Page 64 of Love Decoded

Especially when she breaks it and whispers, “Does this count as a whirlwind moment?”

All the breath whooshes from my lungs. Because I know what that means. “Fuck no.”

Her face tilts up, her eyes meeting mine. I see a little bit of nervousness, but mostly I see want.

“Can it be?” she asks breathlessly.

I don’t hesitate for a single second before sweeping her into another kiss. And this time, there’s nothing soft or sweet about it.

Sinking my hand into her hair, I tilt her head so I can pry her lips open with my tongue. And then I slide it deep, desperate to soak up as much of her taste as possible. When she opens with a whimper, her hands coming up to clutch my shirt, a groan rumbles through me. How did I step away from this before?

My other hand goes to her hip, and I back her into the room. There will be no stopping this right now, not unless she stops it. I don’t even know if I can make it to the bed. I might have to take her on the couch⁠—

The doorbell rings.

The doorbell never rings.

I drop my face to Charli’s neck with a groan. “This can’t be happening.”

“Do you need to answer it?” Charli asks. And at least her voice is breathless.

I nod my answer. Then I let out an honest-to-God growl into her skin. “This feels like karmic justice for kissing you in that elevator.”

Charli giggles.

The sound is so startling, so pleasing, that I decide my new goal in life is to hear it again. And again.

“I think my knee to the balls covered karma’s part in that,” she says, a smile in her voice.

Finally, I straighten, unable to hold back my grin. “I didn’t want to tell you then, but…you missed.”

She gasps. But before she can fire back with anything, I stamp another kiss to her lips and then go to see whoever the fuck is at my front door.

It’s my brother. And his girlfriend.

Sighing, I swing open the door. “Is this payback for all the times I barged into your apartment?”

Nico frowns. “What? No.” A pause. “But that’s not a bad idea. When is the most inopportune time for visitors?”

“Pretty much right now,” I mutter under my breath as I stand aside. Sighing, I say instead, “Come in. I’m not busy at all.”

Nico gestures for his girlfriend, Scarlett, to go ahead of him before following behind her.

Scarlett is one of the sweetest and most loving women I’ve ever met. I don’t know all of her backstory, but I know she was formerly an escort who fell in love with my brother and then abandoned the lifestyle.

“Hi, Lucas,” she greets with a smile, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

I soften and return the smile. “Hey, Scar.”

I realize as I close the door behind them that Scarlett is carrying a plastic bag of something. “What’s that?” I ask, pointing to the bag.

“It’s actually why we’re here,” Nico says, looking around my apartment. “Isn’t Sean supposed to be here? Scarlett made him some of that lasagna he really liked last time.”

“I made extra so he could take it home,” Scarlett adds, holding up the bag.

“He left early today,” I explain. “His little sister has a dance recital tonight, so we had to change our time. You just missed him.”

When Scarlett slumps with disappointment, I rush to add, “But he doesn’t live far from here. I can drop it off at his house tomorrow.”