Naughty Neighbor - Lauren Runow Page 0,38
told him to mute the narration and just play the music. It’s far more enjoyable this way.”
“I trust you.” It’s not a lie. So far, this has been the most unique and enjoyable date I’ve ever been on even if it is just to prove a point that he knows how to take a girl out.
The lights go black, and the ceiling ignites in a spectacular soiree of visual scenes. The Milky Way galaxy is in view. We zoom closer and closer until we’re in the orbits of the solar system.
Hauntingly beautiful mood music plays over the loudspeaker as we travel around the sun and leap from one planet to the next. The room rumbles as we move through light-years, and there’s a whoosh of air I can feel on my cheek.
His hand moves closer to mine as the red rocks of Mars come into view. His knee grazes my leg when we pass the red spot of Jupiter. The heat of his body presses against mine as we weather the storms of Uranus. He tells me Venus is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. And when we get to Saturn, he shows me the rings of water and ice that stole his heart when he was just a boy.
I could listen to him talk about the universe all night. His explanations are simple, his jokes are amusing, and his expressions as he discusses things makes him absolutely mesmerizing.
That’s when I realize I stopped watching the show.
I’m watching him.
His mouth is parted, his eyes are hooded, and his body is filled with a calm, as if this is exactly where he wants to be.
And then he looks at me.
My breath hitches because the light in his eyes is still there. Except, instead of talking about flowers or his beloved stars, he’s looking at me. I feel like he’s the sun and I’m orbiting around him. There’s no doubt that I could soak in his stare for the rest of my life.
He leans forward, and my heart picks up. “If I kiss you right now, without a camera rolling, would you mind?”
I instinctively lick my lips as I take a sharp breath in, and my words fail me.
His head dips lower until his lips are mere inches from mine. “Would you?”
“No,” I whisper back.
He places a hand on my cheek, leans forward, and kisses me. It’s soulful and sweet. Intense and delicious. I wasn’t prepared for the intensity of his kiss last time, but today, I’m ready to devour and savor every moment.
With the planets and the sun dancing on the sky above us, our tongues dance in a rhythm all of their own as our breaths become one. I feel his touch down to my core, and there’s no part of me that wants him to stop.
I slide my hand into his thick, dirty blond hair and pull him in closer. His left arm tightens around my back as he brings me into him, his tongue stroking between my lips, sending tingles straight between my legs.
He pulls away from my lips but places his forehead to mine.
“You win,” I whisper. “Your secret first-date place is pretty amazing.”
“I told you I had moves.”
“I’ll never doubt you again.”
He laughs as he puts an arm around me, pulling me into his side and staring up at the show.
“Thanks for coming with me,” he says.
I nod. “Thanks for inviting me. This is fun.”
He grins. “It sure is.”
I bite my lower lip, stopping myself from kissing him again. He smirks, and I know he can tell.
We finish the show and then bid goodnight to Kent. On the ride home, Jake plays more of that music that was on in the planetarium, and we listen as we drive along the shoreline, staring at the Windy City. Its colors of pinks, purples, and golds illuminate the darkened water, making it look absolutely stunning.
When we get home, he walks me to my door, kisses me softly on the cheek, and slowly backs up toward his place.
“Night,” I say before turning around, entering my apartment, and closing the door.
So many emotions are running through me. My heart is pounding, and I can’t control the smile on my face. I only get this exhilarated when I write. It’s a feeling of happiness I can’t control. To me, it’s better than any drug or alcohol.
That’s when the words drown me.
I race to my computer, open it up, and let it pour out. One after another, my fingers glide