Page 76 of Naughty November

“I know, but it’s still crazy.”

“Maybe. Or maybe it’s a happy coincidence.”

A pretty blush warms his skin. “That’s a good way of looking at it.”

“When’s your flight home?”

“Tomorrow evening. Yours?”

“In the morning.”

He downturns his lips. “We don’t have much time to reconnect.”

“To unpause?” I venture.

He raises his eyebrows a fraction and then nods. “There was so much we didn’t get to do before I left. So much we wanted to do.”

“But were too scared to.”

“Yes. Can we really unpause just like that?”

“If it’s what we both want. Is it what you want, Jools?”

“Yes.” He tilts his head and half closes his eyes. His pale lashes brush against his cheeks.

He’s inviting me to kiss him. I do. I press my mouth to his in a firm but gentle kiss. I brush the tip of my tongue over his lips and he parts them in response. Electricity zips over my skin. The fine hairs on the backs of my arms stand up. Still kissing him, I cup his cheek and adjust my position on the stool so my knees are on either side of his legs.

“Wow.” He sits upright, lips glistening with our saliva. His eyelids are heavy, and his pupils are blown. He’s so damn pretty.

I take my keycard out of my pocket and hold it in front of his eyes. “Do you want to go somewhere more private to reconnect?” Am I being too bold?

“Devin—” He rakes his teeth over his lower lip.

“Yes?”

Is he going to change his mind? Didn’t he feel the same sparks I did?

“We’re going home tomorrow. We’ll be on opposite sides of the world again.”

“I know. But tonight, we can be together. If you want.”

He glances around the bar. “Wouldn’t you rather hook up with one of your kinky friends?”

I stroke his jaw. “No. You’re the only person I want.”

“So—what? We unpause for one night?”

“Yes.”

“And then?”

I shrug. “I don’t know.”

Will we make an effort to stay in touch again? Will it last?

I put my keycard in my pocket and gesture to his arm. “May I?” It’s been far too long since I’ve asked him that.

He nods.