He turned back to her, his gaze finally meeting hers. His eyes held no sign of confidence, only a hint of worry. Could he really not know how special he was? How remarkable he’d proven to be in only the single week she’d known him?
She infused her voice with certainty. “You are amazing. I’m sorry your father—both your parents—were so caught up in their own struggles they couldn’t help you see that. You’re a remarkable person, a man anyone would be honored to call friend. If you let yourself lower your barriers a little and allow others to get close to you, you won’t always get hurt. I promise.”
He studied her, his eyes unreadable. Then, beneath her hand, he turned his wrist and wove his fingers through hers. His throat worked like he was preparing to say something. Her own eyes burned with the longing to take away his pain. To make him feel as fully loved as he deserved.
At last he spoke, his voice low and hoarse. “You’re the remarkable one. I wish I could see the world the way you do.”
Disappointment sank through her, and she closed her eyes as she gathered herself to answer. It would take morethan her words to convince him. But what would need to happen for him to see the truth for himself?
She opened her eyes again to study him, and he was watching her. His gaze had darkened, its intensity far stronger than seconds before. It was almost as if ...
Then his focus dropped to her mouth, and a flare of desire washed through her. Was he going to ...?Yes, please.
He leaned forward and closed the distance between them, his breath brushing warm over her skin before his mouth took its place. His lips were warm and supple, a caress that made her shiver all the way to her core.
Her eyes sank shut as she relished the taste of him, the way he made her feel treasured. Safe.
Seen.
Like she stood out from her sisters, from every other woman he’d known. It couldn’t be possible, not her. But as his hand came around her neck, wove through her hair with the gentlest of touches, she never wanted the moment to end.
Twenty-One
It might be a huge mistake, but Riley couldn’t regret kissing Juniper. Not when she was the only person in the world who seemed to believe in him. She would leave him too one day, but for now, in this moment, he simply wanted to say thank you. To relish the admiration he’d seen in her eyes and now felt in her kiss.
And oh, she tasted like ... better than anything he’d ever savored before. She was sweetness and innocence and fire all wrapped up in an exquisite package.
He had to stop. Had to pull back, no matter how much he wanted to sink into this moment forever. Her sisters would return soon, and things might not go well if he was caught kissing Juniper like she was his last breath of air.
In truth, she was more like the first clear breath he’d taken in a long—very long—time.
It took all his self-control to ease back and break the link between them. He kept her close, though, near enough to feel her warm air on his skin as she worked to catch her breath.
He brushed his fingers over her cheekbone, down alongher jaw, moved his thumb over the red bloom of her lips. A rush of desire sluiced through him to taste her once more, but he moved his focus upward to her eyes.
Something like gratitude welled inside him. He had to acknowledge this, to somehow put to words what he was feeling, what she’d done for him. He swallowed so he could speak. “Thank you.” His voice came out raspy, like he hadn’t used it in a week.
Her eyes shone with the inner light he loved so much. “For what?”
How could he put into words this overwhelming feeling inside him, this sense of being accepted without the need toearnher favor? “For being my friend.”
Her eyes widened, and she pulled back a little. In his mind, he thought back through what he’d just said.
Friend.
No.
He shook his head frantically. “That’s not what I meant. I mean...” He gripped her hand. “What I mean is...” His breath came in short gasps as he struggled for words, any words that would take away the hurt now clouding her eyes.
He forced himself to slow down, to take a deep breath and gather his thoughts. “What I was trying to say is that with you, it feels like I can let my guard down. That you don’t hate what you see in me. I don’t have to be someone different around you or be careful about letting you see who I really am.” He’d never felt so exposed as now, saying these words to her, stripping away every bit of pretense.
But the hurt in her expression slid away, replaced by a warmth that made every difficult word worth the effort.
He moved his hand to hers and wove their fingers together. “I’m sorry I’m not very good at finding the right words.”
Her eyes turned glassy, and she hiccupped as she smiled. “Those were beautiful words. The most lovely I’ve ever heard.”
The desire to kiss her again built up inside him, but the sound of female voices coming up the slope cleared away the possibility. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, then released it and pulled back.
