Page 85 of Lost & Found

I awaited her response and couldn’t help but feel a bit uncertain. Had I overstepped? It was impulsive, and I was practically naked, but she didn’t look afraid, more like dumbfounded. Then she shook her head. Her words had me instantly relieved.

“Not in the slightest,” she said, not looking away.

The previous weight on my shoulders lifted more at the sound. Traces of desire lingered in her eyes. The aftermath of our kiss played across her features. She was still trying to process the moment and compartmentalize it.

But then, in a surprising display of confidence, she straightened her shoulders, her gaze meeting mine with a hint of playfulness. “But that’s not how you kissed her, is it?”

One perfectly manicured eyebrow lifted as she waited for me to respond. A mischievous glint danced in her expression. The question caught me off guard, and laughter bubbled up from deep within me, escaping before I could stop it. It was endearing—sweet, a testament to how comfortable with one another we were.

“No, definitely not.” And I meant it. Whatever this was, it wasn’t recycled. “And princess,” I called. “That style…” my eyes darted to her lips, “is reserved just for you.”

I locked eyes with her.

“Good,” she exclaimed before adding, “Or we would have had to spend some extra time practicing to make it different.”

“Well damn, had I known…” I let the thought trail off as she realized what she’d said.

Turning, I went back to bed to gather my clothes. This was insanity. But fuck, it felt right.

“You know I’ll let you in on something else, I never kissed her in public.”

The brush in her hand paused midway. “Really? I guess I’m so used to seeing affection I assume everyone does.”

Once more, I was thankful she’d agreed to come with me. If nothing else, the amount of gratitude I had for her honesty, her humor, and the unexpected sparks rising between us had me feeling less and less nervous. The distance that had grown in the last year between my old friends and me would be easier to manage with her by my side.

“Oh, by the way, I put a new picture in your phone. If you want to keep your balls, swap it out,” she said with a smirk.

“We’re back to that, are we? You going to run to your brother and tattle on me? That’s disappointing.”

“I’m giving you options is all. Options are a good thing, Dancer.” She sauntered over to the bathroom. “You can get dressed in the room if you like. I’m going to put some makeup on.”

“Wear red lipstick, please. I like that color on you.”

Her tongue peeked out and sensually wet her lips. She fluttered her eyelashes. “Glad to know. Anything else you like?”

“You don’t want me to answer that,” I drawled, my gaze lowered to her breasts.

When I looked up again, she huffed and disappeared into the bathroom. I grabbed my phone and unlocked it. I scrolled through my gallery of images. My heart skipped a beat when I found the photos she had taken. There were three of them.

Options.

I shook my head. The first one made me smile. She was mid-laugh, and her eyes sparkled with genuine amusement. She had one hand playfully tousling her hair, and her head was cocked to the side. Her new nose ring shone. Her laughter leaped out of the screen. I could almost hear it.

The next one was a stark contrast. She was seated by the window, and the soft light of the room made her glow. She looked innocent and serene, with one hand resting in her lap. Her blue eyes were wide and curious, gazing at the center of the camera. She looked pure, and something in it made my chest tighten.

Then I swiped to the last photo and groaned. She was lying on her side, her head propped up on a pillow, one hand trailing provocatively along the curve of her hip. The look in her eyes was intense. Her lips were parted. She exuded a raw sensuality I couldn’t look away from.

The way she gazed into the camera, she may as well have been staring straight into my soul. Each photo told a different story, revealing layers of her I hadn’t yet uncovered. And with each image, I went deeper into the danger zone.

With another lustful look at the one Kinsley had sent me of her partially exposed, I swapped it out with the last one. When she emerged, I was tying my shoes. I looked up. She had a cool expression on her face. What thoughts were running around in her head? I hoped she would find her stride with us at some point.

I stood and offered her my hand. “You ready?”

“I think so,” she managed, sliding her small hand into mine. I gave it a reassuring squeeze and brought it to my lips.

“You’ll do magnificent. I have no doubts.”

As we rode the lift down, I couldn’t help but study her more. Not everyone could pull off bangs, but she could. The lift landed with a tiny jolt, ending my scenic view. We stepped out and made our way to the small group gathered.