Page 28 of Suddenly Desired
“All we have to do now,” Ellie said after a moment, “is figure out how to let the rest of the world know, too.”
Blake’s lips twitched — almost a smile — but there was still a heaviness in his expression. “Easier said than done.”
“We’ll figure it out,” she said confidently, surprising even herself.
“You seem so sure of me,” he said, his voice quiet, almost reverent.
“I am.”
His eyes searched hers, and the weight of his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. There was so much vulnerability there, so much unspoken emotion, and she felt an overwhelming need to protect him. But it wasn’t just that — she wanted to do more thanprotect him. She wanted to close the distance between them, to feel his breath against her skin, to trace the curve of his jaw with her fingertips. The thought of his lips on hers sent a rush of heat through her, and her heart raced, her body betraying her restraint.
“Thank you,” he said.
“For what?” Ellie hoped he couldn’t read her mind.
“For believing me.” His hand twitched as if he wanted to reach for hers but thought better of it.
She smiled. “Let’s just say I have a good gut instinct.”
Blake chuckled, the sound low and warm, and for a brief moment, the tension between them eased.
“You know,” she said, tilting her head, “you’re pretty good at hiding, but the glasses don’t fool me.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I figured.”
“Next time, maybe try a fake moustache,” she teased, and the sound of his laughter was like a balm to her nerves.
“Noted.” His smile lingered as he looked at her.
The air between them seemed to alter, the light-heartedness giving way to something heavier, more charged. Ellie’s pulse quickened, but she didn’t dare look away.
“We should find somewhere to sit,” Blake said eventually, breaking the silence but not the tension. “Away from . . . people.”
“Yeah,” Ellie said, her voice a little breathless. “Good idea.”
They walked along the corridor, peering in the reading rooms, and as they approached the room at the very end, away from all the prying eyes, Ellie couldn’t shake the feeling that something between them had shifted again.
And she wasn’t sure if she wanted it to shift back.
Chapter 15
BLAKE
Blake opened a door into the empty reading room and closed it softly behind them. The faint scent of old books and polished wood hung in the air, the soft glow of the desk lamps casting long shadows across the room. It was quiet, the kind of silence that heightened every sound — the rustle of clothing, the subtle hitch of Ellie’s breath.
She stood just a few feet away, her gaze drifting around the room before landing back on him. The way the light caught in her hair made it shimmer, and the slight flush on her cheeks only added to her allure. She looked . . . irresistible.
Blake leaned back against the closed door, trying to keep his composure, but every part of him was hyperaware of her. The delicate curve of her neck, the way her fingers fidgeted with the strap of her bag, even the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. It was maddening.
The tension between them felt thick enough to touch, and as she took a step closer, his pulse hammered in his ears. He could smell her faint perfume, something soft and sweet, but underneath it was the warmth of her — enticing, distracting.
He cleared his throat, his voice coming out lower than he intended. “It’s quieter in here.”
“Yeah,” she said softly, her lips curving into a small, almost shy smile. “It’s . . . peaceful.”
Peaceful wasn’t the word he’d use. Every nerve in his body was on edge, the quiet amplifying the rush of blood in his veins. Her presence filled the room and, for the life of him, he couldn’t look away. Her yellow dress hung midway down her creamy thighs, hair the colour of hay pulled back into a messy ponytail. Behind her glasses her eyes glittered like a sun-soaked river.
She moved to one of the chairs by the window, the light brushing against her as she sat down. The way her dress shifted, revealing a hint more of her leg, made his throat go dry.
