Page 51 of A Place Like You

Closer.

Closer . . .

Until finally, his mouth captures mine.

My heart leaps as our lips melt together, unleashing weeks of repressed longing. We’d avoided this for so long, fearing the fallout, but now our reservations evaporate.

His kiss is electric, jolting through me. His lips are soft yet assured, stoking my desires higher. When his hand finds my waist, pulling our bodies flush, I can’t help winding my arms around his neck, surrendering fully to his embrace. Excitement wars with apprehension. I never want this exquisite moment to end.

Our kiss seems to last for an eternity, and when we finally pull apart, I feel like I am in a dream. But Drake is still here, his intense gaze fixed on me. In his eyes, I feel suddenly like the only person in the world. He’s baring his soul in this moment.

We stare at each other, speechless, our eyes swimming with unspoken emotions. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts and questions, but all I can manage to say is, “Why?”

This is unfair. I’m trying desperately not to fall for this man, to protect myself from the potential heartbreak, and what does he do? He kisses the fuck out of me.

Who gives this man the right to kiss me senseless and leave me like . . .?

I have never felt anything like this before in my life, and I want this to last forever.

How can I make it so this moment never ends?

“Because you’re beautiful . . . No, you’re fucking adorable. I just can’t resist you anymore,” he states, as if it’s obvious and I should just deal with it.

“You’re leaving,” I remind him.

“We don’t know what the future will bring. So far, they’re saying it could be years before we can go back. I can’t just stop living until they decide it’s safe,” he adds, his eyes searching mine for understanding. “I’ve been doing that for years. Years. I did it once, and thank fuck, you and Milo helped me recover and understand a thing or two about life.”

I suck on my bottom lip as I stare at him, his words sinking in and stirring up a mix of emotions. “But you’re leaving.”

He shrugs, trying to appear nonchalant despite the gravity of the situation. “Who knows what I’m doing? For all I know, I could die tomorrow, and I’d miss the chance to kiss you.”

I frown, confused by his morbidity. “Why would you die?”

“It’s . . . you’re seriously freaking out, aren’t you?” And I’m impressed by how easy it is for him to read me.

“Can you blame me?” I retort, feeling torn between wanting to embrace him and fearing the pain of separation.

“No, but . . .” He lets out a loud breath, struggling to find the right words. “Have I told you about Slade?”

“The brother who hasn’t arrived yet?”

Drake nods. “He should be here in a couple of weeks.”

“That’s good, right?”

“Nope. He suffered multiple injuries. I don’t know much, but Finn said he’ll update you once they’re ready to transfer him. He almost died, just like Callahan, before we moved to Heartwood Lake.” He runs a hand through his hair. “While we were listening to CQS and they were interviewing us to see if we could figure out more about our case, all I could think about was you. What if I don’t get to kiss you? What if I don’t get to . . .” He trails off with a heavy sigh. “I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, but I already fucked up my life once.”

“And you think we’re like a do-over, that you can fall in love twice?” I inquire, my heart aching with both hope and trepidation.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Drake

I stare at Wren, and her words play on repeat. “And you think we’re like a do-over, that you can fall in love twice?”

“That’s the thing, I’ve never been in love,” I confess, my hands shaking slightly. “Noelle and I . . .” My voice trails off as I struggle to find the right words without sounding cold and heartless.

I hold my head with both hands as I walk around the living room, trying to put all my thoughts together before I speak. The memories flood my mind, and I can feel the weight of my past mistakes pressing down on me, threatening to damage what could be my present.

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