Page 69 of The Casanova Complex

I’m torn between what I should do and what I want to do.

I drag in a shaky breath. “No, it’s okay, but I mean, I know you probably have things to do, so don’t feel obligated to stay. For Elliott, I mean.”

“Right. For Elliott.” Bennett’s lip curls into a smile that makes my pulse flutter. “Turns out I’m free, no plans at all, and I’m a big horror movie fan.”

“Okay, well, then, uh, just… come in,” I say as I step into the house and prop the door open.

I hold my breath as he brushes past me because I’m already desperately trying to forget the kiss that just happened, and he smells so fucking good. It’s intoxicating, and I’m already drunk on one of tonight’s bad decisions.

This is bad.

Bad. Bad. Bad.

I kick off my shoes in the foyer and then quickly shrug off my faux leather jacket, suddenly feeling sweat gathering at the base of my spine.

A startling contrast to how cold I was outside.

Bennett takes his shoes off beside mine, and it hits me how weird that is.

Seeing him wearing only the black socks on his feet.

Like intimate… somehow?

That seems so stupid to say after the man has had his tongue down my throat several times at this point, but it’s strange seeing him so casual.

I’m overthinking this, I know I am, but my brain is spinning, and I’m fixating on anything but the subject at hand, which is that Bennett is in my house.

Following me into the living room and sinking his thick body down onto my old brown leather couch like he’s been here a hundred times.

Like he’s comfortable here.

I settle in beside him, and Elliott sits to my left, sandwiching me in between the two of them.

Of course, Elliott doesn’t even make it through half of the first movie before passing out.

Which means we’ll be having half-cooked pancakes for breakfast that likely will still have raw batter in the middle.

The kid’s a genius with computers but hasn’t quite figured the stove out yet.

A door slams on the TV, and I feel Bennett jump beside me, his muscled body taut with tension.

I look over at him, laughing quietly. “Big fan of horror movies, huh?”

His gaze finds mine in the dimly lit room, and I watch a swallow move down his throat. “Yup.”

“Mhm. That’s why you’ve jumped like ten times.”

“Just caught me off guard… that’s all.”

Right. I chew the corner of my lip to stop the giggle that is bubbling in my chest.

Normally, I’d give him even more shit about the fact that he’s lying and enjoy that he’s having the shit scared out of him.

But it’s… kinda cute that he subjected himself to watching a horror movie because my little brother asked him to come tonight.

Sweet, even.

So he’s hot. Sweet. Funny. An unfortunately incredible kisser.