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“So you’re not going to pursue it? You must be quite good if you got accepted into a prestigious school.”
“I’d like to think I am. I’ve come a long way since the days when I managed to burn water.”
He laughs. “I’m not sure that’s possible.”
“Trust me. Anything’s possible with me.” I flash him a smile before the moment of levity breaks. “But at this point in my life, there are some dreams I have to let go of. Duty to the crown, and all that.”
“Don’t forget what you just said, though,” Creed states after a moment.
I tilt my head. “What’s that?”
He inches toward me. “Anything’s possible with you. I may not be an expert, but in the past forty-eight hours, I’ve come to believe that’s absolutely true. Anything is possible with you.” His lips feather against mine. “Or maybe I should say that everything is possible with you.”
“Creed,” I sigh, heart expanding in my chest, even though I wish it wouldn’t. Wish I didn’t respond this way to his sweet words. “You’re not supposed to say these kinds of things to me. Not when…”
He presses his mouth firmly against mine, swallowing my protest. “Not here.” He rests a hand on my hip, urging me onto my back as he slides his tongue against mine. “Remember the rules we made up whenever we came here as kids? The real world has no place out here. So I say, whenever we come here, we follow the same rules.”
I run my hand through his hair as he plants hungry kisses along my neck, the combination of his tongue and teeth setting me ablaze.
“I could be wrong,” I exhale, writhing beneath him, “but if memory serves, this was never part of our games when we were kids.”
As he leans back, that wicked smile I can’t resist tugs on his lips, a sinful gleam in his eyes. “Then we make it part of our games now that we’re adults.” He brushes his mouth against mine. “Because I really like playing with you.”
He kisses me more fully, grabbing my thigh and hooking my leg around his waist, teasing me with his erection.
“And my god, I love when you play with me,” I whimper as I surrender to Creed yet again, happy to ignore our reality, if only for a little longer.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Creed
I can’t remember the last time I’ve smiled so much. That I’ve been so happy. I try to tell myself to keep my head on straight. To remember this will eventually end. I can’t help myself, though. I never imagined being able to hold Esme’s hand as we stroll under a canopy of trees, sharing our hopes and dreams.
Granted, we’re not in public. Nor will we ever be able to do this in public.
But I’ll celebrate the small victories when I can. Otherwise, I’m not sure I’ll survive what the future holds. And I’m not talking about months down the road, but mere minutes, knowing once we emerge from the protective cover of these trees, Esme will be forced to pretend she’s in love with Jameson.
Will have to let him touch her. Embrace her. Kiss her.
I should find comfort in the fact that he doesn’t know her as intimately as I do. But he eventually will.
It’s enough to make me want to disappear with her. To leave this place and never look back.
But that’s not possible.
“Now I understand how Connie Reid felt,” Esme states as we near the edge of the wooded area, our return to the real world imminent.
“Who?” I scrunch my brows, attempting to place the name. “Did we go to primary school together?”
A husky laugh falls from her throat.
God, I love that laugh. Love the raspy, sensual tone of her voice. She’s like a modern-day Lauren Bacall. Even has the same mysterious eyes, pouty lips, and slender stature.
“Lady Chatterley,” she states.
“Ah. Well, I’ve heard of the book, but haven’t read it.”
“It’s quite scandalous. At least, it was at the time. It was published in the early twentieth century. There was even a famous obscenity trial brought against the publishing house because of the repeated use of two certain four-letter words.”
