Page 72 of Finally Found You

His hand finds the small of my back, pulling me closer, his firmness a tantalizing promise against my body. Our breaths mingle, the heat of our connection radiating between us in a tantalizing dance of desire and longing. This kiss is raw, unmasked, and brimming with passion.

“Hey,” I say once we separate. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Surprise.” He grins at me, then glances at my pajamas. “I see you’re ready for a big, important affair.”

I lift a shoulder, a half-hearted shrug that I hope hides the fluttering in my chest. “It’s just me, all the streaming channels, and last night’s leftovers.”

“Living on the wild side, I see.” His smirk is playful, a spark of mischief in his eyes as he nods toward the open door of the apartment. “Care to invite me in?”

“Bossy, as always,” I joke, stepping aside so he can enter the apartment. “Where’s Kenzy?”

“She stayed with Cory for the weekend.” His smirk morphs into a knowing grin. “So you and I can speed date, and hopefully, by the end of the weekend, I can convince you to return home with me.”

“Ly,” I murmur with a hint of unease as I nibble on my lower lip. The insinuation in his words causes a rush of heat to my cheeks.

“I need you,” he confesses, his body inching toward mine until our breaths mingle in the space between us. “I need you so much that it feels like I’m suffocating. I can wait until you’re ready, but if there’s anything I can do to sway you…” He trails off, the unfinished sentence hanging in the air, thick with promise and anticipation.

“Why don’t you get dressed?” he suggests, his hands retreating into his pockets as though to put a physical barrier between his desire and me. “I’d like to have our first real date before I find myself pushing you against the couch and devouring you.”

The last words send a jolt of flustered heat through me, and I find my heart pounding against my rib cage as I stare at the couch. I shake my head, knowing I have to be patient, and head to my room to get dressed. We’ll get to dessert when we’re both ready, and I’m not sure if I am just yet.

* * *

The world outside the window of the rental car blurs, and I’m left with only the intoxicating presence of Lysander beside me. His hand, a warm and comforting weight on mine, is a grounding tether in the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me. He drives through the streets like he owns them. I don’t think I’ve ever dated someone as elegant and secure as him.

“Did I tell you how stunning you look tonight?” His voice, low and honeyed, sends a delicious shiver down my spine, even as his focus remains trained on the road ahead.

“Thank you,” I manage, tugging self-consciously at the hem of the little black dress I’d raided from JJ’s closet. Mine is somewhere trapped in a box, or I probably forgot it at the dry cleaner’s in North Carolina or Colorado and will never recover it. “So where are we headed?”

“You’ll see,” he promises, an enigmatic smile tugging at his lips.

Before I can press further, we’re pulling up to a stunning, glass-fronted restaurant, its lights sparkling like a constellation against the darkening Seattle skyline. My heart races with anticipation, and nerves echo through my chest.

The valet steps forward to open my door, but Lysander is there before him, his hand outstretched, a warm invitation in his eyes. “My lady.”

“Such a gentleman,” I quip, a smile curving my mouth as he lifts my hand to his lips for a tender kiss.

I let Lysander guide me up the steps, his hand at the small of my back. We ascend the steps leading to the restaurant. Inside, the ambiance is breathtaking—soft candlelight and elegant décor. Yet the grandeur of the setting pales in comparison to the man beside me, his essence radiating a captivating allure that outshines everything else.

“Spearman, table for two,” he says without waiting for the hostess to prompt him.

She smiles brightly, grabbing a couple of leather menus. “Of course, right this way.”

As we settle into our private booth, a heady mix of excitement and apprehension stirs within me.

“Your server, Jonesy, will be with you shortly,” the hostess gracefully informs us, handing over the menus. “Our wine list is at the back, and we only serve stirred drinks.”

As she departs, I arch an eyebrow at Lysander, in an attempt to mask the tension knotting in my belly. “Stirred drinks, huh? Guess that means no frozen margaritas for me tonight,” I joke, my voice laced with fake dismay.

A rich chuckle escapes him, the sound soothing my nerves. “We can always gather the ingredients and prepare some at your place,” he offers.

“You know how to make them?” My surprise is genuine. “I thought you only focused on wine.”

He inclines his head, a glint of pride in his eyes. “Picked up a trick or two while helping Hux with his bar.”

“The one Kenzy wants to work at?” I ask.

He confirms with a nod, his hand reaching across the table to capture mine. “Cam, tonight is about us. You and me, no pretenses, no expectations. Let’s leave our families out of this for a while, okay?”

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