Sidequest for Love by L.H. Cosway

“A kebab sounds good.”

“Hmm, but then I always get garlic burps after.”

“Right, those aren’t pleasant.”

“I love you, too, by the way,” she said, so casually that I didn’t register it at first. Her attention was still fixed on the menus. “Oh, and now I want Italian. I’m actually ridiculous.”

“Afric,” I said, my pulse pounding.

“Hmm?”

“Can you repeat what you just said?”

“What? That I want Italian? I know, I’m so greedy. Maybe we could order a selection.”

I pushed the menus off her lap and grabbed both her hands in mine. “Stop talking about food for a second and look at me. Did you say you loved me?”

She rolled her eyes, a grin tugging at her lips. “Since you decided to blindside me today as I was leaving on the Tube, I thought it was only fair that I return the favour.”

“You love me?” I whispered, a happy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“I think I started falling for you the day you sent me that adorable selfie of you standing in Central Park,” she said, and I huffed a laugh.

“I think I started falling for you the day I sent you that selfie and you slagged me endlessly for it.”

“I am quite fond of teasing you when you get embarrassed. This is true.”

Without warning, I tugged her close, smashing my mouth to hers in a hungry, feral kiss. I felt a puff of air leave her. Then she reached up, her hands sinking into my hair. I groaned at the scrape of her nails on my scalp before she crawled into my lap. A rumble emanated from deep in my chest. I pulled back, my breathing ragged.

“We should order food,” I said. Before I end up fucking you on this couch.

Afric nodded, looking just as worked up as I felt.

“Right. Good idea. Food. What were we going to order again?”

I smiled and caressed her cheek. “How about we just go with your original plan and get Chinese? I feel like showing you all those menus was a bad idea.

“Okay, Chinese it is. But we’re double carbing it. I want noodles and fried rice.”

I went to grab my phone. “Your wish is my command.”

“I like being your girlfriend,” she said, a contented smile on her face as she lay back on the couch. I had to resist staring at her lips and how puffy they were from my kisses.

I like being your boyfriend.

Once I’d placed our order, I returned to the couch and lined up the movie. Afric settled in beside me, her head resting on my shoulder. There was something peaceful about just being with her like this. I felt at ease for the first time in who knew how long.

“Wow, I had no idea what a hunk Ciarán Hinds was in his youth,” Afric said a little while into the film.

“Please don’t start thirsting after actors again. My ego couldn’t handle it,” I said, placing a kiss on her temple.

She chuckled. “Don’t worry. It’s just a bit of window shopping. You’re the only man I want to defile in real life.”

I lifted my arm and threw it around her. She snuggled in close.

“Defile is an interesting choice of word.”

“You have no idea what’s in store for you,” she teased. “I’ve been having some serious thoughts. You may be a little traumatised by the time I’m done, just FYI.”

The buzzer sounded, and I reluctantly went to collect our food. I really wanted to stay and have Afric explain these so-called thoughts of hers in greater detail. When I returned, we dug into the food and continued watching the movie. At one point, Afric sat forward and removed the baggy jumper she’d been wearing. I watched with rapt attention, no longer interested in what was happening on screen. She wore a white T-shirt underneath, and it was tight enough for me to appreciate the womanly curve of her hips and the swell of her breasts.

It took all my willpower to finish the meal without dragging her into my bedroom.

Finally, the movie was over, and the end credits rolled down the screen. Afric burrowed her face into my neck. “All that food has made me so sleepy. I don’t want to go home.”

“Stay over then,” I suggested, lazily stroking her arm. She was practically lying on top of me; her breasts pressed flush to my chest.

Her full lips curved into a grin. “I’ll stay over on one condition,” she said, stretching up so that her mouth was a hair’s breadth from mine.

“And what’s that?” I asked, my voice raspy.

“That you promise not to behave,” she replied right before she dragged her lips across mine, featherlight, and I felt it down in my groin.

I struggled to form a coherent response. My hands went to her hips as I shifted her so that she was fully on top of me. Her tongue dipped out, delicately dancing with mine. We kissed, and things escalated fast. Before I knew it, I was picking her up and carrying her into my bedroom. I threw her down on my bed, and she giggled loudly, looking around.

“Wow, it’s tidy in here.”

I shot her a dark grin as I climbed between her legs. “It’s about to get messy.”

She let out a delighted laugh. “Oh, my God, you’re so cheesy. I love it.”

I pulled at the waistband of her leggings. “These must officially come off.”

“Far be it from me to argue with official mandates,” she replied, her pupils large as she watched me. I pushed up the hem of her T-shirt and pressed my mouth to her bare stomach. A soft breath escaped her. I made sure to hold her gaze as I did away with her leggings and underwear. At the same time, she reached around and pulled her T-shirt off, swiftly followed by her bra. Now, she was completely naked, and I was … entranced.