The room fell quiet.

Lauren could feel Luke’s breath against her lips, along with the steady pressure of his body beneath hers. His cock remained trapped between them, still hard enough to remind her how much he wanted her, but for once the sexual heat was not the strongest feeling inside her.

He wanted more than Yvonne’s body. He wanted more than the woman who had given him food, work, and a bed.

He wanted all of her.

Lauren searched his face for any sign that he had spoken out of panic or fear. She found embarrassment, desire, and the same stubborn sincerity that had driven him to stand between her and an awakened criminal.

He was frightened, but he was not confused.

That realization settled something inside her.

Lauren wrapped both arms around his neck and drew him closer.

"Mhm."

Luke waited, almost too tense to breathe.

"You can have me as your girlfriend," she whispered.

His eyes widened.

The tension in his face broke so suddenly that Lauren almost laughed. Relief softened his features, followed by a happiness so open that it made her chest ache.

"And as your mama," she added.

Some of his courage immediately disappeared.

Lauren laughed softly as color rushed back into his cheeks.

"You really enjoy being Mama, don’t you?" he asked.

"For several reasons."

"I’m afraid to ask."

"I like caring for you." Her fingers moved into the hair at the back of his head. "I like feeding you, worrying about you, praising you, and seeing that adorable expression whenever I call you a good boy."

Luke’s ears turned red.

Lauren’s smile deepened. "And yes, I also enjoy how illicit it sounds."

"Of course you do."

"You enjoy it too."

Luke started to deny it, but Lauren raised one eyebrow. He remembered the Dungeon of Truth and wisely reconsidered.

"...A little."

"Good boy."

His cock throbbed between them, and Lauren’s smile became unbearably pleased.

Luke closed his eyes for a second. "I walked into that one."

"You really did."

When he opened his eyes again, Lauren was still watching him. The teasing gradually faded from her expression.

"Being my boyfriend doesn’t mean we’re rushing everything," she said. "You understand that, don’t you?"

Luke nodded.

"I want you, but I also want us to do this properly."

"I understand."

"And you’re still going to work toward becoming independent."

"I will."

"I’ll hold you to that."

"I know."

Lauren studied him for another moment. She needed to be certain that he understood what he had agreed to. Becoming a couple would not erase the age between them, his dependence on her, or the uncertainty surrounding their awakening.

"We may have difficult choices ahead of us," she said. "The awakening program could change everything."

"Then we’ll deal with it."

"You make it sound easy."

"It won’t be."

Luke’s answer came without hesitation.

Lauren felt another warm ache in her chest. He was not promising that everything would work out perfectly. He was only promising not to run the moment it became difficult.

"That was a very boyfriend-like answer," she said.

"I’m trying."

"Mhm. You’re doing well."

The praise made him straighten slightly, though the movement pressed his erection more firmly against her.

Luke froze.

Lauren felt it too.

For several seconds, neither of them moved. Their eyes met, and the warmth between her thighs returned with enough force to threaten every responsible thought she had just expressed.

Lauren slowly shifted her hips back.

Luke released a breath that sounded almost disappointed.

She smiled. "Patience."

"I didn’t say anything."

"Your cock did."

His face turned crimson again.

Lauren enjoyed his reaction for a few more seconds before lifting one hand to his cheek.

"Then I suppose your new girlfriend owes you something."

Luke’s breathing changed. "What?"

Lauren leaned closer, and his eyes immediately dropped to her mouth. She stopped just before their lips touched, leaving so little space between them that Luke could feel every warm breath she released.

His arms tightened around her waist.

Lauren waited to see whether he would close the distance himself, but Luke remained completely still. He looked as nervous as he had when Yvonne nearly kissed him inside the Dungeon of Truth.

Her poor, inexperienced boyfriend had no idea what to do.

The realization did not disappoint her. If anything, it made the moment more precious.

"Luke," she whispered.

"Yes?"

"Close your eyes."

He obeyed so quickly that she almost laughed.

Lauren tilted her head and pressed her lips against his.

Luke froze.

His first kiss was softer than he had imagined. Lauren’s lips were warm and full, and the gentle pressure wiped every thought from his mind.

For the first few seconds, he forgot to respond.

Lauren pulled back barely an inch. "Breathe, darling."

Luke drew in a shaky breath.

Before he could become embarrassed, Lauren kissed him again.

This time, he moved.

His mouth pressed awkwardly against hers, but Lauren guided him with slow patience. One hand remained behind his head while the other rested on his shoulder.

Luke’s grip around her waist tightened.

The kiss deepened only slightly, giving him time to follow her. Lauren parted her lips just enough to brush against his lower lip, and a shiver passed through him.

He tried to copy her. The attempt was clumsy, but sweet enough to make warmth spread through her chest.

Luke had kissed no one before her.

The thought fed both sides of Lauren at once. The woman who cared for him wanted to be gentle and make the memory perfect. The more possessive part of her enjoyed knowing that his first kiss belonged to her.

Lauren pressed closer before she could stop herself.

Her breasts flattened against his chest, her thighs surrounded his hips, and her warm pussy rested directly over his aching cock.

His erection became painfully hard again, and Lauren felt every throb through their clothes.

A quiet sound escaped her and passed between their lips.

Luke nearly lost control. His entire body tightened beneath her, and for one terrifying moment, he thought a kiss might actually finish him before his first morning as Lauren’s boyfriend had even begun.

Lauren felt the tension and slowed the kiss. She stroked the back of his head until his breathing steadied, then gave his lower lip one last gentle pull before withdrawing.

Luke stared at her with unfocused eyes. His lips remained slightly parted, and his face had turned bright red from his cheeks to the tips of his ears.

Lauren brushed her thumb across his lower lip.

"Good morning, boyfriend."

Luke swallowed. "Good morning... girlfriend."

The word sounded unfamiliar coming from him, but the shy happiness behind it made Lauren’s chest ache.

She rested her forehead against his.

The café below remained dark and quiet. Soon, there would be work, questions about their awakening, decisions about becoming heroes, and more problems than either of them could predict.

For a few more minutes, none of that mattered.

For now, she simply held him even tighter.

Lauren held Luke against her while he slowly recovered from his first kiss. The cock trapped beneath her remained hard enough to prove that his full recovery would take quite some time.