Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 147128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 736(@200wpm)___ 589(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 736(@200wpm)___ 589(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
‘You want me to kiss you?’
I nodded, and his thumb made another pass against my lower lip. I held my breath, feeling a little lightheaded with anticipation.
He moved his lips from my ears, pressing a soft kiss on my cheek. I moved my head a little, and he pressed another on the corner of my mouth. Then his lips were almost brushing mine when he whispered, ‘You like how I kiss you?’
My pulse fluttered. ‘I love it. Perfect.’
He moved me in his arms gently as if we were dancing, and I found myself with my back against his chest, his arms under mine and around my waist. I took a sharp breath. Then he settled his chin on my shoulder and gave me a soft squeeze around my waist.
‘Honesty?’ he whispered, and I nodded as a sweet and slow heat flooded my chest.
‘I’ve never known anyone like you, Charlie. I don’t think I ever will.’ He paused, and I reminded myself that I needed to breathe again.
In and out, Charlie.
In and out.
I swallowed, trying to ignore all the emotions swirling in my heart.
A few moments passed in silence as I tried to savour the feel of him against me and the warmth in his voice.
‘Too much honesty?’ he asked, pressing another soft kiss against my neck. As if it were second nature, as if I were made to be in his arms and it was the most natural thing in the world, I tilted my head to the side and closed my eyes, holding onto his hands around me to anchor myself to the moment. My lips stretched into the biggest and happiest smile. Because it felt like this was it. This was all I’d ever wanted.
He was what I’d been hoping for myself.
Someone who could see me.
I turned in his arms and rested my cheek against his heart.
‘Not too much,’ I whispered. ‘I wish we were at home.’
His arms tightened around me; no words could’ve been better.
‘When did you say Nora wanted you there?’
‘April 25th.’
He sighed. ‘Okay. Okay. Three weeks. We have a long time still. And maybe if everything is calm enough, I can come with you for a day or two. If you’ll have me, of course.’
‘I’d always want to have you.’
And a long time? It didn’t feel like it. But I didn’t want to say anything; I didn’t want to think about my departure and how it would affect us. The unknown was my worst enemy.
But then I realized he was holding on just as tight as I was. On another floor, a door opened, bringing the buzz of office noises. We heard footsteps and froze just as we were, but neither William nor I let go. Then the quick footsteps slowly faded away. Only to be replaced by his phone’s ringtone.
‘You’re not getting that?’
He tilted my head back with a finger and studied my face as an answer. ‘You’re quiet.’
I shook my head. ‘Long day, nothing else.’
He cupped my face. ‘I wanted a stolen moment with you. I need every moment that I can get with you. That’s why I asked you to come.’ A smile played on his lips. ‘And now that you got me here, what do you want to do with me?’
I smiled a brilliant smile as he had intended. ‘You invited me here, not the other way around.’
His eyebrows lifted as his phone stopped ringing. ‘Does that mean I get to do whatever I want to you?’ He lowered his head until his lips were against mine, and then he whispered, ‘I think you’re the one for me, Charlie.’
His lips pressed against mine, his tongue pushing inside, and then I couldn’t think of anything but the kiss.
I barely noticed his hand moving from my waist, its path leaving goosebumps under my clothes, as he wrapped his palm around my neck, his thumb against my jawline.
I moaned, and he forced my head back, deepening the kiss, making me forget about anything and everything around us. All of a sudden, I felt the wall against my back, not even realizing he had made me move.
I was completely out of breath when he stopped kissing me, and his lips reverently moved against my skin, heading lower and lower. A small moan escaped my mouth when he kissed my collarbone and I arched my back, pushing off the wall. I felt his fingers play with the small button of my shirt. I pulled at his hair and got back to his mouth, sinking my teeth into his lower lip. Something snapped for both of us and suddenly we were both pulling at each other.
He wrapped his arms around my waist, drawing me near, and I lifted my leg as much as my skirt let me so I could get closer to him. One of his hands pushed my skirt higher to make it easier for me.