Page 43 of The Vow We Made
“I meant working in the film industry must have its challenges.”
“I can handle myself,” she replies confidently.
“I’m sure you can but if you were put in a situation you don’t want to be in—”
I catch the flicker of a smile on her lips. “I’m deadly serious. You hear reports on the news all the time about the ‘Me Too’ campaign. Anything could happen, but I don’t want it to happen to you, Victoria.”
She leaves her seat to move over to mine. Bumping her arse into my side is her signal for me to shift over, which of course I do without a second’s hesitation while placing my arm around her. Naturally, her body curls into mine.
“I’ll be fine. This producer I’m meeting is a friend of a friend so not completely unfamiliar, plus I won’t be on my own. I’m meeting my assistant, Faith, there too. She went a day early to go sightseeing, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Hold on, go back. Faith? I’m sure you’ve mentioned her before but I didn’t realise she was a work colleague.”
“It’s only a recent thing, but we were friend’swaybefore and met during a film shoot some years ago. We hit it off immediately.”
“Isn’t being her boss difficult?” I ask.
“Not at all. We’ve always worked well together.”
“I suppose if it works for you.” She giggles and I turn the subject back to where I started. “Just remember, stay safe and keep your guard up while you’re there. No situation is predictable—”
“Aiden,” she whispers, placing her hand on my thigh. “I’ll be fine.”
I try to ignore the growing hard-on she’s caused and get back to the matter in hand. “Okay, what would happen if you were asked out by some hot actor?” I’m half teasing, half serious and damn uncomfortable.
She whispers, “They might be hot, but they couldn’t possibly set my world on fire. Not in the way you do.”
I love those words. They hold so much promise of what’s ahead for us. Her light citrus scent and the golden depths of her eyes pull me in as she gazes up at me. I cup her cheek, rubbing my thumb across her soft skin and it’s completely natural to take her lips with my own. How do you describe what I’m feeling right now? Lust maybe? I know I want her and she must be able to tell by the position of her hand and the way I’m kissing her lips. I think I’m fucked.
The screen in the café updates to let us know her flight to Glasgow is boarding. “Ugh, I suppose I should go.” She sighs, and I’m pleased she doesn’t seem too ecstatic about leaving.
We finish the last of our coffee, giving me time to cool down, then I take her hand once again. All too soon, we’re by security and I swing her body around and into mine.
There’s nothing awkward between us, it’s as if we’ve always been this way.
“Text me when you get there. I’ll be at work so if I don’t reply straight away, you know why.”
“Okay.” Her smile is kind of sad. “And we’re still on for Wednesday?” she asks.
“We are, but I wish it were sooner. Damn your bloody client in Glasgow,” I joke while holding her a little tighter. I hesitate for one second, as I get my fill of her amazing eyes.
She reaches up, caressing my face. “Even if I didn’t have to go, you’ve got a couple of night shifts to get through. We’re scuppered either way.”
“I’d get around it somehow.” I place a few strands of hair behind her ear and trace my finger along her jaw.
“If I could get back sooner, I would,” she states.
“Just do what you’ve got to do. I’ll be waiting.” Closing in, I crush my mouth to hers and hope she can feel me take ownership of her lips. I don’t want anyone else to taste them and I’m sure I make it as clear as day as I watch her delicate eyelids flutter closed. I’ve got nothing to lose by letting her know I want her to be mine.
VICTORIA
After battling with the overhead locker and squeezing past the elderly gentleman who appeared too frail to stand, I drop into the hard airline seat. There’s hardly an inch to move and no leg room at all, but at least I’m sat by a window.
I fly quite a bit and figured out the best and worst times to travel. Getting up just a few hours earlier has a plus side. The flight is guaranteed to be filled with business types, which means a quieter journey and at least ninety minutes to prepare for the day ahead. Except today of all days, when I have a major client waiting for me at the other end, I can’t. My mind is racing and running a perpetual replay of his kiss. His fresh smell transferred when the warmth of his body pressed to mine and now it lingers in the air where I sit.
His arm held firm around my back when he caught me with one hand and caressed my cheek with the other. There’s still a tingle to my face from his lips brushing my skin. His mouth worked its way to my lips; his tongue seeking entrance to my mouth immediately. He left me breathless but wanting so much more. My fingers ran around the back of his neck and combed through his hair while the sting of his lips leaving mine was slow and too soon. His lingering taste, teased my senses like no other man had before. I didn’t want it to stop and if I didn’t have so much riding on this meeting, I would have turned around and left to finish what we were potentially starting.
“Are you alright dear?” a shaky voice asks by my side. I sit up too quickly and my head spins while I wipe the moisture from around my mouth. I must have drifted off to sleep while cloud watching.
