A brow pucker and a lip purse. How was he supposed to concentrate? Luke forged ahead, rolling them over so she was on top. “Actually, that’s not algebra. It’s—” He stopped. Took a breath. “What I’m trying to say is, it’s because we are imperfect that my theory works.”

“Imperfect, huh?” The beginnings of a smile ghosted over her lips. “Didn’t you say I was perfect?”

“You are.” He reached up, brushing the pads of his fingers along the curve of her jaw, tracing the delicate line from earlobe to chin. “Perfect for me.”

“So that’s your theory, is it?”

Her voice was teasing now, annoyance giving way to what he thought might be affection. But Luke wanted more than just affection. He wanted all of it—all of her. He suddenly realized this wasn’t a game. This wasn’t a strategic lineup of situations crafted to result in a particular outcome.

Well, it was—or it had started out that way—but it was not anymore. There was no guidebook for what was happening now, no manual for how he felt, no set of instructions for what he was supposed to do next.

So this is what it means to follow your heart.

Obi-Wan to Skywalker. Gandalf to Frodo. Merlin to Arthur. For the first time, Luke understood the words every wise old sage had muttered to every intrepid hero in the history of forever …

When the time comes, you’ll know what to do.

And he did. He knew.

His gut tightened, nervous energy pulsing through him like a live wire cut loose. Luke pushed up into a sitting position, leaning back and bracing his weight on his palms. Face-to-face now, with Julia still atop him and straddling his legs, they were almost on eye level.

“It’s not just a theory.” Luke leaned forward, close enough to share her breath as he said, “It’s real.” He brushed his lips over hers, once. “What I feel for you is real.” He kissed her then, putting everything he was feeling into that kiss.

She moaned and rocked against him.

The movement seemed almost involuntary. A reflex. And that subtle thrust of her hips set off a chain reaction inside Luke, desire flicking on switches everywhere, booting up his entire body. Like a power surge, the contact sent a blast of desire through him. Fireworks went off inside his brain, threatening to knock out coherent thought.

“Whoa,” he rasped, pulling back. Also very real? The direction things between them were currently headed. He pressed his forehead to hers, breathing hard. His body was sending out a detailed series of commands, and before the program executed without his permission, Luke needed to get the situation under control.

“This is rather embarrassing,” he admitted. “But it’s been a while. Since I found myself in this, ah”—he glanced down—“position.”