he might ask her to leave. But when they’d climbed into bed, he’d pulled her close, and she’d snuggled into him, resting her head on his shoulder, just like she used to.

“Luka?”

He tightened his hold. “Yeah?” he murmured, keeping his eyes closed.

“Why do you keep a condom in your hall table drawer?”

A slight hesitation before he spoke. “Just in case a beautiful woman turns up after midnight with no regrets on her mind.”

CeCe pulled the sheet over her breasts. “Oh. Okay. I guess that makes sense.”

He chuckled. “Actually, I was about to put it into my wallet one day when Mum walked in, so I slipped it into the drawer while she took off her coat then forgot all about it. Until last night.”

She hesitated. “Do many beautiful women turn up at your door after midnight?”

He pulled back to look at her and smiled. “What, so we’re sharing more secrets now?”

“Not secrets, just curiosities.”

“I can’t say it’s happened lately.”

Luka’s voice was soft, reassuring, making CeCe realize how insecure she’d felt until that moment. Maybe it was the gossip about him being a man-whore, or the thought of his ex. Whatever it was, she was determined not to let morning regret creep into her thoughts. “I still can’t believe I’m here…and that we didn’t make it past the hallway.”

“I’m glad you came, but I have a curiosity too.”

“Which is?”

Luka turned onto his side so they were facing one another. “What’s going on with you and that geologist guy?”

“Nick? We’re friends, nothing more.”

“Not lovers?”

She shook her head and took a slow breath. It was surreal, lying in his bed next to him, talking in the dark as if their connection had never been strained or severed. “No, not lovers.”

“That’s what Mitch said, but I just wanted to be sure.”

“Like you, I wouldn’t be here if there was someone else.”

He brushed his lips against hers, the touch gentle and reassuring. “I hope I didn’t offend you with my ‘sexy as fuck ex’ comment.”

“You were talking about me? But I was never your girlfriend.”

“You were kind of. My girlfriend interrupted.”

Girlfriend interrupted.She liked that term, thought it suited their relationship perfectly. “Yeah, maybe I was.”

* * *

As hard as he tried, Luka couldn’t sleep. His mind as restless as his legs, he slipped out of bed and went into the kitchen for a glass of water. He stood at the sink and stared out over Carter Bay as fishing boats headed into the channel and out to sea. The sky alight with the dawn, he relived the moment when she’d arrived at his door. How they came together like they’d never been apart, how she’d held on tight as he carried her to bed, how incredible it felt to lie beside her again. To hold her again.