Romilly’s thumb brushes against my cheek, impossibly soft, and the sensation sends a jolt straight to my heart.
My hands slide down to her waist, pulling her flush against me, and the silkiness of her pajamas and the warmth from her skin pressed to my body sends another wave of heat crashing over me.
The kiss is no longer tentative but filled with something I can’t quite name—desire,yes,but also longing and something achingly tender. My chest tightens, because what I feel for her is more than lust, or even friendship—it’s everything I’ve been running from.With each passing second our lips are pressed together, it strikes me just how badly I’ve fallen for her. It’s been happening all this time, and not the kind of falling I’m used to. This time, I haven’t been falling for lies or superficial beauty. I haven’t been falling for an act or a fleeting infatuation.
This is the wrong kind of falling. The kind I’ve been desperately trying to avoid.
Falling in love.
Every brush of her mouth against mine puts me in a more dangerous position, tangling my heart with hers until I can no longer get away, can no longer deny or suppress the truth.
I love Romilly so much.
And I have no idea if she loves me back.
Our faces remain close together when this kiss ends. All I can think about is how much I wish it wouldn’t. The back of my brain screams at me that this is too fast, that I’ve done it all wrong. I wasn’t supposed to be this gone for my boss, but it’s too late, and now I can’t imagine my life without her.
A future with her flashes before my eyes—Romilly walking down the aisle to meet me at the end. Slipping a ring onto her finger. Helping her at The Paw Spa when she needs it and using my fighting money to make sure she never has to work too hard. Spending years making her laugh, teasing her, and lovingher before taking the next step and maybe rescuing a bunch of animals together, or starting a family. Who knows?
One thing is clear though. I want her. I need her. And there’s no getting over her now.
There never has been.
Chapter Twenty-Six
ROMILLY
My heart screamsat me as I stare up at Bash. His face is still close, and all I want to do is lean back in, feel the press of his lips on mine for the next hour. But that would be dangerous. Actually, things have already gotten dangerous, because no matter how hard I try, fighting my feelings for him isn’t working anymore.
I’m trusting you, Lord. I’m giving this a chance.
Bash aligns my gaze to his with his hand by lifting my chin. He taunts me with a half smile. “I really hope you’re not regretting that kiss, because your lips are like a dream I never want to wake up from.”
My chest expands at his undeniable charm. “You and your smooth words. I have to admit, sometimes when you say stuff like that to me, I get worried you’re just trying to play me.” I pull away, breaking our eye contact.
The humor vanishes from his voice. “Come on. You have to know I wouldn’t do that.”
“I want to believe that.”
He takes my hand. “Romilly, I’ve never even wanted a serious relationship before. Not until I met you.”
“And you want one now, with me?”
He grins. “Yes.Very, very much.”
I ignore the storm of flutters that attack me and steady my gaze at him. “Okay, listen, because you need to understand. I want to be with you too, Bash. But I have no intentions of sleeping with you. I’d want us to be married first.”
He nods. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Hope rises in my chest. I expected him to at least be disappointed.
“Yes. Okay.” He gently grazes my cheek with his thumb. “Do you know how good it feels to hear you admit you want to be with me? I feel like I’m flying. But I have to say, it’s really hard to keep my thoughts in check when you’re sitting here looking this way in your jim-jams.”
“Jim-jams?” I cover my laugh with my hand. “That’s pretty cute.”
“You’re pretty cute.” He tugs me closer to him.When he speaks again, all traces of humor are gone. “I mean it though. You don’t have to worry about me pressuring you or anything like that. I’m in this for the long haul. I just want you.”
I can’t help but smile. “Do you know how good it feels to hear you saythat?”
