Business Casual (Lovelight, #4)

by B.K. Borison

Flirting has always been easy for me, but flirting with Nova is a goddamn delight. Her whole body comes alive under the attention, like a flower tilting toward the sun. I’m greedy for her reactions. For the way pink lights up her cheeks.

Conversations with Nova usually feel like a battlefield where she’s armed with the infinity stones and I’m wearing a bunny suit.

CHARLIE: Did I tell you how beautiful you looked in that silver dress? I can’t remember. CHARLIE: Sometimes I think you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I bite my bottom lip and tap my thumbnail against the edge of my phone case. CHARLIE: Also, one hundo percent down for a night of hot, passionate sex. For the record. CHARLIE: With you. If that wasn’t clear. CHARLIE: Ready when you are, Nova girl.

He props me up against the wooden banister at the top and eyes the four closed doors like one is the gateway to Narnia and the others are a highway to hell.

“You’re so wet. Is all of this for me?” She hums, eyes closed, hips moving into my touch. “I’m thinking about John Stamos.” I grin. “He must be doing it for you, then.”

She shivers and I grin. “John Stamos again?”

“It’s just yours,” I whisper to Charlie. “Yours to have and yours to keep. You don’t have to earn anything. You belong here. And I…I wanted to give you this flower because I want you to know that you don’t have to be anything other than exactly who you are. I know you’ve been hiding, Charlie. But I see all of your colors. The bright ones and the dark ones too. I see how you’re always tilting toward the sun. Forget-me-nots were always my favorite, and—well. You’re kind of my favorite too.”

“I’ve never been anyone’s favorite,” he whispers. “Well,” I say, feeling defensive. “You’re mine.”

“Nova,” he whispers, somewhere against my mouth. “I don’t think my feelings are business casual.” I sigh into him. I hold on to him wherever I can reach. “I don’t think mine are either.”