Page 30 of Lost Summer
“Erm...” I stalled, my mind racing.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to jump on you; it’s more private. To talk,” Ted added quickly, sensing my unease.
“Oh,” I replied, trying to hide the disappointment in my voice. “I mean, okay, sure. Fine. That’s fine.”
Ted nodded, a small smile playing on his lips as he pulled out his phone and made a call. I watched him, his confident demeanour contrasting the nerves churning in my stomach.
“If you head out of here and turn right, you’ll see a black Mercedes waiting for you. I’ll meet you there shortly.” Ted’s voice was gentle yet commanding, and I nodded in agreement.
The night air was crisp and cold as I stepped out of the bar, the noise and warmth fading behind me. I sucked in a breath, the chill cutting through the alcohol haze and bringing a sharp clarity to my senses. The Mercedes was waiting, its sleek black exterior reflecting the city’s neon lights. A man in a suit stood beside the open back door; his gaze respectfully averted as I approached.
“Ms Pickering?” he inquired softly, gesturing to the open door.
“Yes?” I responded, my voice barely a whisper as I slid into the plush interior. The cream leather was cool beneath my thighs, and the scent of a new car and faint cologne filled the air. The door clicked shut behind me, sealing me inside the quiet cocoon. My heart danced with relief when Ted slid in beside me, blowing on his hands.
“Bloody hell, it’s nippy. You okay?” His eyes searched mine as I nodded, my throat dry.
“I’m good,” I croaked out, tearing my eyes away from his.
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
The driver asked for my address, and I stared out the window, my heart hammering in my chest. The city zipped by in a blur of lights and shadows as the driver navigated the streets with practised ease. The quiet hum of the engine was a soothing lullaby, threatening to pull me under its spell. But my heartpounded too fiercely, my mind racing too quickly for sleep to claim me.
When the Mercedes slowed to a stop, I felt a surge of panic. This was it. The moment of truth. Would I invite Ted in or play it safe and send him away? My heart and mind were still at war, pulling me in opposite directions.
The driver spoke a deep rumble that broke through my thoughts. “We’re here.”
I took a deep breath, my fingers trembling as I reached for the door handle. The rain was a steady drumbeat on the roof, a symphony of sound that drowned out the world around us. I stepped out onto the slick pavement, the icy drops pelting my skin and soaking my clothes in an instant.
“Which one is yours?” Ted called over the rain, his hand reaching for mine. His touch was warm, his grip firm, and it grounded me, pulling me back from the edge of my swirling emotions. “Adele?”
“Ted, I know it’s cliche...” I began, blinking away the raindrops that clung to my lashes. “But...”
I stepped closer, no longer minding that I was soaked or that my hair was now plastered to my head. I just wanted to feel him.
Ted moved closer, his hands releasing mine to cup my face. His thumbs brushed away the raindrops, his touch gentle yet firm. “Go on,” he urged in a low rumble that resonated deep within my chest.
“Kiss me?” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding rain.
Ted’s eyes darkened, his gaze dropping to my lips before meeting mine again. “Oh, Adele, you do not know how long I’ve waited to hear you say that,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
His hands slid around my waist, pulling me flush against his body. His heat was a sharp contrast to the icy rain, and Ishivered at the contact, my nerve endings alight with sensation. His mouth descended on mine, his lips soft and warm, and the world around us faded into a blur.
Fireworks exploded between our lips, leaving scorching sensations that only increased with the pressure he applied. Our mouths pressed together like old lovers reuniting for the first time. As soon as we kissed, the softness of his touch brought back memories of him doing this to me many times during that lost weekend.
The rain pounded around us, and the cold drops did nothing to cool the inferno between us. I could taste the rain on his lips and feel the heat of his breath mingling with mine, and it was intoxicating. His hands roamed my back, pressing me closer, and I melted into him, our bodies fitting together like two puzzle pieces, finally finding their match.
When we finally broke apart, our breaths came in ragged gasps, our hearts pounding in sync. Ted rested his forehead against mine, his eyes closed, and a soft smile played on his lips.
“God, kissing you is like coming home,” he confessed, his voice barely a whisper.
“I know.”
15
ADELE
