Page 76 of Pride
“You’re a beautiful woman too, Emma,” he replied, as I peered up and got lost in his mesmerising stare once again. “To me, you were the most beautiful one there that night. And I don’tmake it a habit of getting to know new people. I like to keep my circle tight. But with you, I had to make an exception.”
“I’d heard you were an exclusive group.”
“From Lloyd,” he scoffed. “The biggest ass kisser I’ve ever met, aside from your old boss, that is.”
I couldn’t disagree with that.
“Do you know he calls you three the trio?” I asked.
“Fucking hate that he does that. And he’s the only one.”
“I think he wants in on that trio,” I joked.
“When hell freezes over,” Alex replied. “I’ve known Tobey and Ethan since boarding school. I’d trust them both with my life. You can’t say that about many people these days. At least, I can’t. Not in my position.”
“But you trust me?”
“I trust you.” His eyes mellowed. “You carried yourself with dignity that night, even when Lloyd was condescending towards you. You spoke honestly and freely, and you didn’t care what people thought. Then I had to watch you walk away, and when Lloyd left you alone...”
“You invited me to be with you to watch the performance. I remember.”
“Because nobody should be alone for something like that, especially not you. You’re a breath of fresh air, Emma. You don’t kiss ass, and I like that.”
“I never have. Maybe that’s my problem. I stayed in the same job for four years without a shred of hope of moving on. Meanwhile, others around me, that did kiss ass, did better.”
“You did the right thing, leaving. And when you’re ready for your next challenge, I can point you in the direction of the right people. Like I said, I have a lot of doors available.”
We chatted some more about our likes and dislikes, hopes and dreams, and then another slow song came on, and Alex held his hand out to me.
“Will you dance with me?”
I glanced around at the twinkling lights in the trees above us and the darkness beyond it. “What, here?”
“Yes, here.” He laughed. “It’d ruin the mood if I had to drive us across town to a dance floor.” He leaned closer. “Stop overthinking and let go. No one else is here. Just me. And we might look ridiculous, but who cares.”
He was right.
Why hold back?
I wanted to let go with him.
I stood and let him lead me off the blanket to the grass, and he put his arms around me, swaying us both to the music. It felt so right, being in his arms like this, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. I had my arms wrapped around his shoulders, and as my fingers grazed his neck, he sighed.
“I like this,” he said quietly. “It feels right. You feel right.”
I knew what this was leading to, and I had to ask, “It feels strange being relaxed like this when everything has been so messed up. Is our timing off?”
“Not at all. I think our timing is perfect. This is happening right when we need it.” He pulled away to look down at me as he continued to hold me. “Life can be simple. We can make it simple. We just need to make the right choices, for us.” And then he leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine. “And this is the right choice. I know it is.”
He cupped my face in his hands, and then, the ghost of his lips on mine turned into a proper kiss, a toe-curling kiss. His perfect, soft lips caressed and teased me until I fell headfirst, opening my mouth to him. Our tongues tangled and teased as we tasted each other. My body grew needy as his hands threaded through my hair, pulling me closer and deeper into his kiss. As caressing turned more frantic and greedy, I fisted his hair, too, wanting more.
We stood under the fairy lights and the stars in the night sky, igniting something which had been sparking between us ever since we’d met.
I could’ve kissed this man forever.
It felt like his kiss was hypnotising me. Pulling me into a magical world where nothing else mattered, only him. The rest of the world fell away as we held onto each other, devouring each other. But I wanted more. Wetness pooled between my thighs as we kissed. Promises of what came next teasing me until all I could think about was getting home, letting him take me to bed, feeling him inside me, driving me wild. I wanted it all.
Eventually, he pulled away slightly, and with his face close to mine, he whispered, “Your lips are so soft. Soft and gentle, just like your heart.”
