“I’ll walk you to the guest house,” Henry stated, leading me toward the great room.
“You don’t have to,” I replied.“I’m sure you’re itching to see what Blake found.”
“He can wait while I walk you to your door.”A hint of a smile tugged at his mouth.
“So you’re a gentleman now?”I teased.
“You don’t think I am?”
I paused as we approached the French doors leading outside, lifting myself onto my toes.“I could be wrong, but the things you did to me last night weren’t very gentlemanly.”I smirked.“Or this morning.”
He brushed his mouth against mine, the ghost of his kiss setting me on fire.“I didn’t hear any complaints.In fact, all I heard was you moan my name.”
“Did you not enjoy hearing me moan your name?”
He yanked me against him.“I fucking loved it, Ariana.Can’t wait to hear it again.But next time, I don’t want you to just moan my name.”
“No?”I arched a brow.
“No.”He gave me the same devilish smile that always seemed to make my heart skip a beat.“I plan on making you scream it.”
He lingered for a moment before pulling back and opening the French doors, his absence causing a chill to overwhelm me.
“Are you coming?”he glanced over his shoulder at me.
“Unfortunately not,” I retorted, walking toward him.
“Don’t worry, baby.”He placed a soft kiss on my head.“I’ll make sure you do later on.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
We made our way through the back garden, the scent of pine drifting from the woods beyond the property.Everything felt sharper somehow.Brighter.More awake.As if the world had shifted.
When we reached the guest house, I stopped and faced him, erasing the space between us.
“Thanks again for everything.I had a really good time.”
“I know.”He waggled his brows, and I playfully punched him.
“Can you get your mind out of the gutter for two seconds?I’m trying to be serious here.”
“It’s hard around you.”He gave me another mischievous smile, and it felt like my heart was ready to burst out of my chest.
I barely recognized the Henry who emerged from the shadows in the snow as the man in front of me now.I liked to think I had something to do with it.Just like he played a big part in the change in me.
“But I’m glad you enjoyed yourself,” he said, his voice shifting.“I did, too.And not because of the sex, although if I’m being honest, it was fucking incredible.”He pulled me closer.“But I liked being able to just…be with you.”
“I liked it, too.”
His lips curved into a heartwarming smile.Then something vulnerable flickered behind his eyes.“If you meant what you said earlier, you’re welcome to move back into the main house.Into your old room.”He hesitated, as if gauging my reaction, before adding, “Or mine.Whatever you choose, I’d still like you in my bed tonight.”
“I’d like that too,” I whispered.
“Good.”
He leaned in, treating me to an open-mouthed kiss that managed to break me and put me back together again.When he pulled away, he leaned his forehead against mine.
“You make it hard for me to let you go.I just want to forget the world exists and lose myself in you.”
