Page 25 of Luci’s Lullaby

“Are you asking me if I sleep around?”

“Yes,” she hesitates, “I’m not sure why I need to know, but I do.”

“Left here.” I point toward the entrance to my condominium.

She narrows her eyes. “You live at Crow Creek?”

“I do.” She looks over at me as she slows to turn. “Why do you ask?”

“No reason.” She shakes her head as she crosses the road.

“Drive straight down this street, last turn on the left.” I watch as she starts squirming in her seat. “Yeah, last set on the end on the right.”

“Nice community, I’ve always loved it,” she mutters.

“It’s nice.” She pulls into a spot, looking over at me. “My best friend Reese and I got it when we moved down here after college.”

She pushes her hair behind her ear. “Where’d you go to?”

“WVU.”

A small smile makes the side of her mouth crinkle. “Are you gonna make me pull it outta you? What did you major in?”

“Business. My older brother wanted me to follow him to law school, but I’ve always wanted to sing.” I give a half shrug.

“Maybe you should’ve listened.” She giggles.

I lay my hand over my heart. “Stop, you’re killing me.”

“I’m kidding.” She leans over to gig my side, and I grab her hand. It’s like static as we shock one another. “Shit.” She pulls away.

“Sorry. How in the hell does that happen?”

She shakes her head as she presses her finger to her lips. “No clue.”

“You maybe…” she bites her lip, “...want to come in for a drink?” Why am I acting like a teenage boy?

She releases her lip. “I’m not another notch, Alden.”

“I’ve never thought otherwise.” I grab the door handle, pulling on it. “Well, then, until later.”

“Don’t forget your guitar.” She throws her thumb over her shoulder.

I step out, reaching in the back to get the case out. It gets stuck on the seatbelt. “Fuck.”

“What?” She turns, getting up on her knees. “Let me get that.”

She lays over the driver seat, reaching into the back. Her ass is in my face, giving me an incredible view. She tugs a few times until it finally breaks free. The force throws her into me, and I wrap my arm around her, holding her up.

“Hey, be careful there.”

Our mouths our inches apart. I can feel her warm breath on my face. Her lips are pink and full. Everything in me is screaming to kiss her. For the first time in my life, I need to work up the courage as my stomach flips.

Before I can decide to seal it, she wraps her hand around the back of my head and pulls me to her. Our lips meet in a frenzied desire, giving and taking from each other.

I run the tip of my tongue along her bottom lip, and she opens her mouth for me. Our tongues tangle just as our words have—in a perfect dance of fire and ice. My blood heats with every pass of her tongue with mine.

I tighten my grip when she fists my hair, pressing her mouth against mine harder. I drop my guitar, wrapping both arms around her. Pushing off the ground, I drive my knee into the seat as I get even closer to her.