Luka hasn't released his grasp on my chin. His hand gently caresses my throat.
"You deserve better," Luka rasps, and his lips are close enough that I can feel his warm breath teasing me.
I want to kiss him, but everything inside me screams that it's too soon. We've gone down this road once, and it led to Bay. Everything that I do from this point onward must be for her.
His thumb gradually traces my bottom lip, and the desire builds inside me. Each shallow breath deepens. The kitchen is hot and stuffy, like a sauna, as I'm flooded with warmth.
"I should never have let you go," Luka whispers.
The warmth that spreads through me is unlike anything I've ever felt with Mark.
I lean closer and my lips part. I desperately ache to kiss Luka, pull him against me and feel anything but pain. "We can't," I whisper, my gaze unwavering.
I've managed to break the spell, and his hand gingerly falls while he takes a step back.
"You're right." He clears his throat and glances in the direction where Madisyn had been standing a few moments earlier.
Did he just realize that she'd left the two of us alone?
"I just got out of a relationship," I offer in the way of an explanation. It's not that I don't want to tangle in the sheets with Luka. It's that we can't do that if it's going to be a one-time thing.
Well, technically, twice.
"Good. That imbecile is no good for you," he says. His response is gruff. There's no smile on his face, but his eyes aren't cold.
"He wasn't very good in bed, either," I say and offer a wayward grin.
Luka chokes on his laughter. "I'm sorry." His face reddens as he's bent over, catching his breath.
He wasn't expecting my remark. It's the truth, and while maybe I should have kept that tidbit to myself, it just kind of slipped out.
"It's not that funny." I scowl and fold my arms across my chest.
He takes a deep breath, regaining his composure. "You're right, Zaya. It's not funny. A woman should enjoy every moment of being ravished."
"Zaya?" I tilt my head, curious about the name. Who is Zaya? "Are you sure you don't have a girlfriend or a wife hiding around here?" I joke, glancing over my shoulder, tripping over the leg of the counter stool when I take a step.
He catches me before I can make an ass out of myself and hit the floor.
His strong, rough hands steady me, and the distance built between us is gone.
Luka's hands are on my hips, and his touch sends butterflies to my stomach. His fingers caress my skin between the hem of my shirt and my pants. "No girlfriend or wife," he says. "And I hope you don't feel the same way about that night we shared."
I whimper from the caress of his touch. Like gravity, I'm pulled closer, our bodies practically touching. It takes everything to keep distance between us.
"It was a long time ago," I remind him. We're different people than when we first met.
"You mean to tell me that you don't remember that night?" Luka asks. He smiles and glances down, taking a long look at my clothed body, but I feel that he's remembering me naked. He leans closer. His breath caresses my ear. "He did you a favor, showing his true colors."
"What's that?" I ask, pulling back just slightly to meet his gaze.
He glances away with a smirk. "I shouldn't. You made it clear that you just want to be friends. And I need to respect that decision."
I've never regretted anything more in my life.
"We have a kid who needs to come first," I say. Bay is my highest priority. It's part of the reason that I had intended on marrying Mark, to give her a stable home. That plan backfired, but her needs are more important than my own.
Luka pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch rekindles an old flame. "Zaya, you need to learn to put yourself first."
I press my lips together.
He smiles. "No witty comeback?" His touch is both soothing and stirs a fire inside of me.
"Agree to disagree," I say. If Luka thinks he can talk his way into my bed, he's mistaken.
His fingers caress my neck before he withdraws his hand. "You'll never be happy if you're chasing after what you think she needs."
I want to ensure that she has the best possible life. How is that wrong?
"She needs a stable home." He can't argue with that, and it's something that I didn't have growing up. I want to give her a better life than I had as a child.
"What about your needs?"
"I'd like to have a stable home, too," I smirk.
"Move in here, permanently," Luka says. There's no smile on his face. No laughter to indicate that he's joking.
He can't be serious.
My jaw drops at his request. "Think about what you're asking me to do. We don't even know each other."
"We knew each other enough to sleep together," Luka says. He reaches for my hand.
I swear if he's going to drop down onto one knee, I'll slug him.
"I want to be in Bay's life," Luka says. He squeezes my hand.
"And you will. But asking me to move in with you, that's a huge step." Doesn't he realize that moving in together is a monumental step?
"It doesn't have to be. I'll feel better knowing that you're not in that apartment. I made it known that Mark needs to leave you alone, but it'd be a lie if I said I thought he'd be smart and heed my advice."
"And Mikhail is okay with it?"
"You let me worry about him," Luka says. "Is that a yes?"