Page 130 of Wisteria and Cloves
My pulse quickened. "Where?"
"That is a secret” He spoke, smirk on his lips.
"Secret?" I echoed, leaning forward slightly, drawn by the warmth in his eyes. "Is this a date?"
Miles's lips curved into a gentle smile. "If you want it to be."
The invitation hung between us, delicate but charged with possibility. I thought about the way Christopher had kissed me in the kitchen, how Julian had looked at me with such intensity afterward. How different would it be with Miles? The quiet one, the observer, the man whose words always seemed to carry more weight than they should.
"I'd like that," I said softly. "A date sounds... nice."
"Nice?" Miles raised an eyebrow, amusement playing at the corners of his mouth. "I was hoping for something a bit more enthusiastic than 'nice.'"
I laughed, the sound bubbling up unexpectedly. "Alright, then. A date sounds wonderful.”
Miles's smile widened, transforming his face in a way that made my heart skip. "Much better." He brought our joined hands up to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles that sent warmth spiraling up my arm. "I'll pick you up at ten."
"That's very mysterious," I said, though I couldn't keep the anticipation out of my voice. "Should I dress for anything specific?"
"Comfortable," he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "And maybe bring a jacket. We might be outside for a while."
Before I could ask more questions, he was leaning closer, his free hand coming up to cup my cheek. The gesture was achingly gentle, his thumb brushing across my skin with reverent care.
"May I kiss you, Lili?" he asked, the nickname rolling off his tongue like honey.
Instead of answering with words, I closed the distance between us, my lips finding his with a boldness that surprised us both. Miles's intake of breath was sharp against my mouth before he melted into the kiss, his hand sliding into my hair to cradle the back of my head. His mouth moved against mine with careful deliberation. I found myself sinking deeper into the nest, pulling him with me until we were lying side by side, faces inches apart. Miles's hand traced the line of my jaw, his touch feather-light but leaving trails of fire in its wake.
"Lili," he breathed against my mouth, my nickname a prayer on his lips. His forehead rested against mine as we both struggled to catch our breath. “You really know how to test my control.”
"Maybe I want to test it," I whispered back, my fingers tracing the strong line of his jaw. The admission surprised me—where had this boldness come from? But something about Miles brought out a confidence I hadn't known existed.
His eyes darkened, pupils dilating as he searched my face. "Careful what you wish for," he murmured, his voice rough with restraint. "I'm not as gentle as I appear."
The warning sent a thrill through me rather than fear. "Show me," I challenged softly, my hand sliding down to rest against his chest where his heart hammered beneath my palm.
Miles groaned, the sound vibrating through his chest. "Lili, you have no idea what you're asking for."
"Then teach me," I said, echoing Christopher's earlier words about cooking. "I'm tired of not knowing things, of being sheltered from experiences."
Something shifted in Miles's expression—the careful restraint giving way to something hungrier, more primal. His handtightened in my hair as he rolled us gently until I was beneath him, his weight braced on his forearms.
"Are you sure?" he asked one more time, his voice strained. "Because once I start touching you properly, I won't want to stop."
My answer was to pull his mouth back down to mine, kissing him with all the pent-up desire and curiosity that had been building inside me. Miles surrendered to it with a soft curse against my lips, his careful control finally snapping.
His hands roamed my body with reverent hunger, mapping every curve through the soft fabric of my clothes. When his lips left mine to trail down my throat, I arched beneath him, a soft gasp escaping me at the sensation of his teeth grazing my pulse point.
"So responsive," he murmured against my skin, his voice filled with wonder. "Do you know how incredible you are?"
I couldn't form words, could only thread my fingers through his damp hair as he continued his exploration. Miles took his time, worshipping every inch of exposed skin with lips and tongue until I was trembling beneath him.
"Miles," I gasped, his name falling from my lips like a plea.
"I know, sweetheart, I'm here," he whispered against my collarbone, his breath warm and unsteady. "Tell me what you need."
"I don't know," I admitted, my voice breaking slightly. "I just know I need more of you."
Miles lifted his head to look at me, his green eyes searching my face with an intensity that made my heart race. "We have all the time in the world," he said softly. "There's no rush, no pressure. Just us."
