“Squeeze someone’s hand three times to tell them you love them. Carse and I always used to do that growing up, and of course I’d annoy the shit out of him when I’d squeeze his a fourth time to say ‘I love you more.’”
Hold the phone. Did she just say love?
Kenna must see my perplexed expression and realize that, no, my family does not do that. “By the look on your face right now, I’m going to guess that’s a no and that you only recently had someone give you the three squeezes?”
Clearing my throat, I respond, “Yeah. But I think it means something different for me and Carson. He’s been doing it here and there since I was in the hospital.”
Looking uncomfortable, Kenna just shrugs in reply.
My mind starts racing at the possibility of what this means, it only quiets once we’re out of the restroom, and Carson takes my hand in his once again. And he doesn’t let it go for the entire car ride back to the hotel. Only when we arrive at the hotel does he let mine go as he rounds the car to open my door for me.
My feet have barely hit the pavement when he tosses the keys to the hotel’s valet, and clasps my hand in his once again.
Carson leans in, combing my hair back with his fingers. “Will you come with me? I want to show you something,” he murmurs into my ear, brushing his lips along my ear, sending chills down my spine.
“Yes,” I whisper in reply.
We walk hand in hand down the cobblestone street of the Via Dante. Even though it is late, the city is still so alive with people dining together, conversation and laughter fill the air.
“Where are we going?” I question.
“There’s a place at the end of the street a local told me about yesterday. He said seeing it lit up at night is a must-see while we’re in Milan. He also gave me a few tips for the rest of our trip.”
As we approach the end of the street, the most spectacular fountain sits in front of a colossal clock tower. The circular fountain is lit from within, with spotlights surrounding it.
“This is sensational,” I gasp.
“Breathtaking,” he agrees, but when I turn to look at him, he isn’t taking in the fountain. Instead, his gaze is fixed on me.
The lights from the fountain cast a golden glow on his tanned skin and honey blonde hair, and the sight nearly brings me to my knees.
“Come here, Austen.” When he pulls me toward him, I go willingly into his arms.
Carson cups my face in his hands, rolling his thumb over my bottom lip.
Wrapping my arms around his waist, I pull him closer to me, his warmth enveloping me.
“Do you have any idea how long I’ve been dying to claim these lips?” His stare is fixed on my lips, and when I wet them, he closes his eyes and lets out a low groan. The sound has my stomach turning molten.
“Show me,” I practically whimper, lifting myself onto my toes to close the distance between us.
Tangling his fingers in my hair, Carson leans down and the moment his lips finally meet mine, my heart stops beating in my chest and time stands still. Everything around us ceases to exist. There is nothing in this life that feels more euphoric than the way his soft lips feel pressed against mine.
When he pulls my bottom lip into his mouth and rolls it between his, my mouth eagerly parts for him. He lets out a groan at the first swipe of our tongues, the sound causing a wave of heat crashing to my core.
Carson kisses me like time won’t go on unless his lips are pressed against mine, and I don’t think it would. Because this is the kiss that will change everything as we know it.
Nothing in my life made sense before Carson worked his way into it. Now that he’s captured my heart, I can only pray he plans to keep it safe.
23
August
We’ve just loaded our day bags into the trunk of the sexiest fucking convertible on the planet. And nothing, I mean absolutely nothing, gets my blood pumping faster than when I look over and see Dakota’s eyes hazy with lust when I rev the engine, and it purrs to life.
“Carson,” she haphazardly warns.
“Do you trust me, Austen?”
