by Nia Arthurs
Damn. That makes me feel—
I want to drag my fingers over every inch of her soft body.
I want to hear her scream my name, again and again and again, until she’s hoarse.
But she’s not ready for that.
No matter how badly I want her.
No matter how gorgeous she looks standing in my living room with her dark eyes and those thick thighs straining against her blue jeans, and those plump lips telling me she likes kissing me.
I pride myself on restraint, but Ina’s tempting me far beyond my limits.
“Kissing comes with the territory.”
She bites her lip shyly. It drives me wild.
“Right now,” she says.
“Right now?”
Her gaze fixes on my lips. “We can keep arguing after.”
I frown. “Wait a—”
She grabs my shoulders and pulls me into a kiss, sighing with pleasure when our lips collide.
I drag my fingers up her arms to her jaw, holding her close.
She arches her body against mine, groaning into my mouth as I deepen the kiss.
There’s no better sound than that.
No better feeling than her nails digging into my skin as she clamors for purchase.
I flick my tongue in.
Her breath thickens.
I pull back.
Ina grunts. “Stop teasing me.”
I smile against her lips, but she swoops in and all humor is incinerated by the heat blazing between us.
Her passion is mounting. Unraveling. Igniting.
Like a single match falling on top of dry brush.
I slip my hand under her shirt.
She shudders against me.
Opens her mouth to me.
A door creaks in the background.
Footsteps thud.
A bag drops to the wooden floor with a thump.
Ina and I break apart.
Jonas stands in the doorway, his duffel bag sprawled at his feet and a stunned look on his face.
Ina skitters three feet off the ground. “Jonas! I, um… Jonas!”
“Hey.” I nod at him.
He gives me a what the hell is going on here look.
I shrug.
“Jonas!” Ina says again, as if she can’t believe he exists. She steps away from me. “I was just on my way out.”
“Wait.” I cross the room. “Let me get my keys. I’ll take you.”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“I insist.”
“It was nice seeing you, Jonas.” The words blow past Ina’s lips in rapid-fire bullets. She’s fast-walking, then jogging and then running. By the time I blink, she’s disappeared out the front door.
I hear her shoes thudding in staccato rhythm down the stairs.
Then the bells on the shop door are jangling.
Finally… silence.
I chuckle. Freaking adorable.
Jonas clears his throat. “You’re not going to chase her?”
“Not if I want her to ever see me again.” I focus on him. “You hungry?”
“You want to explain that?”
“We’re dating,” I say simply.
Technically.
Sort of.
Ina hasn’t admitted to having feelings for me yet, but today’s confession was close enough and that kiss…
“Since when?”
“Depends on which one of us you’re asking.”
“Psycho.”
I laugh.
“By the way,” Jonas points to my lips, “nice color.”
I swipe my thumb over my mouth and see my flesh stained red. Looks like Ina’s lipstick rubbed off on me again.
I finish wiping the remnants. “Did you see Nellie’s parents off?”
He nods.
“She okay?”
Another nod.
“Good.”
He closes the door and clasps his fingers together.
I wait for him to speak.
He doesn’t.
“You have something to say?”
He shakes his head no.
“Alright.” I head to the kitchen to start dinner.
I hear a noise behind me.
Jonas enters the kitchen, his shoulders drooping and his eyes on the floor.
I wash my hands and wipe them against my pants. “What’s up?”
“About that day…”
“Which one?”
“Nellie’s accident.”
I face him. “What about it?”
He shuffles awkwardly. “It was hard. Seeing her like that. I kept thinking about mom.” He sucks in a deep breath. “Anyway, I—uh—I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
“It’s cool, man.” I lift my hand. “Fist-bump?”
He smiles. Walks to me. Hits my knuckles.
I open a cupboard.
“Bro.”
“What?” I take out the dry noodles and tomato sauce for pasta.
“About Ina.” He gives me a thumbs-up and flashes a knowing smile. “You got lucky. I liked her ever since she threw you over her shoulder.”
I laugh. “You know what? I think I liked her from that moment too.”
Twenty-Four
Ina
I sink into the backseat of the taxi. I press my lips together. Bring the top one in to meet my tongue. Then the bottom.
Still my mouth tingles.
I shuffle through my purse for my compact mirror.
My pupils are still dilated.
My lipstick—something red and cheap that I’d picked up at the dollar store—is completely faded.
That’s what I get for buying makeup from the dollar store.
Or for begging Lucas to kiss me.
I really should stop begging him in general.
It’s more than just my pride that gets shot. Every time we touch, I leave his presence exposed. Overcharged. Like I’m slamming into livewire.
With trembling fingers, I reapply my lipstick. Can’t have Mrs. G asking why my makeup is smeared.
Just the thought makes me shudder.
It’ll be hard enough explaining to Venus, Amina and Kayla why their top bachelors didn’t do it for me.
My stomach twists into knots.
I’ll have to find a way to put off Venus for as long as possible.
My eyes trail to the window. Lampposts blink to life, streaking gold in the dusky sky.
“I want you.” Lucas’s voice whispers through my head. “I need you.”
My heart expands until I’m sure it’ll burst through my chest.
There’s no denying how much Lucas affects me.
I love every temperature of our relationship.
Warm talks through the night.
Breezy laughter.
A quiet touch of hands.
Heated arguments.
Hazy desire.
He’s like a talented guitarist, plucking a quiet, somber melody and then powering into an overdriven solo before pulling back to an impressive riff whenever he pleases.
Wow.
I know something’s up when I’m comparing Lucas to my favorite musicians.
But I can’t help myself.
I like being around him.
I like touching him.
But giving in to him is reckless.
Even I know that.
The taxi slows in front of my house.
I climb out. Grab my purse. Shuffle up the stairs.
The front door bursts open.
“There she is!” Venus yells. Her heels clop against the wooden boards. “Hey, girl!”
“Heeey…” I stretch out the word. Check my watch. “What are you doing home?” I peek over her shoulder and spot Amina, Kayla and their boyfriends sitting in the living room. “Why are they…?”
She gives me a brilliant smile.
“Venus!”
“As requested, we left you alone for two weeks.” She tilts her head. Long, reddish-brown hair feathers her slim shoulders. “But guess wha
t? All that waiting and keeping our distance made us extra curious.”
“You should have warned me.”
“You would’ve brushed me off.”
She’s right.
That doesn’t mean I have to like it.
“Why did the guys come?”
“They have skin in the game too.”
“You’re…”
“Insane?” She gives me a peppy smile. “I know. Now let’s go inside. The others are waiting.”
Everyone falls silent when I step in.
Kayla smiles at me. Today, she’s rocking a funky striped jacket with a knee-length skirt. Her light brown skin is brushed with dewy makeup and her hair is scooped back in a severe ponytail.
She looks like the epitome of a professional businesswoman.
Which is why I can’t figure out why she and the fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants Venus are such good friends.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Venus gestures to me. “The moment you’ve all been waiting for.”
Evan moans from the corner. “Get on with it!”
His girlfriend, Corrine, giggles.
He wraps his arms around her and whispers something in her ear. A flush steals over her freckled cheeks.
Venus sends him a get over yourself look.
He smirks.
“Sorry for barging in like this,” Amina says, glancing at her boyfriend. “We were too excited to wait for your call.”
“It’s fine.”
Kayla gestures to the man beside her. “You remember Brendon, right?”
“Billionaire. Owner of Make It Marriage. Heir to Humes Corp.”
“Soon to be husband of this incredible woman.” He presses a kiss to Kayla’s forehead.
She beams.
“Back to the point.” Venus jerks her chin in my direction. “Today, we’re officially ending the Search for Ina’s Soul Mate.”
“Really, V?”
“Has a nice ring to it.” She pretends to hold a microphone. “For the past few weeks, our blushing bachelorette dined with nine eligible bachelors. We had hot teachers, hot doctors…”
“Hot lumberjacks?” Matt laughs.
Amina rolls her eyes.
“The moment of truth is upon us.” Venus waves at her brother. “Evan.”
“What?”
“Get me the hot seat.”
“Get it yourself.”
“I’ll get it, babe.” Troy grabs a chair from the dining room table.
Venus gives him a sloppy kiss for his efforts.
“Enough of that.” Kayla tosses a pillow at Venus’s foot.
“Five more minutes,” Venus breathes, pulling Troy in again.
I shake my head.
“While Venus does… that.” Kayla waves to get my attention. “I’d just like to clarify something, Ina. No matter how Venus made it look…”
“Hey!” Venus lets her boyfriend go.
“This isn’t a game to us.” She gestures to herself and Amina. “We really tried to find someone you’d like.”
“And what did I do?”
Kayla tosses her head. “Try to cheat your way to victory?”
“Cheat? Me?”
“What do you call orchestrating a meet-up in the park, Venus?”
“Creativity?”
Amina speaks up. “At the end of the day, all that matters is who Ina chose. So…” She gives me hopeful eyes. “Who was it?”
I clutch my fingers together. “Guys… I appreciate what you’ve done for me.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a but coming?” Amina cringes.
“But,” I squeeze my eyes shut and blurt it out, “I didn’t make any connections.”
Kayla gawks. “Not one?”
“No.”
“What about that nutritionist?”
“He was nice.”
“And?”
I shrug. “It didn’t happen.”
Venus plops into Troy’s lap. “So you’re telling me we didn’t find your soul mate?”
“No.”
“I can’t believe this.”
“I can.”
Everyone glances up.
Mrs. G leans against the front door, a knowing smirk on her lips.
“When did you get here?” I ask, shocked.
“I’ve been here for much longer than all of you.” Mrs. G winks.
Venus climbs to her feet. “You know something, don’t you?”
Mrs. G meets my eyes. “I stopped by the hospital a few days back and saw a very cute couple hugging outside the parking lot.”
“A couple?” Amina mumbles.
Fear shackles my bones.
Did Mrs. G see us the day Lucas came to pick me up from work?
Oh no.
“Ina?” Venus stares suspiciously at me.
All the air gets sucked out of the room.
The clock ticks to the second.
Sweat drips down my face. “Well, the truth is I—”
Mrs. G’s purse clatters to the floor.
A choking sound cuts me off and it’s followed by a body thudding to the ground.
“MOM!” Evan yells.
My eyes fly to Mrs. G.
Her mouth is open. Drool pools down the side of her cheek.
Venus screams.
Feet shuffle.
Voices echo around me.
“Call 9-1-1!”
“Evan, do something!”
“Mom! Mom, please!”
“I think she’s having a stroke,” Evan says, his voice shaking.
I push past the chaos in my head. Try to get the room in order. “Everyone back up. Give her some space! I need something to keep her mouth open so she doesn’t bite her tongue.”
Activity explodes throughout the living room.
“Hello? We have an emergency…”
Evan returns to the room with his bag. His dark eyes meet mine. “Ina?”
“I’ll assist.”
He nods.
I can see his hands trembling.
My heart is pounding, but I force myself to focus.
“I’m not going to let you die, ” I promise Mrs. G as I hold her.
Venus catches my eyes over her mother’s head. She’s crying. Frantic.
We both know that’s not a promise I can make.
Twenty-Five
Lucas
I drag the towel over my wet hair and pad into my bedroom. Tossing the towel on top of the hamper, I grab my phone.
No new messages.
I sit on the edge of my bed. Open up the text box. Start typing a line to Ina.
My screen lights up.
Nellie.
Tilting my head, I study her number as it floats on screen. With a swipe, I answer.
“Hey, Nel—”
“Lucas, Ina’s in the hospital.”
“What?” I shoot to my feet.
“Her mom had a stroke.”
I scramble for my shoes. “Is she alone?”
“She’s with her family.”
“She’s not in the room with Mrs. G?” I grab my keys.
“No, she’s in the waiting room. I just stopped by to renew my prescription when I saw her.”
“Was she upset?” It’s a dumb question.
Mrs. G means everything to her.
I march into the living room.
My brain is already mapping a route to Ina.
I wish I could snap my fingers and transport myself to her side. As it stands, I need at least twenty minutes to get to the hospital from here.
“Give me fifteen minutes.”
“Don’t do anything stupid. Ina doesn’t need another person to end up in the emergency room tonight.”
I grunt. Hang up. Cross the room. I’m almost at the front door when Jonas emerges from the hallway.
His eyes land on me. What’s up?
“Emergency,” I explain in a rush.
He grunts. Turns.
Then he freezes.
In a blink, he charges across the room and g
rabs my shoulders.
His eyes glowing dark amber, he demands, “Is it Nellie?”
“No.”
He blows out a breath.
“It’s Ina’s mother. She had a stroke.”
He lets me go.
I charge outside when I hear footsteps thudding behind me.
Turning, I see Jonas pulling on his jacket with one hand and closing the door with the other.
“I’m coming with you.”
I nod. Rush outside. Drive like a maniac.
Every mile seems to crawl by.
I curse every stoplight.
Finally, I spot the hospital and throw the car into a parking spot.
Jonas is right behind me. Until it’s time to enter the hospital. He comes to a screeching halt an inch away from the door.
I stop long enough to check on him. “You—”
“Go.” He trembles visibly. Backs away from the door. “I’ll be out here.”
I run in.
One phrase pumps through my mind.
Get to Ina.
My head whips back and forth. My eyes dart over the white walls, black chairs and patients shuffling by in hospital gowns.
No Ina.
I reach for my phone to call Nellie, when I spot her walking toward me. “You got here fast.”
“Where is she?”
“In the waiting room.”
I follow Nellie there.
It’s crowded with people.
I skim each face.
No Ina.
I take another step.
“Lucas!”
A lone figure flies toward me.
She’s wearing a sweater and khakis.
Dark twists fall to her forehead.
Ina.
Her mouth is thin and trembling.
Her eyes are puffy. Red-rimmed. Filled with tears.
My heart beats out of my chest. “Oh, darling.”
She starts running.
I brace myself for impact seconds before Ina crashes into me.
Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her close. “I’m here.”
She sobs.
“It’s okay.” I soothe her. “It’s going to be fine.” I kiss the side of her head. Keep murmuring assurances in her ear.
Everyone else fades away.
Until I look up.
The entire room has gone still.
Every eye is on me.
Ina’s got her head buried in my chest so she doesn’t notice, but I can’t miss the questioning looks three women in particular are casting my way.
They start mumbling among each other.
“Is he one of yours?”
“No. I’ve never seen him before. Venus?”
