“I could draft up a stuffy contract to spell it out in legalese for you, since that’s how you seem to prefer things.”
“That… won’t be necessary. Fine. We will date.”
Lola finally cracked a smile. “It has been a pleasure doing business with you, boo.”
“Don’t call me that.”
She got up and walked around my side of the desk.
“What are you doing?”
Lola planted both hands on my shoulders and leaned in, planting a soft kiss on my cheek that made goosebumps rise across the back of my neck. “Kissing my boyfriend goodbye,” she said.
There was an edge of flirtation and teasing in her voice that made my cock go stiff. Fuck. I was going to enjoy this far too much, wasn’t I?
“I want you to take me on our first date tonight. Consider it an act of good faith,” she said over her shoulder, then grinned.
I sank back in my chair and watched after her. My cock was hard and trying to point straight at me through my dress pants, as if throwing an accusatory finger my way. I glared down at it and adjusted myself.
One month. I had one month to figure out how the hell I was supposed to keep Adrian Bellamo from blowing up my life.
30
LOLA
Christian arrived fifteen minutes early at my apartment. As instructed, he’d dressed casual in a pair of black jeans and a white-collared shirt that wasn’t quite able to contain his biceps and the distracting vein that ran down their center, snaking across his forearms, and ending up on the top of his very capable hands.
Max was beside him in a big t-shirt and a frayed pair of jeans. She had her hair tied back in an easy ponytail and came equipped with a pillow and blanket tucked under her arms. “Sup, teach,” she said when I opened the door.
I rolled my eyes at her. “Sup.” I looked to Christian, who seemed uncomfortable with everything about the current situation. I was constantly struck by how he never quite looked like he fit anywhere but in Stone Tower. He was too big for the real world. Too perfectly terrifying and gorgeous. It was impossible not to notice him, even in a crowded room, and the sight of him on my porch gave me a sense of vertigo.
“Um, hi. Come in,” I said.
Max smirked at me from behind her uncle and came inside.
“I got some snacks ready and sodas. Do you… drink soda?” I asked Christian. He looked like the only thing he put in his body might be broccoli, chicken, and water.
“Soda is fine,” he said stiffly. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him look so awkward. I’d told him I wanted our first date to include Max–that she deserved to know from the get-go that we were going to be dating and should feel included. So I was having them over for a movie night. Max got to pick the movie. To my amusement, she wanted to watch Twilight.
Max got herself set up on the couch and Christian joined me in the kitchen while I went to get the chip dip and various bags of snacks I’d picked up.
“Try not to look so awkward and stiff,” I suggested.
He looked down when I said stiff and to my mild horror, he was hard. “What is that?” I demanded, pointing at it.
“Shh,” he hissed.
“Put it away! Your niece is right there on the couch!”
“It doesn’t work like that,” Christian grated. He leaned closer, lowering his voice and also bringing that serpent trying to escape his jeans closer to me. “I can’t stop thinking about fucking you again. This is torture.”
I shivered. I’d been doing just fine until a few seconds ago. Now I suddenly wished I’d suggested we get any sexual tension out of our systems in private before he brought Max over. “You’re just going to have to keep it under control for now, aren’t you?”
He made a sound like a growl.
Against my better judgment, I cupped his erection and gave it a little squeeze while locking eyes with him. “Raincheck?” I asked.
Christian looked like he was about to drag me to the bedroom and lock the door, but his eyes slid to where Max was trying to figure out how to get my TV turned on. “You’re going to pay for this.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Is that a threat or a promise?”
“Both.”
I had to turn away and pick up some snacks because I didn’t want him to see how flushed I was getting. I was also fairly sure I was well on my way to ruining my panties. The man was like a sexual furnace. Step too close and poof. All your good sense, logic, and self-control melted away. All you had left were wet panties, a watering mouth, and a brain full of very dirty, very inappropriate thoughts.