Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Unable to resist, I spoke the truth, “It was until you.”
“Until me, huh?” I felt him smile against my cheek before he steered the conversation. “I think it’s time to go swimming.”
“Julius! Don’t you dare!” I tightened my arms around his. “If I go in, you’re coming with me!”
“You do realize I’m a hell of a lot bigger than you, don’t you?”
“And you realize I could—”
“You could what, Isla?” He knew he had the upper hand. With ease, he shifted my body, and my legs naturally wrapped around his waist. “Now tell me what you can do?”
I opened my mouth, but his cell phone rang, ruining the moment. He slowly set me back down on the edge before answering his call. I took the opportunity to compose myself as he stepped away. I was giddy with excitement.
Once he was finished with the call, he said one word, and one word only.
In a deep, throaty tone, he warned, “Run.”
I didn’t have to be told twice. I turned and hauled ass.
This was our game—I ran, and he chased. He called me Little Red Riding Hood because of my hair color, and he was the Big Bad Wolf. The next thing I knew, he tackled me onto the grass. I shrieked, laughing at the same time.
I had no choice but to surrender, shouting, “Mercy! Mercy! You win!”
“Good girl,” he growled in my ear.
We were behind a rock where no one could see us. It wasn’t just my heart pounding; his was, too. I felt it against my chest, and it had nothing to do with us running. Our hearts felt in sync. It was the first time in my life that I finally understood what all these love songs were talking about.
From the way he was looking at me.
To the way he was taking every last emotion out of me like they belonged to him.
We were two crazy kids experiencing love for the first time together, but it wasn’t just teenage infatuation. It was something deeper. We were family, and regardless of what the future held, we’d always be in each other’s lives. There was loyalty, devotion, and trust.
Our eyes locked, fused as one. I struggled to find my breath, feeling his heated skin on mine.
This reminded me of the first time he kissed me.
Despite the awareness in his stare, I looked away. I had to. Avoiding the look in his eyes.
“Come back,” he uttered. “I wasn’t done with you.”
I basked in his embrace, hoping this was only the beginning. His intoxicating scent lured me in.
“You’re horrible.”
“And you’re beautiful.”
“That line works on all the girls?”
“Not sure, you’re the first girl I’ve said it to.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Wanna bet?”
My chest was rising and falling, and I loved every second of it.
Julius
Her gaze widened, making her stunning green eyes shine bright as they tore into mine. I reached for the side of her face with my knuckles, caressing her cheek.
“Why would you think otherwise?”
“Have you taken a good look at yourself in the mirror lately?”
“Have you?”
She rubbed her nose against mine.
“You think I don’t want to be with you, Isla?” With my thumb, I rubbed her bottom lip for a few seconds, and she stirred beneath my touch. “How about this?” I whispered. “I’ll tell you after I kiss you.”
And damn did I devour her.
Her scent.
Her taste.
Fucking addicting.
So soft.
So warm.
“Julius…” she softly moaned.
My heart sped up, hearing my name roll off her tongue. I’d never pressure her into anything she wasn’t ready for, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t drive her insane with need.
I might have been falling in love with her, but I wasn’t a saint.
“What, baby?”
I slowly kissed down her neck to her collarbone. She was coming undone beneath me, making me burn with desire. I wanted to capture this moment and hold on to it for as long as I could. I wanted to remember her just like this.
For me.
* * *
Mine.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Isla
Vodka may not be the answer, but it’s worth a shot. -Unknown
* * *
Two months later.
* * *
I woke up, yawning, stretching my arms over my head. It was almost two in the morning, and still no sign of Julius. Most of the time, I would lie in his bed, reading or watching movies, and snuggling up with his pillow that smelled like him while I waited for him to get home.
Time just seemed to drag that day, and I must’ve fallen asleep.
I took a hot shower and changed into some cotton shorts and a tank top. Julius preferred my clingy clothes, as he called them.
I shook off the thought. Once I brushed my teeth, I walked downstairs to the kitchen for a late-night snack. I wanted some ice cream. After closing the door with the carton in my hand, I grabbed a bowl, suddenly feeling his presence close behind me.