Page 54 of Ember Meadow
I sit back down on the blanket with my new friends as they argue about who won the last round of their card game. I’m not as drunk as I could be. Between that memory and the water, I’ve sobered up a bit. Enough to feel a gnawing feeling in my gut, pulling me to Miles like a magnet. And he’s not even here.
“Codie, give me that bottle,” I say, reaching for the Tequila. One more shot will do it. I’ve only had a few anyway, it’s not like I’ve never gotten drunk off Tequila before. I’ll pay in the morning, but if it gets my mind off of Miles, so be it.
I take a swig right from the bottle, eliciting a few cheers from my friends. Codie shoves a lime into my mouth as a chaser, the sourness burning my lips.
As they turn back to their card game, as if some magical force is laughing at me for trying to keep the memories away, I fall into another daydream.
I fumble with the key card to my room as Miles stands so close behind me I can feel the heat radiating off of him. The door finally clicks open, but before I can finish stepping inside to reach for the light switch, he’s turning me around by my shoulders, lips crashing into mine.
Yes.
It’s all I can think, over and over again. Yes.
His hands travel through my hair and I arch into his touch. I’m vaguely aware of Miles closing the door behind us and spinning us around. Cold metal once again digging into my back. Then, it’s my turn to explore him with my hands. I play with the hem of his shirt as he lets a muffled groan out into my neck.
It’s the invitation I need to rip his shirt off completely. Even in the dark, I can see his eyes boring into mine, so much heat in his gaze I can practically see flames. Then, he’s kissing me again and I’m dissolving into his touch.
Right, right, right,my brain says on repeat. It feels so right. Miles is right for me. I don’t know him very well, but my soul is reaching out for him like we’ve known each other for years.
I’ve got to get out of here. Get some air. Anything to keep these memories from playing on a constant reel in my head. Stumbling a little, I make my way down the hallway.
My hand freezes on the door knob as I catch something out of the corner of my eye. There, on the railing heading upstairs, is another brand. Etched deep into the wood in black, as if it’s been there all along. Even though I know for a fact it hasn’t, because I just finished sanding that exact banister.
Pine trees wrap around the banister, all different heights and shades. They’re drawn so intricately that I can see the needles even from a few steps away.
A bead of sweat trails down my temple. I must still be seeing things.
Miles’s weight settles on my hips, his knees nudging mine apart. A shiver races through me as he runs the back of his hand along my cheek. Those warm brown eyes bore deep into mine, not just looking at me, but seeing me.
“Are you sure about this?” His hand moves to my chin, tipping it up so our lips almost touch. His warm breath skates across my cheek. He dips down and presses a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth.
“I’m sure,” I nod. My hands roam of their own accord, tracing the indents in his back. I reach down, pulling his hips into mine until there’s no space between us.
He groans into my mouth as his tongue pushes past my lips. I let him in, deepening our kiss until we are a tangle of teeth and tongues. I can’t tell where I end and Miles begins. There’s no softness anymore, only urgency and need.
His hand slides down my body, leaving goosebumps in its wake. He stops just shy of where I want him, dipping just slightly under the waistband of my panties. A frustrated growl erupts from my throat as he draws little teasing circles on my skin.
“Miles,” I plead. Burning hunger rushes through me like a flame, bursting from my core.
He chuckles, shaking his head. “So impatient. I’m getting there, Mac.”
Flipping him onto his back, I reach down and fumble with his belt until it comes loose. As soon as I wrangle his jeans off his hips, I cup him through his boxers giving him just enough pressure to make him groan.
“So impatient,” I tease back at him with a grin. He smiles onto my lips.
My breath hitches as his arms wrap around my waist, flipping me onto my back again.
Miles peppers soft kisses down my neck, making his way down my stomach. Breath is hot against my skin. A molten hot ache fills my core. I reach for his shoulders, trying to get enough of a grip to pull him back up to me.
“Miles, please. I want you.”
His gaze meets mine, eyes dark and steely. “I want to take my time with you, Katie. Memorize every curve, every freckle, every fucking inch of you. You’re perfect.”
I blink away the memories, flinging the door open. Wholly unprepared for what I see when I open the door. All of those old feelings come flooding back to me so intensely I falter, almost falling down on the floor. The only thing holding me up is sheer will. I’m pulling on the door knob so hard I’m sure it’ll break off.
Black hair falling over his forehead. Eyes burning with a flame I can’t explain. One strong arm lifted as if he was about to knock. The only difference is the beard and the scowl on his face.
Miles.
