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“Quit while you’re ahead, Professor.”

Samantha laughed and kissed her again, smiling against Natalia’s loosening lips. She didn’t even pretend to heed her warning.

Natalia tried to cling to her skepticism, but it was growing harder by the second. She’d never felt anything remotely like this before — the sheer magnetism of Samantha’s confident touch, the heady rush of desire and affection all tangled up.

It might have been shocking how easily her walls were crumbling around her, but all she could feel was the electric hope of now. How could she feel so much for someone she barely knew? How could she possibly trust Samantha not to hurt her?

“I’m still waiting to hear you say we’re dating,” Samantha teased.

Natalia huffed, even as her traitorous lips quirked into a smile she extinguished. “Don’t hold your breath,” she said and shoved Sam backward onto the bed.

CHAPTER 40

Returning home with Natalia sitting in her passenger seat, Sam felt like she’d been gone for a month. She hadn’t anticipated that the dynamic between her and Natalia could change over the course of a few days.

She should have guessed that Natalia wouldn’t do anything the way other people did. Not even the getting-to-know-each-other part. Instead of a slow, steady road toward sharing the hurts and joys that blended together to make them who they were, Natalia had poured hers out like a waterfall. In retrospect, it made perfect sense.

Engaging her power of self-control, she tried not to wonder if things would change now that they were out of their little Keys bubble. Tried not to worry that Natalia would pull away.

She wanted to ask more questions. To delve deeper into the beauty and pain that made Natalia the formidable and unstoppable force that she was. But she demonstrated restraint instead. Natalia would tell her more if and when she was ready.

An ache started in the pit of her stomach when she turned down her street. It spread into her chest and took control of her mouth when she pulled into her driveway. “You don’t have to go, you know.”

Natalia turned her head, eyes shielded behind sunglasses she didn’t need when the sun was minutes from setting. “Do you think I’m going to pull up my U-Haul, Professor?”

Laughing, Samantha shifted into park. “It’s still early.” She leaned over the center console, inhaling Natalia’s perfume before kissing her cheek. “And maybe I’m not ready to let go of you yet.”

“So clingy,” Natalia said with a sigh, but kissed her lips before opening the door.

Instead of demanding that Sam release her vehicle so she could retreat to her castle, Natalia sauntered out of the car and toward the front door. Making no effort to hide her grin, Sam followed, an overt bounce in her step.

“I suppose I’ll let you feed me dinner before I go,” Natalia said, like she was bored. Like it didn’t mean anything that they’d just spent so much time together, but it hadn’t been enough.

Sam unlocked the door for her before turning back to the car to unload their bags. It took all of her focus not to whistle. Not to let hope get away from her.

When the sushi she ordered arrived, Natalia had made herself at home on Sam’s couch and was working on her phone. The warmth in Sam’s chest while she poured them two glasses of chilled sake was unbearable in the best way.

She loved how comfortable Natalia looked in her home. How mortal. After laying out the colorful sashimi spread, Sam raised her glass to Natalia.

“Are we toasting to your movie deal?” Natalia’s dark eyes were sharp and focused. “Or are you taking back your dramatic offering?”

Sam laughed, leg tucked under herself while she sat next to Natalia on the couch. “You think I’d throw that out there and not mean it?” She sipped her sake.

“You were having a rather magnanimous moment.” Natalia shrugged and extended her chopsticks toward a piece of toro. “Perhaps you’re having seller’s remorse.”

Propping her elbow on the couch, Sam shook her head. “I always mean what I say, Ms. Flores. I’m not one to take things back.”

Natalia’s response was a skeptical rumble in her throat. After a bite of seaweed salad, she verbalized the sound into proper speech. “I’m not saying this to you as your agent. Let me be clear. I cannot give you any compromised advice?—”

“Disclaimer noted,” Sam said before reaching for the spicy yellowtail.

“Have you considered developing a film treatment?” Natalia picked up a sliver of pickled ginger. “It may be a good idea to have a clear picture in your mind before you start sitting down for meeting after meeting.”

Sam cocked her head to the side, skin warm and stomach fluttering. “Are you trying to look out for me?”

“Jesus, don’t make it weird.” Natalia sipped her drink and leaned back. “After you’ve made such a big deal about being in the driver’s seat, you might want to know where the hell you’re going.”

Despite her best efforts, Sam couldn’t completely swallow her grin, goofy as she was sure it was. Natalia showed her affection with actions rather than words. It was sweet and only marginally intimidating.