Page 119 of Lured By Shadows

Then, just when I thought I might actually combust, he pulled back.

Not far. Just enough to breathe.

His hands stayed on me, grounding and possessive all at once.

“Did you really think I was going to take you in this tiny contraption?” he murmured, brushing his nose against mine.

“You’re acting like it,” I huffed, cheeks burning and lips tingling, still swollen from his mouth. “God, I give you an inch and you take a mile.”

“I shall take everything when you let me,” he shot back instantly. “Just say the word.”

But the truth kept pushing at me beneath all the heat and wanting. The unwanted weight of knowing that sooner or later, I’d probably give in completely, handing over my body, my trust, and every vulnerable part of myself I’d spent years teaching myself to keep locked down.

And after that?

Once the newness faded and the heat cooled off, once he’d claimed all of it, would he still see something in me worth staying for?

Or would I become just another temporary rush in a life that seemed endless compared to mine?

And when he eventually walked away—because that had to happen eventually—what pieces of me would even be left to rebuild?

“Just not here.” He finally pulled away enough to give me room to breathe.

“Now,” he said, taking my hand and pressing a deliberate kiss against it, “Ira Loshe, will you go on a date with me?”

30

“Firstly, who said I wanna fuck you?” I puffed my cheeks, my thighs wiggling at the thought. My mind still spun from the orgasm last night and the way I wished Culver’s eyes had locked onto me the whole time. “And secondly, who even said anything about a date?”

The thought of actually going on a date with him sent a rush of excitement through me that I couldn’t shake, picturing something real and normal with him almost feeling too perfect to actually happen.

His eyes held mine, a flash of possession flickering through them.

“To answer your first question, I believe your actions have been speaking louder than your words.” His tongue slid across his teeth, and my imagination instantly pictured it flicking against my clit. “Secondly, I am asking you now. Would you enjoy a date with me, Ira?”

Every time he said my name, I wanted to whimper.

Instead, I darted my eyes away, my brattiness shining through. “Who’d even wanna date you? I mean… what would we even do?”

“Is that a yes?” He hummed in satisfaction, his hand gliding across my thigh and sending electricity through my body.

I inhaled sharply as he reversed the car and put us back on the road, my eyes locking onto his again. I wanted so badly to push back, to keep drawing this out and teasing him longer.

But in the end, I nodded. “Yes,” I said softly. “I wanna go somewhere good to eat.”

“Are you interested in more than that?” He squeezed my thigh, reassuring and maddening all at once.

“Maybe if you treat me to a fancy place.” I flushed, taking his hand from my thigh and holding it with both of mine near my face. “I’ll give you a treat too.”

His eyes fluttered toward mine.

I swear he growled, excitement flickering through his features.

“I was not suggesting anything sexual, but now you have me intrigued…” He paused before sliding his cool hand along my cheek.

I nuzzled into it, my cheeks warming without permission.

“No. I was asking if you are up for more than just food, my little lamb. A stroll through the park, a museum perhaps, or even a trip to the shopping center?”