She smiled. “Yeah, well, you’re a really good boss.”
A chuckle broke from him, but it was more disbelieving than humorous. He watched her for a second before saying, “So, I never did get an answer to my voicemail. Do you want to go out and grab a pizza with me next week?”
Lucy’s heartbeat picked up. “You remember all of that?”
“Do I remember calling you and making a drunken idiot of myself? Yeah, of course I do. Unfortunately.”
She laughed. “You didn’t make an idiot of yourself. It was…a really sweet call. Assuming you meant everything you said in it. I wasn’t sure if you did. You never mentioned it again.”
“I got a little distracted by being turned into a nosferatu,” he said. “But yeah, I meant it. All of it and more. Would you like to go somewhere with me?”
Lucy felt her heart hurling itself against her ribs. “Sure, but I hope you’re only asking because you want to, not because you feel like you owe me for tonight or anything.”
He winced like the suggestion had offended him. “I asked you before all this happened because I wanted to. I’m asking you now because I still do. More than ever.” He traced a finger down the side of her face, making her skin sing.
“Oh,” she said. “Okay, then. Y-yes, I’d love to have dinner with you.”
He smiled, but the look in his eyes intensified. She had the impression there was something more he wanted to say, words on the tip of his tongue he was only barely holding back. She waited, hardly breathing, for him to come out with it. Instead, he brushed the pad of his thumb along her lower lip. Then he bent closer and kissed her there.
Lucy tensed, every muscle coiling with excitement, even as her insides turned all warm and fluttery.
“Is this okay?” he asked against her mouth. She nodded, and he sat up, peeled off his t-shirt, and lobbed it aside.
Lucy’s eyes bugged. Her breath caught in her throat. Suddenly, vampires and magic spells were no longer the most mind-blowing things she’d seen all week. Although, truth be told, she’d seen Aaron’s naked torso once before already. A few days ago, she’d caught a glimpse while he was heading into the shower. But he’d been ill then. Vulnerable. It would have been wrong for her to ogle him, and so she hadn’t. She had averted her eyes. Mostly.
Now, though…
He was displaying himself in front of her, and she suffered no compunctions about taking in all the sights. The smooth, compact muscles and lightly tanned skin. The nipples that called out to be licked, and the treasure trail that begged to be followed. Goodness, he was even more beautiful than she’d remembered.
“G-gyah,” she murmured incoherently. “Is this really happening?”
He grinned. And then he was on her, shifting her onto her back and bracing an arm on either side of her body. “Does it not seem real to you?” he asked.
“No,” she said, and he laughed.
“Well, here, let me see if I can’t convince you.”
His warm weight came down on top of her, and his lips rediscovered hers, sending shocks of pleasure skittering through her nerves. His tongue teased the seam of her lips, and she opened to him, sighing when she felt the first silken sweep of his tongue across hers. Soon, their mouths were slanted firmly against one another, and her tongue was matching his, stroke for passionate stroke.
A delicious heat blossomed inside Lucy and unfurled, spiraling out to kindle every inch of her being. Awed, she ran her hands over Aaron’s shoulders and chest, tracing the hard, sleek lines of a powerful body she’d spent so many hours at her desk daydreaming about, never really believing this would happen.
He was a contradiction in sensations, she realized with a thrill, all steely muscles and silky skin. His touch, too, was a mind-spinning fusion of strength and tenderness, making her feel sheltered underneath his control, even as it reminded her of his primal manliness, the fundamental brawn that could easily overpower her if he chose to exert it.
His mouth travelled to her neck, his lips caressing the hollow of her throat. “Lucy,” he said, and she’d never dreamed he would say her name like that, so gravelly and shaded with lust. “Lucy, Lucy…you’re so freaking sexy. You drive me crazy, do you know that?”
“No,” she said, and it made him laugh again.
“Mmm. The way you bonked that vampire over the head tonight,” he went on in a smoky voice. “It was so loyal. So…hot.”
“Heh,” Lucy laughed. “If I’d known this is what would happen, I’d have beaten the tar out of a monster for you a long time ago.”
“You’re so funny, Lucy.”
“I’m really not.”
“Yes,” he said, “you are. And it’s a total turn-on.” His large hand engulfed her small breast, palming it gently. He worked her legs apart with his knee and settled himself between them. Then he angled his mouth over hers again, kissing her until her lips started to feel swollen, but in a delicious way. He touched her—in ways no one had ever touched her—until she felt her resistance fraying around the edges, very nearly unraveling, and she knew she needed to stop him soon and tell him about herself. Assuming he hadn’t already noticed how awkward she was at all this, and her hesitation.
“Lucy,” he was murmuring in low, sensual tones. “Lucy, I want you...”
“Aaron.” She wriggled underneath him, placing a cautionary hand on his chest. “Aaron, please wait for just a second.”
“What’s the matter?” he teased. “Don’t you like kissing me?”
“Um, yes. Yes, I do. In fact, I think it’s my favoritest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Ever.”
“Excellent.” He gave a low chuckle as he grazed his lips along her earlobe, sending another blissful buzz skating over her skin.
“I just…I don’t…I mean, I’ve never…Oh, geez.” She could hear the anxious catch in her
