Page 57 of Taboo

“Could you not see yourself sacrificing for your ex?”

He realized that he was holding his breath as he waited for her answer.

“You know, I never thought about it that way, but…I probably would have. I think it was more that I knew his answer to that question. And he proved it as soon as we broke up.”

He knew the mood had turned a little heavy and he wanted to push her worries away. “Verdict?”

“What?”

“I take it you like the loco moco?”

She glanced at her empty plate, then back up at him. Her smile was damned amazing. “I practically licked my plate clean, so I would say that’s affirmative.”

He loved when she was being a little sarcastic.

“Let’s get going.”

He tossed their plates, then grabbed her hand as he walked her back to the car. He could get used to this. Taking her out on a Friday night, have a little bit of dinner, have a little drive around. It just felt right.

He opened the door for her, and she smiled at him as he helped her into the car. “Thank you.”

Once she was settled, he shut the door, then rounded the hood of the rental car. His heart was beating so hard he was sure everyone could hear it. His hands were sweaty, and his entire body vibrated with need for this woman. Alek knew he needed to get a handle on these feelings.

He slipped into the car and started it up. When he glanced over at Jules, she was smiling at him, her eyes dancing with happiness, and he gave up trying to fight these feelings he had for her. Before he could think better about it, he cupped the back of her neck, pulling her closer so he could brush his mouth over hers.

She leaned into the kiss; her sigh filled with longing. It snuck right inside of him, grabbing his soul and he knew in that one moment, with a simple kiss and barely touching her, that he would probably never love another woman like he would love her. When he pulled back, her cheeks were flushed.

“Why did you do that?” she asked. No anger colored her voice, only confusion. It was that part that got him. Jules had no idea how irresistible she was.

He wanted to tell her exactly how he felt. How he didn’t want to ever sleep in a bed if she wasn’t by his side. But he didn’t. He couldn’t or she would probably panic and kick him out of her house. So, instead, he offered her a smirk.

“Just cuz I wanted to.”

Feeling better than he had in a week, he set off for her house. They would deal with the consequences of that kiss this weekend and just how he felt about her. But right this instant, he wanted to enjoy driving through the streets of Oahu with this sexy, amazing woman by his side.

chapter seventeen

Alek took a different way home,a winding highway that skirted the coast and gave Jules a lovely view of the setting sun. She knew that she could have John drive her around but sitting in the back of a town car by herself felt pathetic.

They had the top down—yes, he’d gotten a convertible because he said it was the best way to see Hawaii. The cool, sweet evening air flowed through her curls, and she didn’t care. She knew she probably looked insane, but, again, she didn’t care. There was something so freeing about letting loose like this.

She enjoyed watching the stars in the sky and the way lights danced on the waves as the sun sank lower and lower. And in that moment, she thought she was probably the happiest she had been in a very long time. And, she thought glancing at her companion, it was all because of him.

“Thank you.”

He glanced over at her, then his gaze returned to the road. “For what?”

“For showing me a bit of Hawaii.”

“You liked Rainbow?”

“Loved it. If you’re ever in London, I’ll happily return the favor and take you to Fishers.”

“Let me guess, a fish and chips place?”

She nodded. “Not the ritziest of places, but their fish and chips are to die for. If we went up the coast, I have other places to take you there.”

He glanced over at her again, his expression unreadable, then back at the road. She couldn’t discern what that look meant, but that wasn’t anything new for her. She didn’t know much about men and their ways. Her brothers were different. She knew those wankers inside and out, different altogether though.

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