Page 32 of Forbidden Romeo
“We could eat dinner. I know it’s late but we could grab tacos at the food truck park.”
“Or…” Katherine scooted closer to me in the driver’s seat, looking up at me suggestively through a web of thick, black lashes. “We could go back to your place,” she whispered.
I stared straight ahead, gripping the steering wheel tightly as Katherine's words hung in the air between us. With how intense our connection was tonight on that stage, I wasn’t sure Katherine and I could be trusted alone in my bedroom. But even as my mind knew it was a bad idea, my body reacted to her closeness, to the sultry, slow blink of her eyes, her subtle invitation.
I wanted her, I couldn't deny that. But I also cared about her deeply and didn't want to rush into anything.
I knew it was uncharted territory for her. And it certainly was for me, too.
I took a deep breath. "Katherine, I don't think that's a good idea. You've had a lot to process tonight. This thing with the casting director, and Professor McCay..." I trailed off, glancing over at her. She was watching me steadily, no trace of hurt or embarrassment on her face. Just patience.
“The only thing I want to consider tonight is your place or mine. And since mine is past curfew…”
I groaned and slowed to a stop at a red light just as she leaned across the console and pressed a kiss to my neck right beneath my ear.
And she didn’t pull away with that one kiss. Her lips lingered, skimming down my neck to my collarbone and she moaned as if the taste of me was too damn good.
“Fuck,” I murmured and turned my lips to hers, pulling her close and kissing her deeply.
She responded hungrily, running her hands over my chest, the kiss becoming more urgent until behind us, a car honked.
“Shit,” I muttered, realizing the light turned green. I pulled away from Katherine and whipped the car into a U-turn toward my condo, ignoring the smug, triumphant smile on Katherine’s face.
I groaned, pulling into my driveway. Cars lined the street outside; the lights on, people spilled out into the yard, drinking and mingling.
“You’re having a party?” Katherine asked, just as confused as me.
“Not my party,” I grumbled and turned the car off. This had Duncan’s name written all over it.
“Isn’t that Bailey?” Katherine asked as we climbed out of the car.
“Yeah, looks like it.” And… was that Nate?
“Is this… is this a cast party?”
Oh, fuck this.
But as we walked closer, entering through the front door, I realized Katherine was right. The party consisted of everyone from our show mixing with my teammates. Upside down in the middle of the room, Duncan was doing a keg stand. As our teammates lowered him, he rushed over to us.
“Look who finally joined us!”
“You planned this?” I asked, looking around at how fast this party turned into a rager. The show only ended an hour ago and already half the people here were wasted.
“Surprise!” Duncan said, grinning.
“It sure is,” I grumbled, but one look at Katherine’s beaming smile made me relax a little.
With her tote bag still slung over her shoulder and her scuffed up character shoes dangling from her index finger by the straps, she looked around the party, eyes glinting.
Softening, I slid my hand around her waist and tucked her into my side. “You’re excited about this party?”
She shrugged a shoulder to her ear. “You only get one opening night party, right?”
“You? You’re going to have hundreds.”
She smacked my arm lightly with the character shoes. “I meant for this show, butthead.”
“Well, Juliet, what would you like to drink?”