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Stepping in front of Chloe, I loop my arms around her waist. It feels so small beneath my palms, so delicate—but strong too. “Sorry if I smell.”
Her smile softens into something real, and she moves her hands up around my neck, where her fingers brush at the bottom of my hairline. Her subtle vanilla perfume wafts under my nose, drowning out the array of floral scents surrounding us. “I’m used to it.”
My fingers tighten around her and shift up her back as I take another step nearer. Her eyes blink at me, curiosity rimming her irises—but there’s also trust there.
She trusts me, and I pray what I’m about to do doesn’t break that trust. I pray that it enhances it.
Leaning in so close I can feel her tremble beneath me, I set my lips against the outer shell of her ear. “Hi.” Then I press a light kiss there.
She inhales sharply at the contact.
And saints, the subtlest taste of her skin is not enough. I breathe in a tiny kick of air, force the stampeding horses inside of me to stay steady, stay slow.
“Hi-i,” she chokes out in surprise, her grip pulling me forward, an indication that she’s okay with this.
Whatever it takes to sell our love story, right?
Just do it, man.
I straighten and tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear before finally doing the thing I’ve longed to do for nearly twelve years.
I kiss Chloe Huntington.
When our lips meet, soft and hesitant and hovering at first, we both draw deep breaths. I hope I’m not making her nervous or uncomfortable, so I pull back slightly and remain still, letting her come back to me if she wants to.
And she does. This time, our mouths are more sure, and as one of her hands slides down my chest, she grips my shirt and tugs as if she’s as lost in this moment as I am. One hand still pressed against her back, my other supports her head as she cranes her neck upward. My thumb strokes along the bottom of her jaw and I slant my mouth against hers, plunging deeper into the abyss as I savor every angle of her kiss.
She tastes like wine and sunshine, like every flower petal opening and every chocolate morsel melting into pure sweetness against my tongue.
This sampling will never be enough.
But it’s all I’ll ever have. And I plan to make it count.
“What did I tell you?” comes a voice behind us.
I freeze. Chloe’s eyes blink away the haze, and I have a feeling mine are doing the same. Her lips are slightly swollen, and that does things to my brain I can’t even comprehend. I want nothing more than to swoop back in, to see if I can drive her as wild as she’s driving me.
I never want to stop kissing this woman.
Wait, whydidwe stop kissing? We should always be kissing. Kissing is good.
“Do you believe they’re really in love now, Stephanie?” a voice taunts.
Oh. Right. We have an audience.
Pressing a final kiss against Chloe’s forehead, I turn to face Lucy and Stephanie, slipping an arm around Chloe’s shoulders. “You didn’t believe I loved this woman?” I say in the most incredulous manner I can manage. (Rubbish actor over here, remember?)
Stephanie fists her long waistcoat thing in her hand. “I just …” She pouts. “Well, clearly I was wrong.”
Yes, Stephanie. Clearly you were.
fifteen
CHLOE
I’ve been complete rubbish today at anything having to do with wedding planning.
All I can think about is that kiss. The way Frederick took charge, but also gave me a choice. The way he held me like I was the most precious gem in the world, but also handled me like he wanted to break me open. A whole day later, I still shiver thinking about it.
