“That’s the thing.” She swallowed and shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t remember doing it. I don’t remember anything about that night after coming home from watchingA Bug’s Life.”
She’d racked her brain for the last twenty-four years trying to recall what had happened that night, trying to remember why she’d done what she’d done. But, just like always, there was nothing.
Or...not nothing. It was more like a gray mist clouded her mind whenever she tried to peer too deeply.
“Maybe I did it because I was acting out?” She frowned. “Because I was tired of being ignored by my parents? Or maybe the answer is simple. Maybe I did because I was a kid, and kids are idiots who eat paste and stuff LEGOs in their ears.”
“Wait a minute.” He raised his hand. “If you don’t remember the night it happened, how do you knowyouwere the one to feed the pills to your brother? Maybehefed them toyou.”
“No.” She shook her head. “The housekeeper found me and Andy inmyroom. The pill bottle was onmynightstand. I even had a couple of tablets still in my hand. It was me.”
She chanced a tentative look into his face. She expected to see at least a small measure of censure. But instead, all she saw was compassion.
Ofcoursehe only felt compassion. He was Romeo. The tenderest, most warmhearted man she’d ever known.
“That must’ve been a terrible weight to bear as a child,” he whispered.
Ithadbeen. But it was nothing compared to the burden of shame and regret that’d come after. To the load of blame and self-loathing she’d been carrying around since her twenty-first birthday.
She couldn’t tell him aboutthat, though. Soshe did what came most natural to her. She lapsed into silence.
And wished she had a time machine.
If she had a time machine, she would fire it up and take them back to when they’d been staring at each other with longing in their eyes. Back to when he was telling her about his fantasies. Back to when the very air between them throbbed with unquenched desire.
Regrettably, she was no H.G. Wells. The only thing she could do was point to a glimmer of starlight in the rapidly darkening sky and say, “First star of the night. Make a wish.”
She could tell he wanted to say more about her mother. But he took pity on her and turned to look at the twinkling star.
After a moment, he closed his eyes to make his wish and she noticed, not for the first time, how impossibly long his eyelashes were. So sooty and thick. When he blinked open his eyes, she was gratified to see some of the heat had returned to his gaze.
With deliberate gentleness, he caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger. Leaning in close, he whispered, “I wished foryou.” His breath puffed against her lips and smelled like peanut butter and chocolate. “I wished for all of you. Starting now.”
Just like Cami had described, he didn’t break eye contact as he slowly closed the distance between them. Before his mouth could touch hers, however, she scolded, “You’re not supposed to tell your wish. Then it won’t come true.”
He turned his head slightly, a teasing twinkle in his eye. “It won’t?”
“Oh, who am I kidding?” She grabbed the collar of his T-shirt to keep him close. Gladhehad made the first move, since she’d proved herself incapable of that very thing. “Ofcourseit’ll come true. You have me. I’m yours for...” She swallowed the word that was perched on the tip of her tongue. A word that sounded a lot likeforever. “For as long as you want me.”
His answer was a rumble of anticipation that rolled up from the depths of his chest.
Then he kissed her.
After weeks of secret yearning and unrequited passion, she half expected him to ravish her mouth. To savage it. For his kiss to be this marauding entry that lacked finesse and was all about animal aggression.
Which would’ve been fine. In fact, two seconds ago, she might’ve said that was exactly the kind of kiss she preferred.
But the Mia from two seconds ago was a damn fool, because this kiss? Oh, this kiss wassomuch better than fine. It was so much better than animal aggression.
Thiskiss was all about temptation. Titillation.
A gentle press of his warm lips against hers. A tiny flick of his hot tongue at the seam of her mouth. An achingly tender seduction that made her feel precious. Priceless. Like she was the greatest treasure he’d ever known.
Gripping his shoulders because she wasn’t sure she could stay on the log on her own, she opened her mouth to his sweet ministrations.
That seemed to be all the consent he needed.
His tongue swept past her teeth, licking languidly. His lips nibbled and sucked, mapping the contours of her mouth, leaving no corner unexplored or unloved.
