The sound of my name on his tongue, the demand and plea in it clanged through me, ratcheting up the adrenaline pouring into my blood—the ache and hunger, the confusion and jealousy I had no right to feel.
“It means when you don’t deny yourself any pleasures,” I snapped. “That the media has a goldmine in tailing you. A different woman every week—almost always a celebrity. It’s like a game to them. To feature who you’ll pick next. And excuse me if I think it would be nice for them to see you, Lukas—the man who takes comfort with hundreds of books surrounding him in his home, the man who goes out of his way to ensure the youth league in his home country functions, the man who sings his grandmother’s favorite song simply to make her smile.” My breath came in great rushes. “Sorry, if I find all of that more interesting than your flavor of the week.” The teacup in my hand shook so much I had to set it down.
Before I could draw my eyes upward, Lukas had scooted his chair around the table, until he was knee to knee with me, the tip of his nose practically grazing mine.
“For someone who sees everything, Faith, you certainly haven’t been paying attention.”
“What?” I asked, breathless, my eyes darting from his piercing blue eyes to his sensual lips, all much too close for me to think clearly.
“We’ve discussed this. I haven’t had a flavor of the week,” he said, his tone mimicking mine, “in over nine months. Because I haven’t wanted anyone, couldn’t even stand to think about being with anyone.”
“Why?” The word was a whisper, my heart begging me not to hope, not to feel, not to believe him.
A muscle in his jaw ticked, the gaze he pinned me with spoke to every foolish hope I was trying desperately to bury.
“You know why,” he said, daring to reach a hand up and brush a curl back from my face.
“Tell me again.” My heart was pounding so hard in my ears I didn’t even know if I’d spoken aloud.
“You, Faith,” he said, his fingers lightly scraping the side of my scalp where he intertwined them in my hair. I leaned into the touch, my body aching for more contact. “You’re all I’ve thought about. Wanted. And I know I’m not supposed to. I know you’re my best friend’s little sister. I know that you’re my personal assistant. I know we have literally everything stacked against us and I don’t care. I still want you because you’re the one who sees me. You’re the one who has enough fire in her blood to call me on my shit. You’re the one…” he sighed, his breath warm on my cheeks. “But I see you too. I know you know it. You’re this fierce, independent woman with a way of making things happen that I’ll never understand. And I’ll never stop wanting you.”
Every word hit me like a wave, sending my insides soaring.
We were a world away.
And I was tired of resisting.
Slowly, I closed the space between our mouths and brushed my lips over his. A small test, to see if I could survive the heat. My eyes flickered up to his, his body so still, like he had to lock every muscle to keep from hoisting me onto the table and having his way with me right there in the restaurant.
The way my core churned, I don’t know if I would’ve stopped him.
And I didn’t care if he stopped me now, stopped me again like he had that night of the masquerade, but I couldn’t help myself as I closed my eyes and crushed my mouth against his. My hands fisted his shirt, drawing him closer, as I slid my tongue between his lips, moaning slightly as he opened for me, as he met my tongue with his, as he let me take control of the kiss, of him.
The taste of him—mint and hints of the tea we both drank—turned me absolutely liquid. I grazed the edges of his teeth, my thighs clenching when he growled in response, his hand tightening in my hair. He tilted my head, getting a deeper angle as he claimed my mouth. I drank in his scent, his taste, the world forgotten as I lost myself in his kiss.
He pulled back, just enough to meet my eyes, reading the hunger there, the all-consuming need to be closer to him.
“Älskling.” The word was a whisper against my lips, and it didn’t matter that I had no idea what he’d just said.
It only mattered that he kissed me again and again until I was certain we’d bring the restaurant down in ashes around us.
Chapter 9
Lukas
“Are you sure you know what you’re getting into?” I asked Noble after he’d loaded the girls’ bags into the trunk of my Rover.
“You mean being kidnapped by a heartbroken Langley and forced into playing tour-guide-slash-bodyguard around a city I’ve never been to?” He gave me a forced, panicked smile.
“Yeah, that was pretty much what I meant.”
Langley came down the steps; her sunglasses shielding her bloodshot eyes.
“Stop whining, Noble. It’s not every day a girl gets a tax-deductible vacation, and I intend on seeing Stockholm.” She paused where we stood, swaying slightly.
“Hungover?” I asked gently.
“Still drunk,” Harper answered as she skipped down the steps, her brown hair swinging behind her in a ponytail. “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her.”
“And who is going to take care of you?” Noble asked me with a raised eyebrow.
“I’ll be just fine.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” He nodded toward where Faith hugged Harper. “You know what you’re doing?” He dropped his voice so only I could hear him.
“When it comes to Eric? Or Faith?” There was no point bullshitting around the facts.
“Yes,” he answered simply.
“I have no clue.” I didn’t. It was a problem. I was aware.
His eyes narrowed a fraction before he sighed and nodded. “Look. I know you have feelings for her. I’m not blind. Apparently, her brother is, though, which is why you still have a dick. Just…Damn, Lukas. Just make sure you damn well know what you’re doing, which is hopefully nothing, because it’s not just about you two if shit goes south.”
“I know.”
“Let’s go!” Harper called from the backseat. “If we hurry, we can make it before the Nobel Museum closes!”
“Spirit Museum!” Langley countered.
“Right, because that’s what she needs. More alcohol.” Noble rolled his head back and groaned. “I’m a fucking NHL player, not a chauffeur for the drunk, heartbroken publicist and the female Einstein.”
“Well, now you’re both,” Faith said, smacking him in the arm as she walked up to us.
“Why don’t you take them? Hell, you and Harper are hot young co-eds. You guys should be hitting the bars and scoring vacation flings.”
My jaw locked at the suggestion, but Faith just laughed.
“Harper’s idea of a fling is an accelerated studies course, and unlike you, I have to work.”
“I can fill in for you!” Noble suggested.
Faith cocked her head to the side, squinting against the sun. “Noble, you are, without a doubt, one of the best offensive defensemen in the league, and I’ve seen you take down some of the biggest skaters in the NHL.”
“Thank you?”
“Lukas would have you crying for your mama within the hour on a photo shoot.” She shrugged.
He shot me an incredulous look.
“It’s true. I’m a little high maintenance.”
“He’s a diva!” Langley called out, hanging out of the passenger window. “Now let’s go!”
“You’re sure?” I asked again, feeling as though my friend was being sent into the lion’s den.
“For my sexless vacation? Oh yeah, I’m all over this.” He threw up jazz hands and walked away. “You sure you don’t need your car?”
I thought about the Lamborghini Aventador parked in my garage. “Nope, I think I’ll be okay.”
“Wish me luck.”
“Good luck,” Faith said with a reassuring smile. “Don’t let her drink too much. Take her phone, too. Evidence is bad, and she’s not on her professional A game right now. Make sure Harper remembers to eat. Sometimes she gets so excit
ed about something that she just forgets. Also, when she starts talking about something you don’t understand, just tell her to backtrack, and she’ll walk you through her thought process. It helps. Just trust me.”
“Great. So glad I came to Sweden with you guys.” He nodded and gave us a salute as he headed off to the car. “Langley! Get your ass back in the car!”
“Bye, darlings! Behave while we’re gone!” Langley called out, fully hanging out of the passenger-side window.
“Tell me you have enough cash for bail,” Faith said through a smile as she waved them goodbye.
“I have enough cash for bail,” I assured her as my cell phone rang. I swiped it to answer and lifted it to my ear. “Mom?”
She fired off in rapid Swedish, and it was all I could do to nod and not laugh.
“I’ll be there in ten.” I hung up. “You feel like taking a break?” I asked Faith.