Page 111 of Last Christmas in London

‘I think it’s the right time for us,’ I whispered. ‘Though if you had asked me six weeks ago, I would have said definitely not.’

His shoulder lowered and I felt his fingers finding the edge of my shirt and lifting it again, his fingers drawing patterns against the soft skin of my lower back.

‘You romantic,’ he teased. ‘What changed then?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You’re a different person from the girl I met in Covent Garden a month ago.’

I laughed. ‘You mean the girl who bowled you over and insulted you.’

‘You did not bowl me over,’ he corrected. ‘But yes. You’re so much more relaxed now.’

It didn’t hurt that he was a calming presence for me, with his soft touch and ease.

‘I think it’s because I’ve finally found a home.’ I clamped my hand over his lips and quickly added, ‘Yes, I know I’m cheesy as hell but just bear with me.’ I could see his eyes twinkling, wanting to laugh but waiting for me to say my piece. ‘I mean I never realised I had a home. I’ve spent so much of my life waiting for the next thing, moving from one city to another, always ready to pack up and go. But when I thought about leaving London – actually leaving, never to return in any kind of permanence – I realised how much I would miss it.’

I released his head and he tilted it. ‘London at Christmas will do that to a person.’

‘Not just London at Christmas though, London all year round,’ I admitted. ‘I finally know I can stay,’ I continued. ‘That I want to stay. Denise and Bob have my back, Megan and I can be there for each other, and, for the first time, I don’t feel like I have to accept that I belong somewhere. I can just… be.’

Simon nodded and opened his bottle of water to take a slow sip of his drink, considering me. ‘And me?’ he asked eventually.

I gave him a look that was both cheeky and sincere. ‘I’m not staying just because of you. I’ve already told you that.’

‘But I am a pretty big bonus,’ he joked.

I laughed, shaking my head and pressing myself up against his chest so I was almost straddling him on the sofa. ‘You are so fishing for a compliment.’

‘It’s part of my charm.’ He grinned, pulling my leg further over so I was straddling him. This was a first for me, but it felt good. ‘Go on. Admit it,’ he whispered, leaning upwards so we were both sitting upright, him with his hands now running up and down my thigh while I wrapped my hand around his neck and felt the contours at the meeting of his broad shoulders.

I rolled my eyes, but my heart was hammering now, that teasing glint in his eyes making my breath catch. ‘Fine. You’re a very big bonus.’

‘That’s what she said,’ he murmured into my ear cheekily and I couldn’t help but release a giggle as suddenly he stood, holding me up with his hands under my legs. God, he was strong. Now that was a big bonus.

The air between us prickled with energy as I tried to stop giggling. He was staring at me, rolling his lips occasionally, breathing hard as he began to lower me back down onto the sofa, him now on top of me.

‘Is this okay?’ he whispered, and I nodded slowly, my breath catching as all the noise of outside London seemed to fade and all I could hear was his breathing and mine. My arms and legs felt suddenly leaden, as if I didn’t know what their purpose was but, inside me, I knew precisely what I wanted to do. ‘Stay tonight?’ he asked softly, travelling down my body just a few inches to kiss my stomach as my shirt crept up again. I gasped.

‘I wasn’t planning on leaving.’

I felt his lips quirk slightly against my chest as they travelled, his fingers now primed at the fraying edges of my shirt, as I arched my back instinctively.

It wasn’t long before his lips returned to my neck, kissing me unhurriedly, deliberately. Neither of us wanted to rush it.

His hands slid up my waist, pulling me closer as he found my lips.

My fingers threaded into his hair, tugging lightly, and he let out the quietest sound, half a sigh, half a groan, that sent heat curling through me.

His fingers skimmed the line of my jaw and wrapped around my neck lightly. ‘You sure about this?’ he murmured against my skin.

It was like an electric current soared through me. ‘For the love of…’ I didn’t know I would react like I did until I did.

I pushed him up and grabbed at his shirt, kissing him heatedly and without aim. I wanted him. And I was done with working to other people’s timelines.

Screw being patient! This wasn’t rushing, this was a hunger. And it was insatiable.

He reacted the same, suddenly desperate for more, as if the green light had gone up after an age of amber.