Page 71 of BillionHeir
I reach down and grab her hand, threading my fingers through hers as I prepare what I want to say. The instant ourpalms connect, I feel the connection between us. Every time we touch, a feeling of rightness settles inside of me.
It takes me a few seconds to register the fact that not only is Chloe letting me hold her hand, but she is also holding mine back. I don’t think I am alone in feeling this magnetic energy that pulses between us whenever we are close.
The alleyway doesn’t provide us much privacy, but at least Liam and Colin aren’t staring at us, soaking up every word like we are contestants on the best reality show on television.
“I am sorry that I upset you earlier.” I am still not exactly sure why she ran away, but I obviously did something that caused her to leave so suddenly. “I have replayed what I said at least a hundred times, but I can’t figure out where I went wrong.”
“I should really be apologizing to you. I shouldn’t have left the way I did.” Chloe gently bites her bottom lip before continuing. “Everything you said was so sweet and genuine. It is just difficult to hear. We are too different, you and I,” she says softly, unable to meet my eyes.
“I suppose your date is better suited for you, then?” I ask, letting my temper get the best of me.
“My date?” she asks, once again. “Oh, you mean Colin?”
She laughs, but I don’t see what is funny about her being with another man.
“He is my cousin,” she finally clarifies.
It takes a moment for me to digest what she is saying, but when I do, my anger starts to fade. “So you are not out on a date with another guy?”
Chloe looks up and makes eye contact with me as she shakes her head no.
“I thought . . .” I trail off. In my relief, I want to lean into her, to feel the warmth of her body against mine. But after today, I don’t think that is what she wants.
“I can see how you would think that, but no.”
“I am so sorry. I have been a jealous prick,” I confess as I search her face, trying to read her emotions and hoping I don’t send her fleeing again. “I didn’t mean to hurt you again.”
“I am just so confused,” she says as she stares deeply into my eyes.
I pray to God that she finds what she is looking for, because I don’t know how much longer I can hold myself back from her. My fingers flex around hers, bound and determined not to let her go again.
Her eyes hold a myriad of emotions but the one that is most identifiable is one I didn’t think I would see on her face again. A look of desire so powerful I know without a doubt that I am not the only one who feels this pull between us.
“Oh, fuck it,” she says under her breath as she wraps her arms around my neck and pushes up on her toes, pressing her lips against mine.
I kiss her back passionately, trying to show her with my kiss just how much I have missed her. My hand moves down to her hip, pulling her body closer to mine, deepening our embrace. I press her back against the cold brick wall, claiming her lips like my life depends on it.
Because it does.
Chloe brings both hands up, dragging her fingers through my hair before grabbing the back of my head and pulling me closer to her. When she presses her lips against mine, I am more than happy to match her energy. I kiss her like this is the last kiss I will ever get with her, because it very well could be. I savor the way she responds to my touch, pressing in even closer as her hands wrap themselves around my neck.
The loud sound of a car honking on the street startles us apart, ending the kiss far sooner than I would like. We are both breathing heavily when our eyes meet again. I smile to myself as Chloe’s cheeks redden with embarrassment at being caught in such a state.
She runs her hands through my hair, trying to straighten it as she giggles. “Sorry about that.”
“I don’t mind.” My voice is deeper than normal and my words come out a little rough as my attraction to her gets the best of me.
Chloe her eyes light up as a grin spreads across her face. Our eyes are locked on each other, like we are alone rather than on abusy street. I don’t dare move or say a word for fear of breaking the moment and shattering the mood that has finally lightened between us. I definitely did not see this happening when I agreed to meet my old friend.
“I suppose we ought to be getting back in there,” she says after a few seconds.
“Right,” I answer, but neither one of us moves.
Finally, I reach down and grab her hand again, entwining my fingers through hers. Nothing has been settled, and we are still on uneven ground.
Maybe a night out with friends is exactly what we need.
Chapter 26
