Page 49 of Stolen Dreams
Damn, I love her lips.
“The newest Spider-Man movie.” Tucker bounces in his seat.
“Ooh.” Kaya wipes her mouth with her napkin. “Hard to say no to Spider-Man.”
“So, you’ll stay?”
She reaches for Tucker’s hand and gives it a squeeze. “Yes, I’ll stay.”
Chair legs grate against the tile as Tucker bolts out of his seat and wiggles his butt.
“Think I gave him too much dessert,” I tease, and Kaya laughs. “Tucker, take your plate to the kitchen and wash up, please.”
Without a word, he scurries to the kitchen.
“You don’t have to stay,” I whisper. Iwanther to stay. Damn, do I want her to. But I practically guilted her into it. And I don’t want her to think shehasto if that’s not what she wants.
“I know.” A gentle smile tugs at the corners of her perfect mouth. “But I want to.” A faintswishfilters through the air as Kaya gently glides her seat away from the table. She gathers her plate, fork, and napkin and starts for the kitchen.
Up and out of my chair, I step in front of her and cup her elbow. “I’ve got it.” The buzz from earlier makes a reappearance. Humming. Pulsing. Dancing over my skin. I stop breathing as the air crackles between us.
Fuck, I want to kiss her.
Her lips part. A soft gasp hits my ears.
She feels it too.
She wants to kiss me too.
I inch closer, my fingers drifting up her arm. One breath, then another. She’s close. So damn close. All I have to do is lean forward a few inches. Erase the last little bit of space between us. Press my lips to hers.
In three erratic heartbeats, her breath paints my skin. Every cell in my body vibrates as I close my eyes, lean forward, and duck my chin to meet her lips.
“Dad, can I have popcorn?” Tucker shouts from the kitchen.
My eyes fly open and lock onto Kaya’s hypnotic gaze. Ignoring the impulse to steal a kiss, I inch back, lick my lips, and swallow. Neither of us moves, breathes, looks away.
“Dad!”
I chuckle, and Kaya grins. “Yes, Tucker, you can have popcorn.”
“Yay!”
I take Kaya’s dishes then collect my own. “Go relax in the living room. I’ll be there in a moment. Need to make sure he doesn’t burn the popcorn.”
She laughs, but it’s different—soft, nervous. “Smart plan. Do you need me to cue the movie?”
“Nah.” I shake my head. “Want anything to drink? Wine, tea, water?”
She holds up a hand and pinches her thumb and forefinger together. “A little wine would be nice.”
I get to the kitchen in time and stop Tucker from using the microwave’s popcorn button, which is unreliable. I send him out to the living room with the important task of readying the movie while I make his snack.
When I meet them in the living room, Tucker has the lights off and the movie up. My heart catapults as I cross the room and take the only available spot on the couch… next to Kaya.
If I make it through the next two hours without touching her, it’ll be a miracle.
Tucker presses play and then sticks out his hands for the popcorn. I pass it over then hand Kaya a glass of wine. She takes a considerable gulp before setting it down, and I resist the urge to laugh.