Page 44 of The Truth of Our Past

All the reasons we shouldn’t get involved go up in flames. This is a disaster waiting to happen, but finally burning him out of my system has to be the best option.

“Wait.” I stride toward him and take a page out of his book, grabbing his face and fusing our lips together. His kiss brings my fantasies to life. It’s desire and care and a dash of dominance. I sigh into his mouth, rethinking my stance on kissing. I never understood the point until Von. Damn him.

Von pulls back to cup my jaw. “Jävlar. I can’t stop thinking about you. Wanting you. I can’t sleep. I can’t work. I am dying to kiss you again.”

His stormy blue eyes implore me. I’m doomed.

Wordlessly, I tuck my phone into my back pocket, then grip the waistband of his jeans to tug him against me. Leaning in, my lips ghost over his ear. “Now that you got me, what do you want to do with me?”

A shiver runs down his spine and one arm bands around my waist, locking us together. “Can I take you on a date?”

I jerk back in surprise. I was prepared for this to be purely sexual. A date. No one has ever asked me out. I’m not the guy you take on a date. I’m the guy who will fuck you in a bathroom.

“If you do not want to, I understand. You said you’re not a relationship guy. I can live with that. But I will prove to you I’m not afanwho will fuck you and throw you out.”

“Technically, I walked out on you. But if you do that again, this ends. Whatever this is can’t happen if you don’t trust me to have your back. Treat me with respect.” I squeeze his waist, prompting him to talk.

Von fervently nods and lets loose a string of Swedish words. “I will not do that again.” His words bleed sincerity. “We don’t have to label this.”

“We had a phenomenal time when you were pretending to be my fake boyfriend. So let's go with that until one of us decides we’re done.” We’ll keep it casual. It's best for both of us. Neither of us will get attached and we can have mind-blowing sex.

Von’s face falls, but he says, “Okay.”

“I’ll make you a deal.” My thumb strokes his waist and Von nods warily. “I’ll pick a place, let you call it a date, and we can see where the night goes, but…it will depend on your game.”

“Fotboll?”

“No, your flirting game.”

Von’s hands fall away from me. “We should say goodnight now. I can barely find words to speak to you, and I don’t know how to flirt.”

“That’s a good start, Viking.” Linking our arms, I steer him toward the door. “There might be hope for you yet.”

Von lets out a breath and unlinks our arms to curl his arm around my waist. I’m not used to nonsexual physical touch. It’s couple-y and it should make my skin crawl. But I don’t hate it. I’ll never admit it, but I can’t get enough of it.

We end up at a café a few blocks from Unframed Art. Von asks me what’s good and decides I should order for him. He trusts me. I debate affirming his trust or fucking with him. After scanning the menu, I realize there aren’t any items that would be surprising or exotic. So no crazy food order to fuck with him.

While I order our patty melts, Von twists his hair into a man bun. Our server stutters and visibly shakes. I can’t blame her.

Von, with his hair down, is a living warrior Viking, but when he pulls it back and exposes all the sharp angles of his face, it transforms him into a runway model yet somehow more human—like he’s attainable.

“She flirts with you better than I can,” Von grumbles.

“She almost orgasmed when you put your hair up,” I counter with a grin. “Are you jealous, Viking?” The server was overly friendly in hopes of a big tip, not in an I-want-to-sleep-with-you way.

Von’s brow scrunches together as if he’s considering my question. His eyebrows fascinate me. They’re so light they’re barely visible, but in certain light, they’re thick and accent his eyes.

“If anyone should be jealous, it should be me.” Von raises one of his eyebrows at my statement. “She has parts you enjoy, which I don’t, and she would definitely go for you. She would be an easier choice.” His face scrunches, and I’m unsure if it’s confusion or distaste. I rein in my insecurity to point out the obvious. “You know, marriage and kids.”

Von shakes his head with his blue eyes, pulling me into their depth. “Not for me.” His tone leaves no room for argument.

The air tingles with excitement between us, and I won’t ruin it by asking outright which is not for him, marriage or kids. Neither is for me, but maybe I can get a roundabout answer. “No?”

“There is only one person in this room that I’m interested in.” His shy smile stops my heart.

“Should I go get her?”

“You are determined to tease me.”

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