“It’s okay. I’m okay.” My smile was full of sunshine. “I’m more than okay.”
His arm came out, his hand resting on my lower back, his thumb curving round onto my waist. “Can I do anything to make you be better than okay?”
I nodded, feeling brave. “A kiss. Then Copper Cliffs have another, newer memory.”
He studied me, those dark chocolate eyes clearly assessing what was the right thing to do here. Then his hand moved up my back, bringing me closer to him, feet closing the rest of the distance.
We were both hot from running, slightly sweaty for a second kiss, but that didn’t seem relevant when his lips met mine again, pressing a kiss that was more than the one last night. It was full of promise, newness, something shining that was lovely and fresh. My heart felt the beat of excitement and want and the possibilities of having someone with me that wasn’t just a friend or a concerned relative
Within seconds heat started to build between my legs, the pulse inside me pounding stronger than it had for years, as if someone had watered my body so it was about to bloom.
My hands raised onto his shoulders, feeling strength there. Cas’ hands dropped to cup my ass, holding me closer, making me warmer and wetter, the kiss getting harder and deeper and needier.
This felt raw and right. A sense of peace. When it ended, I saw my own need reflected in his, a need that made me want tocast away the possibility of sweet dates and courtships and walks by the beach because it wanted something more. A need that made my heart skip a beat and my body set on fire.
He held me closer even though the kiss had ended, the reason pressed against my stomach.
Running shorts did little to hide what he’d thought of the kiss. I pressed against him a little harder, hearing his laugh, his hands still on my back and my ass.
“Shall we run back to mine? For breakfast, I mean – I’m not – ” I stumbled over my words.
Cas grinned, his dimple appearing and making my heart flutter. “If you want. When I can. And breakfast – and anything else sounds good. If it’s not too soon.”
“I don’t know. If there’s a rule book for this situation, I don’t own it.” I was unsure, but not enough to let go of him.
“I don’t think there’s a rule book. We just make it up as we go along.” He looked up to the sky. “I’m not interested in a one-time thing though. I like you.”
I lifted my lips back to his and started another kiss, this one not quite as deep or long, but just as hot because it promised so much more.
“How about breakfast at the Puffin Inn? We shower separately. At different houses.” Because if he came back to mine this would go from first run together to a different sort of exercise in a very hot minute.
“That’s probably a good plan. Did Heidi’s gran say if she could babysit?” His hand came up to move a strand of probably sweaty hair out of my face.
“Tuesday night. She’s offered to stay here while the town meeting’s on, so we could go out afterwards.”
His grin was enough to have me clenching my thighs.
“Does she know about me. That your neighbour kissed you, even if he probably shouldn’t have?”
I laughed, imagining that conversation and what her reaction would be. “She doesn’t. She would’ve asked me if I need a manual to remember what to do. If she finds out you’re more than just a friend, she’ll be totally over the top with it. She’s picking Heidi and Mia up from school on Monday because I’ve got a meeting online at that time, so be prepared for her winking at you – she won’t have an eye infection or a nervous tic. Be warned – she can be unfiltered.” Although if Deryn scared him off with that, he wasn’t going to last long in Puffin Bay.
“I’ll just wink back and deny all knowledge.” His hand cupped the back of my neck, fingers pressing in a way that made me want to lie down and see what he could do to the rest of my body.
“You do that. I’ll make sure she pays for therapy.” We headed back towards Lovers Heights and the steps that would no doubt wind me. “You might need it after we have breakfast together. The whole of the bay will be talking.”
“Let’s give them something to talk about then.”
There was nothing obvious about us. No sign was lit up that said Romy McAllister had her first kiss in five years with the new school headteacher, and there were no flyers being passed about that Cassian was packing some heat in the jeans he was wearing. The town had gotten used to seeing him as part of my group yesterday and because of the drama around Mia and Cara, it’d made sense for him to be around Mia and Heidi, and ergo, me, but it still felt odd even though there had only been three kisses between us.
There had only been three kisses.
“Where do you recommend for breakfast that’s not the Puffin Inn? I’m considering offering Amelie rent to move in there when Beryl comes back from her holidays given how much time Ispend in there.” He looked guilty. “It is a good way to meet people though.”
“That’s a good excuse, isn’t it?” I grinned playfully. “I don’t think Caleb’s going to give the flat up any time soon though, so I wouldn’t hold your breath.” Caleb would often go away for six weeks at a time, if he was on a research project somewhere. At some point he’d be doing a stint in the Arctic Circle, looking at marine life and something to do with global warming. That would be six months away, which Amelie wasn’t looking forward to, even if she pretended she was. She’d never intended to be a step-mum, just like Roman hadn’t intended to be a father, finding out when Caleb had needed a bit of his liver for a transplant that he had a son from a long ago relationship, so in some ways, the two of them learned to parent together.
“I’m sure he can be persuaded. With something. Where shall we eat?” He was clearly hungry.
“How about the café on the beach? We’d have to sit on the sand, but that’s okay, isn’t it?”
