Page 76 of Ember Meadow
I make my way back to the kitchen, sauntering in as Miles stands up from where he was crouched on the new wood floors. They look amazing. Warm wood with plenty of knots, placed in a herringbone style. The entire room looks back to brand new already.
“Hey,” I say.
“Hey,” he replies on a sigh, smiling softly. His dark eyes twinkle as he looks me over, raking over my entire body. It sends shivers across my skin, as if he were really touching me.
“Thanks for staying and cleaning up. You didn’t have to do that.”
“It’s okay to accept some help once in a while, Mac. If I didn’t want to stay and help, I would have left,” he gives me a pointed look, crossing his arms across his chest.
“Well, thank you, I appreciate it. The place looks great,” I say.
He nods. “I can’t believe it’s done. Seems like you just got here.”
I laugh. “You know, when I first got here and you yelled at me just outside–”
“I did not yell at you.”
“–I thought you’d be counting down the days until I left. The hours, even.”
Miles chuckles, the sound vibrating through the air between us. “Yeah, well, a few things have changed since then.”
I nod. He takes a step closer to me, but doesn’t reach out toward me. I wonder if he can feel the pull that I can, the ache to step into his warmth.
“I’m glad they did,” I hear myself say. The haze of the night, my parents, prolonged exposure to Miles, and something else threatens to take over. I know I should go, but something is keeping me here. I don’t want this night to end.
What if we could have one night? Would that scratch the itch?
The voice deep inside tells me it’s not enough, that it never would be. That we shouldn’t start something we can’t finish.Ican’t finish. But the way he’s looking at me is more intoxicating than the glass of wine I had earlier. I want the flames to take over, burning us both to ash.
“I’m heading out for the night, I’ve got an early morning tomorrow dropping Hazel off at the airport,” I say.
“Will I see you before you leave town?” He asks. I can’t bring myself to meet his eyes.
“I don’t think so.”
“So this is goodbye?”
I nod, finally meeting his gaze. Pain is etched into his features as he looks down at me. I close the distance between us, pulling him into a hug. His arms wrap hesitantly around my waist. I bury my face into his chest, taking every liberty I can get away with.
Miles lets out a deep breath, pulling me closer into him. His warmth seeps into me, sending shivers up my spine. I run my hands along the firm muscles of his back as his fingers make their way up onto my neck, then into my hair.
Neither of us pulls away. It takes a couple of minutes of being in his arms longer than we should for me to get the nerve to look up at him.
Miles is already looking down at me, pure need radiating from his gaze. His warm espresso eyes bore into me, snapping my last thread of control.
I close the distance between our lips until they’re almost touching. A silent invitation. We hover there, breathing each other in for another moment. On the precipice of a moment that could change everything or nothing.
Miles sighs once, breath skirting across my lips. “Katie,” he whispers so low I almost can’t hear it. “Are you sure about this?”
“Just once. Please, Miles. One last time.”
He nods, bringing a hand to my cheek, slowly stroking with his thumb. I push up on my tip toes, our noses touching.
“I’ll have you any way I can,” he whispers, so softly it sounds like it’s more to himself than to me.
His lips claim mine and we melt into each other. Hands roaming, savoring every second.
This kiss is different than any other time. We’re memorizing every detail, taking our time. Miles traces his tongue against the seam of my lips, a silent question. I deepen the kiss, opening to him.
