Page 146 of Seduction Under the Southern Stars
I move a crumb from my bottom lip into my mouth, watching his gaze follow my finger, and my pulse speeds up a little. “I have no idea why.”
He tips his head to the side, his gaze sliding over me lazily as he considers his answer. Everywhere it touches me, it’s like a laser, burning into my skin. “Because you’ve turned into a smart, beautiful, brave, sexy woman. You take my breath away.”
The unexpected compliment makes me speechless. “Oh.”
He leans down, elbows on the counter, and has another bite of his sandwich. “And I totally want to fuck you senseless tonight.” I stare at him, and he laughs at the look on my face. “Sorry, was that too blunt?”
I feel my face warm. “No… yes… I mean… ah jeez…” I have another mouthful of Champagne for Dutch courage. “Are we going to a hundred percent this evening?”
It’s his turn to look surprised. “I don’t know.”
“I’d like to.”
“I’m not quite sure what that constitutes,” he admits.
I have a mouthful of fries. “Neither do I. Maybe just… no holding back?” I swallow, then lean forward to look him in the eyes. “I want all of you, Linc. That’s all. One hundred percent. Any position, anything you want to do… I’d like to do it. I just need you to show me how.”
We study each other for a moment. Then he blows out an exasperated breath and has another mouthful of sandwich.
“What?” I ask, my lips curving up.
“I’ve got an erection,” he says with a grunt. He slides a hand beneath the countertop and adjusts himself through his jeans, gives me a wry look, then continues eating.
I giggle. “Want to do something with it?”
He just eats his sandwich, half-smiling, half-glaring at me. “Where’s the ring?” he asks.
I take the box out of my pocket, put it on the table, and crack it open. The greenstone in its gold setting gleams in the low light from the lamp.
I remove the ring from the box, turn it over, and inspect the inscription. “I think it’s really it,” I say softly. “Atticus gave this to Hinerangi a hundred and sixty years ago. Isn’t that something?”
“It is. Are you going to try it on?”
I remove it and try it on my right hand. It’s a little big for my fourth finger and too small for my middle finger. “Oh well. We’re going to display it anyway, so it doesn’t really matter.”
He takes it from me and examines it.
“You should be careful,” I tease. “It’s supposed to make whoever touches it fall in love.”
He turns it over in his fingers. “No worries there.”
I watch him read the inscription, my heart banging on my ribs. It was a blunt statement, and it takes me back as much as his previous heartfelt compliment. Jesus. Talk about conflicting messages.
He holds out the ring and, when I don’t immediately take it, looks up. “What?” he asks, frowning as he sees my expression.
“Nothing.” I don’t know how to phrase what I’m feeling, or why I’m so upset. Oh shit, what a fucking muddle.
He studies me. Then, suddenly his expression softens. “I meant because I’ve already fallen in love with you.”
I go still for about ten seconds, then finally manage to say, “What?”
He has a bite of a sandwich, looking amused. “Don’t tell me you’re shocked.”
“I…” Words won’t form in my head.
He licks mayonnaise from his fingers. “I fell in love with you ten years ago, Lora. My feelings for you were like a volcano—they’ve been dormant since we’ve been apart. They didn’t go extinct. And now they’re erupting again.” His eyes gleam at the rude connotations.
But I don’t laugh, because I’m still stunned at his throwaway comment. He’s in love with me? The fact that he’s actually admitting it completely takes my breath away.
