Page 43 of A Winter Wedding Adventure
‘If people find me intimidating, why aren’t you frightened of me?’ she asked, slowing to let him consider his answer and bump his arm against hers a few more times.
They came to a stop outside the door of her room before he’d formed a response. ‘I think it’s because—’ Dramatic pause. He dipped his head and dropped his voice. ‘I’ve discovered your weakness.’
There was a smile in his voice, but his words still sent a bolt of unease through her. Her alarm must have shown on her face, because he shook his head and lifted a hand, stretching his fingers under her ear, his thumb on her cheek, and she froze. This was certainly one weakness he’d discovered. She liked to be touched. Perhaps she needed it. Perhaps that was why she’d been feeling restless.
‘Shh,’ he said softly. ‘Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.’
She wrenched her eyes open to scowl at him. ‘What are you talking about? What weakness?’
Swiping a strand of hair off her forehead, he drew back to smile at her in all his dark, elven glory. ‘You, Kira Watling, are one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.’
It could have been a platitude. From anyone else, it definitely would have been, but spoken in Mattia’s deep, other-worldly voice, punctuated by a brush of his thumb over the scar on her cheek, she couldn’t dismiss it.
‘I don’t… “Kind” isn’t an obvious choice to describe me. You said “vigorous” first.’ She extricated herself from the touch, immediately feeling the loss of it.
‘That too, but it’s not a weakness.’ His smile was amused now, as though he knew something she didn’t. ‘You are also one of the grumpiest people I’ve ever met, but despite everything, you are always kind, even taking fault on yourself when you shouldn’t.’
The lump in her throat was too big to swallow. ‘You should go and take a shower. You’ll get cold and I can see the salt on your skin from here.’
His cheeks were pink again when she looked into his face. He gave her an awkward smile. ‘See you at dinner.’
Just before she managed to escape, he leaned close, hesitating for a breath before pressing his lips to her cheek. It was nothing – a throwaway gesture. He’d kissed Carla’s cheek in greeting despite everything unpleasant between them. But he was too close, with all his warm skin and soft words. He liked her, which was strange, but stranger still was how much she liked him, drama and all.
Kira couldn’t breathe – she couldn’t think. She could only react.
17
The floor beneath Mattia’s bare feet was suddenly unstable. The hallway had fallen silent, the air still. The world might have stopped turning, because Kira’s – slightly sweaty – hand was on the back of his neck and her breath was on his lips. She wouldn’t?—
She did. And it was wonderful.
With just the right amount of pressure to make the contact zing to his toes, she kissed him, mouth hot and slightly open, full of frustration and surprise and… recognition. There was that soft upper lip, followed by a brush of her firm lower one – and then a little swipe of her tongue. A hitch in the back of her throat – a tiny sound of delight that wormed its way under his skin.
Ohi, it was more than he could take.
It was hesitant, a first discovery of warmth and pressure, underscored by the tug of need he knew she felt too. It was too fast for him, too deep for her. But kissing Kira, teasing her lips with his, was raw and clumsy and utterly perfect.
Until she pulled away.
‘Sorry,’ she said, her voice all breath. ‘I didn’t mean— I know you wouldn’t?—’
‘What? No, don’t—’ He was still seeing stars behind his eyes and the world was moving too quickly for him.
‘Okay, right. Bye!’ Licking her lips, she gave him a quick smile and disappeared behind her bedroom door with a soft snick – making her sudden escape.
He had to prop himself up on the door-frame until he got his breath back.
‘Matty?’
He jerked back from the door at the shrill sound of his name, groping frantically for the towel that was miraculously still slung around his waist. Alessandra was stalking in his direction, her eyes wide, her gaze taking him in from head to toe. He hurried to intercept her.
‘What are you doing here?’ Her voice was high, strained. ‘Outside Ginny’s door. Naked. My wedding planner!’
His stomach swooped and his expression hardened. He opened his mouth, probably to blurt out that Alessandra should have known it was Kira, not Ginny, but Carla emerged up the steps from the ground floor. He groaned inwardly. Had she heard Alessandra’s assumption?
‘Nothing. I’m not doing anything,’ he insisted.
But Alessandra was on a roll. She dropped her voice so only he could hear. ‘I know you don’t like Joe and you’re still recovering from the break-up with Carla, but I did not expect you to act out like this.’
