in the top one percent of all escapees in that particular room. They wanted your autograph. You’re an escape room King.”
“Well, you weren’t too shabby yourself, Gemma. That was amazing how you figured out that number code.”
“Well, you know, I am a little bit smart. I do have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.”
“Oh yeah, where did you go to school again?”
“Columbia,” I grinned, knowing it was impressive. My family had always pushed me to do well in school and I was proud of the fact
“Wow. Smart girl, huh?”
“Well, you know, I’m not all beauty. I’m beautiful and have brains as well.”
“That’s just how I like my women, beautiful and smart.”
“Well, that’s how I like my men, handsome and intelligent.”
“Well then, I guess I’m the guy for you, aren’t I?”
“I guess so,” I said as we walked down the street. I held the escape room certificate in hand proudly. “This was a really fun date. Thank you, Lucas.”
“Why are you thanking me? You decided everything that we did today, and all of your choices were absolutely amazing. It was fun, thoughtful, and we got to spend a lot of one-on-one time together doing something really exciting,” he nodded. “I can see that you spent a lot of time trying to think of the best date for us.”
“Yeah, I wanted to do something I thought you’d enjoy because I know that you’re a smart guy. And you know, I didn’t just want to go to a bar and get a drink and do that sort of thing. Not for the second date anyway.”
“Yeah, bars are fun, but sometimes you want to see how people’s brains work and how they think. And it looks like we both have very good deduction and logical reasoning skills.”
“Well, I like to think that I do, though I’m not always sure about that,” I said. We stopped outside of the building and just stared at each other. “So I guess I should be going home now.” I looked toward the ground. I hated the end of dates. They were always the most awkward part because, one, you didn’t know if they were going to go in for a kiss or not. And two, you didn’t know if you should go in for a kiss or not. You didn’t know whether you should hug them. You didn’t know whether you should shake their hand. And you didn’t know if they were going to try and come back to your place or invite you back to their place. It was always so complicated. And it was a horrible feeling just standing there waiting.
“You know, Gemma, normally I would try and get you to come back to my place, but...,” he smiled at me softly. “You’re a different type of girl. I can already tell.”
“What do you mean I’m a different type of girl?”
“You’re the type of girl that I need to take things slowly with. You’re the type of girl that could be a forever girl. And if you could be my forever girl, I want to get to know you better before we do anything too intimate. I want to make sure it’s right.”
“Are you deciding this by yourself or do I have a choice in that as well?” I grinned up at him. His words were sweet, but they almost seemed like he was telling me what I wanted to hear. There was something to be said for animal magnetism and unstoppable lust. I wanted a man that could barely keep his hands off of me.
“Well, of course you have a choice, and I think you like me too. I mean, there’s chemistry between us.” He moved closer toward me. “This isn’t something that you feel with everyone, you know?”
“Yeah,” I whispered, because in that moment he was the only person I could think of.
“What I just said doesn’t mean I’m just going to let you go home without even a little kiss.”
“Oh yeah?” I looked up into his eyes. His lips were dangerously close now. If he moved just a couple more inches, they would be on mine.
“Yeah, Gemma, because tonight when you go home and you get into your bed, I want you to think about me.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” And before I knew it, his lips were on top of mine, pressing in, devouring me. He pulled me into him so that my breasts were crushed against his chest. I could feel his fingers in my hair, pulling on my tresses, giving me just that