I lower my head and lightly brush my lips across Lucy’s. My intention is to keep the touch soft and light, the kind of romantic kiss that makes female fans swoon in the theater seats, but the second my skin touches her, a bolt of pure lust jolts through me and my self-control dissolves.

I release my hold on Lucy’s jacket and slide my hands beneath the material, pushing aside the hem of sweatshirt until my fingertips find soft, warm skin.

Lucy raises her arms and wraps them around my neck.

Growling, I crush her lips beneath mine. Her lips part and our tongues meet in a duel that sends the blood rushing straight to my dick. I’ve never felt anything so intense in my life.

I lower my hands and grasp her hips, walking her backward until she bumps into my rental BMW. She squeals against my mouth as I lift her up and onto the hood and move to stand between her legs.

My heart pounds in my chest, beating so powerfully against my ribs, I’m surprised the bone doesn’t crack.

I slide my hands up and down her thighs, loving how the flesh quivers beneath my touch even as I resent that she’s wearing jeans instead of a skirt that I could slip my hands under.

Lucy arches her back, grinding her breasts against my chest as her fingers mesh into my hair. She makes mewling noises that drive me wild.

My hands shift higher, finding the apex of her thighs, where I rub against her. Her legs twitch and her hands tighten in my hair. Even with the jeans between my hand and her essence, I feel her building heat. I imagine the moisture gathering there in preparation for my cock and something snaps in my brain.

I fumble with the button that holds her jeans closed, desperate to get closer to her, to really feel her.

Just as the button slips free of the button hole, Lucy’s fingers tighten on my hair, pulling until our lips finally part. That’s when the laughter penetrates my conscious.

Over Lucy’s shoulder, I see seven laughing teenagers standing at the edge of the parking lot, camera phones flashing as they capture every single moment.

Shame blankets me, effectively smothering the desire as the laughter changes to cat calls.

I wrap one arm around Lucy, cupping the back of her head, pressing her face into my shoulder as I use the other to fumble in the pocket of my windbreaker for my keys. Once I find them, I tug Lucy off my car, shielding her with my body as I open the door and bundle her onto the passenger seat.

The peanut gallery makes a few lewd suggestions, a few I’ve never even heard of, as I jog around the front of the car and let myself into the driver’s seat.

Neither of us says a word as I close the distance between the restaurant and the coffee shop where I first encountered Lucy.

The coffee shop, located near a quiet residential part of town, has closed for the day by the time we reach it.

“Is that yours?” I nod toward a dark gray Saturn. It’s the only car in the parking lot. Luckily, Lucy parked fairly close to one of the security lights so there’s no need to worry about someone lurking in the shadows.

Lucy nods.

I pull up next to it and put the BMW into park but don’t kill the engine.

Lucy unsnaps her seatbelt. “Thanks for the … interesting day.” She reaches under the seat and extracts her laptop before reaching for the door handle.

I grab her hand before she can slip out of the car.

“Lucy, I-” I take a deep breath. I’ve had the entire drive to figure out how to apologize for the way I behaved when we left the restaurant, but still haven’t come up with anything. Maybe I should just hire a writer to hang out with me all the time.

“I’m sorry for what happened back there,” I finally say in one long rush.

Lucy catches her lower lip between her lips and studies me. “Why?”

I blink. I’d expected her to be furious or upset. That she’d call me an assortment of names or even fling a few accusations my way. “I took advantage of you. I didn’t get your consent beforehand.”

She tips her head to one side and studies me. “I don’t recall pushing you away.”

She has a point.

Before I can respond, she slips from my car and gets into hers.