Page 114 of Bend

“I’m serious.” He nudges my shoulder with his. “You came down here. That’s something, you don’t have to figure it all out in one night.”

He looks at me, and the tightness in my chest eases a little bit more.

I step closer, enough that the wind stops cutting between us. “Yeah. I did. No Echo. No more excuses. Just me making a complete tit of myself.”

Wolfe holds my gaze. “So what now?”

My eyes drop to his mouth.

“Well, I’m hoping you still want me.”

Something in his face eases, his shoulders loosening as he holds my gaze. “I never stopped.”

“Even after the garage?” My voice comes out rougher than I mean it to.

“Even then.”

I look down at the water, jaw tight. “I was a right prick.”

“You were just scared.”

I glance back at him. “Can be both, mate.”

Wolfe’s mouth pulls into a small smile. “Yeah, but I don’t blame you.”

My eyes drop to his lips, then lift again.

I step closer.

Wolfe closes the distance too, slow and steady, until his breath is warm against my mouth and the surf is washing around our ankles.

For a second, neither of us says anything.

Then I mutter, “Ah, fuck it,” fist the front of his shirt, and pull him in.

The kiss lands hard, all the tension between us finally breaking loose.

Wolfe lets me lead for barely a second before his hand closes around the side of my neck and he kisses me back, firm and certain, his thumb pressing beneath my jaw.

I drag him closer, my other hand gripping his side as his breathing turns rough against my mouth.

When we finally pull apart, neither of us goes far.

His forehead rests against mine, lips still brushing mine when he speaks.

“There you are,” he murmurs.

“Don’t get fucking smug.”

“Kinda late for that.”

“Bloody hell,”

I kiss him again just to shut him up, and it turns rough almost straight away.

His hand tightens at my waist as mine slip beneath his shirt, palms meeting warm skin. Wolfe tenses under my touch, and the reaction goes straight through me.

“Fuck” I breathe.