Humor hit his face. He laughed and leaned in to kiss my chin. “For you, yes. I would risk my perfect physique for you.”

I groaned and tightened my hold on his wrist. “You remember that?”

“I do. I liked hearing you say it.”

“Your confidence is big enough. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“But the way you blushed and bumbled around after was charming.”

“Stop,” I moaned, flushing.

“West?”

I glanced back at him. “Yeah?”

“In the next week, would you go to dinner with me?”

It sounded a lot like a date.

Did he mean a date?

He probably did since we already slept in the same bed for the past few weeks. It would be normal for two people to go on a date after that.

After he gave another gentle pinch to my chin, I slammed my eyes back onto his. “Do you mean… as in… we go on a date?”

His smile was wicked. “Da, moya lyubov’. A date.”

“Oh….” My body warmed at the thought of walking into a place with Adrik at my side so people knew he was with me. He was mine. And boy, did I want him to be mine in every way.

“West?”

“Yes!”’ I blurted a little loudly. Adrik gave a low chuckle.

“Good, moya lyubov’. I will make arrangements.”

“Okay,” I uttered.

His gaze drifted down to my lips.

Yes. Kiss me.

A kiss was okay, right? We liked each other. We slept beside each other. We touched each other. All right, maybe Adrik did reach for me more than I did, but I never would regret any caress from him. I loved them in fact—the way he would reach out to me or kiss my jaw, cheek, temple, and forehead.

I wanted one on my lips, though.

So much.

But he didn’t. Instead, he pulled his gaze away and rolled to his back. “Are you ready for sleep, or would you like me to read more?”

I wanted him to face me again and kiss me. My heart and body agreed with my mind.

But how did I make it happen?

Could I ask?

Just the thought of saying the words had my stomach dropping to my feet.

Could I push through my nerves and just say it? Would he want to kiss me?

I licked my dry lips and opened my mouth to ask. Only the words wouldn’t come out. I snapped my mouth closed and cursed myself.

I was a chicken.

Adrik would want a kiss. He was here and had been with me every night. He liked me and would want a kiss. I didn’t have to be so scared over the words.

“West?” He turned his head my way.

“Huh?”

His smile was warm, probably as warm as my face. He placed his hand behind his head, and his T-shirt rode up and exposed skin.

I gulped.