Page 73 of Forever Fascinating

He’d kissed Jana.

He hadn’t intended to, but the moment in the ruins would forever be in his mind. She leaned up and dropped that sweet understanding kiss on the corner of his mouth – and he was lost.

She was everything he wanted in a partner, in a woman, and no matter how smitten he was… he was scared, because she could destroy him emotionally.

Staring at her, his eyes memorized her profile, treasuring this stolen moment for what it was… a chance to admire her all he wanted. Her mussed hair was spread across the pillow, and several strands were stuck to her face where she’d drooled slightly during the night.

Matthew smiled.

This breathtaking angel was as human and flawed as him – and truthfully – he was glad to see something like this. It made him think of the guys teasing him unmercifully about snoring, yet Jana had said nothing, just accepting him.

Reaching out a finger, he slowly moved her hair from her face, wondering if she would wake up and look at him. Instead, she sighed, mumbled something unintelligible, and rolled over, turning away from him.

He sighed.

It was probably for the best, because he didn’t want to be tempted to go further than they already had. He told himself he wouldn’t kiss her – and he had, leaping hurdles over the blocks he’d mentally put between them.

He wanted things to go slow… because he wanted forever.

Matthew wanted today to be as magical as yesterday was for her. He was simply enjoying being near her. He didn’t care where they went or what they did, so long as he could be at her side.

Sitting up slowly, he got up from the bed and went to make coffee for them both, giving her a little more time to sleep. He hadn’t noticed last night that someone had put fresh towels in their room, yet there they were, rolled up neatly and stacked in a small pyramid on the coffee table.

Picking up the small three ring binder in the room, he studied the badly translated pamphlets as well as the map of a tram nearby. Would she like to go to the ocean? The idea of swimming, playing in the water, and just relaxing after the amount of walking they did yesterday sounded incredible to him.

Putting down the binder, he poured two cups of coffee and brought them to her. Kneeling beside the bed, he drew a finger against her cheek again, needing to touch her.

“Hey… I brought you coffee,” he whispered, seeing that slight frown and smiling to himself. She was grumpy in the mornings, remembering her words yesterday about how the ‘caffeine needed to hit her brain’.

Leaning forward, he dropped a kiss on her cheek… only to hear her soft sigh of contentment as she smiled, looking relaxed with her eyes closed.

“Morning…” she whispered sluggishly.

“Morning, Beautiful,” he replied, feeling his heart flutter wildly in his chest. “I’m going to get a quick shower and do a repeat of yesterday, so we can have breakfast together and talk about our plans for the day.”

She nodded, cracking open her tawny eyes, before smiling at him.

“I sure like seeing you there.”

“I like being here,” he admitted, realizing that Jace ‘Hot Cakes’Sorensen could just break his nose again… because he wanted a future with this woman, so much so, he could taste it.

Jana sat up slowly, pushing her hair back from her face in almost a childlike manner, while frowning. Her lovely cheeks were pink, and he knew they were as smooth as they looked, because the little freckle on her right cheek was his favorite target to kiss.

As she sat up in bed, he handed her the cup of coffee… and surprised himself sitting beside her. He leaned forward to pick up the other cup of coffee taking a sip casually, hoping he wasn’t crowding her.

Her eyes widened as she looked at him.

“Do you mind if I join you for a few minutes before I go make our plates?”

“Not at all,” she smiled shyly, before taking a sip. “How did you sleep?”

“Like a log… despite the fact that I fell asleep in my clothes.”

“You were relaxed. I almost woke you up so you could change, but I didn’t want to bother you.”

“You are never bothering me – ever.”

“So, youdidwant me to wake you,” she chuckled throatily, smiling at him.

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