“But why?”
Putting down the manual I look her right in the eye. “Because your dad fucking destroyed your book wall. He doesn’t get to destroy the one thing you love the most in the world.”
Her brown eyes fill with sorrow. “You don’t have to.”
“I know but I want to.” I add, “When it comes to you, I can’t stop myself from giving you everything that I can.”
“I’m sorry, I… I don’t want to be a burden?—”
I snap. “You arenota burden, you can never be a burden to me. I’m doing this because I know how much you love books.”
She nods. “The shelf will take up too much space.”
I smile. “I have plenty of place. Don’t worry your pretty head about it.”
She fidgets with her fingers as anxiety tightens its hold on her. “Are you sure you want to do it?”
“How about you come here and I kiss you to tell you how much I want it?”
22
HOPE
Heath is wearingwhite t-shirt and grey sweatpants.
And just like that my mind goes blank.
Black. He’s supposed towearblack. Not grey sweatpants.
The last time he wore them I was spiraling in lust because he looked so attractive.
Everything about him is perfect. His handsome face, his amazing body and his beautiful eyes. I often find myself staring at him because someone who looks this good seems unreal. And if he wasn’t perfect already, now he’s building me a bookshelf.A bookshelf.
A frisson of excitement hums through my blood. I can’t help but gravitate towards him.
The moment I kneel down beside him, his hand comes around and holds the back of my head. Gently, he pulls my face towards him and kisses me with such tenderness that I melt into him. Like snow under the heat of the sun.
I press my palm over his chest and almost get burned with how hot he feels. He is burning up.
Breaking the kiss, I breathe heavily as I rest the back of my hand against his forehead.
“You are hot,” my voice comes out husky.
“I know,” his rich chuckles pours into me and the sound tucks away in some corner of my mind.
I blush. “No—I mean—yourskinis hot.”
His laughter slowly dies and a smile dances on his lips. “That’s because of you.Youdo this to me.”
I stare at him, blinded by the sincerity in his gaze.
Heath removes his hand from the back of my head and let his fingers aimlessly explore my collarbone. I shiver as electricity zaps through me and goosebumps raise on my arms.
The rough calluses scrape against my skin, gently, as they dip into the neckline of my sweater that isn’t deep.
Air bleeds out of my lungs, and I’m panting as if I ran a marathon.
“Looks like I’m not the only one,” his voice is low and eyes fixed on me.
