Page 92 of Lightning Angel

“I noticed.” He winked.

“I crave a drink,” Daphne blurted out, looking like someone trying to wriggle out of a suffocating room. “I’ll be in the kitchen.” She walked past them, piercing Alexa with a meaningful look—to ask him for prom—on the way, and paused at the doorway. “Would you fancy a drink, Tristan?”

Tristan’s eyes remained on Alexa as he refused politely. “No, thank you.”

The moment Daphne left, Alexa felt the full impact of the charge in the air between them.

“I wasn’t expecting you,” she broke the silence.

“I was planning it to be a surprise, and it looks like Isurprised you.” Tristan cocked his head to the side as he watched her, in the adorable way that made her heart soar. “So… the prom dance?”

“You said you’d go with me?” She slipped her hands into the pockets of her shorts, having nothing else to do with them than fiddling.

“If you want me to.” His dark eyebrows rose, eyes searching hers expectantly.

“Yes.” Alexa grinned.

“Yes to you too.” He grinned back, but it faltered as he asked, “Were you nervous to ask me? I met Cassie on the porch. She told me about prom and that you were nervous to ask me, and then I came up here and heard you say it. Why?”

Thanks a lot, Cass.

“I don’t know. I—” She stopped short as Tristan reached for one of her wrists and pulled it from the pocket. He cradled her hand in both of his own, his fingers caressing her palm. “I…” She tried to compose herself, but the thrill of his touch fogged her senses.

Tristan waited for her answer, oblivious to the raging emotions he evoked in her.

“You’re distracting me,” she blurted out, dropping her eyes to their hands.

Tristan’s caressing stopped. She felt his eyes on her but refused to look up. She was overwhelmed, but in a way that filled her with pleasure. He took a step closer and hooked his forefinger under her chin. Her breath hitched, but she allowed him to make her look at him.

His eyes smoldered. “I came here to ask you something actually,” he said, his voice husky that did strange things to her heart. “I was saving it for later but, Icouldn’t help my curiosity now.”

“What is it?” she breathed out as he waited for her answer.

“Do you feel something for me?”

Alexa gaped at him. He was looking at her with openness again, with so much vulnerability as he let her seeintohim. He loved her. She was everything to him. Now he wanted to know if she felt for him, too.

Shehaddecided to risk her heart for this one time, to give herself a chance to know what it’d be like being with him, so why not dive deeper and discover more about this beautiful feeling.

Tristan watched her with sweet patience, his eyes heartbreakingly hopeful. To make him wait another second felt cruel.

“I do,” she whispered, euphoria exploding in her heart at her admission.

Tristan cradled her hand to his chest, where his heart pounded wildly. His face split into the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. Her own smile bloomed, and she pulled her other hand from the pocket to clasp it over his, stepping closer until only their joined hands were between them.

Tristan’s eyes dropped to her lips, his smile dropping slowly. He stared hungrily, and Alexa’s own eyes trailed to his lips that he had just licked. Desire rose in her, but before she could lean up to him, she heard him swallow, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

She realized he was hesitant if she were ready. Alexa decided to show him her readiness when Tristan cleared his throat.

“So, the prom,” he began. “When is it?”

“Uh… coming Saturday,” she said distractedly, ignoring the disappointment sinking into her stomach. They had nearly kissed, and eventhat,brimming with frustration since she wanted their kiss to happen, was a beautiful feeling. Just like when almost-kisses happened in her books. And this was her first real-life experience. “We need to acquire special permission for your attendance.”

“And when they ask what your relationship with me is…?” he asked with a curious quirk of his eyebrow.

Alexa opened and closed her mouth, considering the only option she had. She lowered her eyes from him to their hands. “I could tell them you’re my boyfriend, but that would be a lie.”

She stole a glance at him in time to see his lips twitch, and dropped her gaze, her own lips twitching without permission.