She pulled her full bottom lip into her mouth and let it slip out as I watched. My eyes fixed on the plump, pink flesh. Her breathing rate increased. ‘My heart beats faster. I close my eyes and imagine your mouth next to my ear, your hot breath on my neck.’ Of course I’d had those thoughts too.
I moved to her ear and whispered. ‘Like this?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘Anything else?’
‘Passion. I hear passion in your voice and you sing the words like they mean something to you. It doesn’t matter which song you’re singing. I feel every emotion you express. Whether it’s anger... or... or... lust.’ Her voice wavered and her chest heaved. ‘I think… I think you’ve found theyouthat you should’ve been all along.’
It was as if she’d read my mind. I felt the exact same way. She knew me. She could read me like no one else. The fact terrified and elated me simultaneously. Once again I was reminded that I almost let her go. She accepted me and both sides of my personality and I was so damned lucky. My heart beat faster and I knew that this was something real. Every thought I had about her—and there were many—reiterated the fact. My feelings were running away with me at speed, but if the truth be told she had intrigued me from the first time she handed me a coffee cup and gave me that disarming smile. But the deeper meaning had started when I had kissed her that first time.
Words rushed around my head and begged for escape from my lips, but what the hell would she think if I set them free? She’d no doubt think it was some clichéd expression of emotion attached to the desire I had for her. It was evident that I wanted her physically but this was so much more. And every moment spent with her told me the same thing. But the last thing I wanted was to fire benign and seemingly empty words at her. Not that they would actuallybeempty. The feelings I had for her were like nothing I had ever experienced before. But in all honesty, the words in my head just didn’t seem enough. And so I lowered my face and kissed her again, only this time I was deliberately tender. Of course I wanted to take her to bed but I held back. I needed her to see that I wanted more. That I felt more. Only then would she really know what I had suspected for a while now.
I was in love.
29
Star
The day that followed Fin’s first rehearsal with Mr Hyde was bright and sunny. But to be honest, if it had been raining and cloudy, I truly wouldn’t have cared. The intensity of the night we’d shared had affected me so much that, once again, I had that stupid grin on my face. I’d stayed over, and luckily I’d had the common sense to pack fresh underwear and clothes for work the next day.
I walked into the coffee shop to find Alec already there. I was humming ‘Strange and Beautiful’ again, and my boss/best friend rolled his eyes when I walked through to the back to take off my coat.
He followed me, and I knew he was about to start digging for information. ‘Hmm, someone looks like the cat who got the cream. I hope he’s treating you right. I hope he’s not using you, that’s all Twinkle.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Ugh! Alec, can’t I just be happy without you being so negative?’ I threw a dish towel at him. It’s good it was the only thing in close proximity.
‘Well, I’m just saying. You don’t know him that well but you’re spending every spare moment with him. It’s all going too fast if you ask me. I’m just worried about you.’
I flared my nostrils and placed my hands firmly on my hips. ‘Time is a moot point, Alec. He’s respectful, kind, sweet and gorgeous. I’m an adult and my relationships aremybusiness, Alec McVey, and I’d be happier if you’d stop poking your nose into my affairs.’ He held his hands up in surrender but my good mood was ruined.
He picked up the dish towel that had landed on the floor and threw it onto the laundry pile. ‘Like I said, I’m just worried about you, Twinkle, that’s all. You trust so easily, darling.’ He slowly walked towards me, hands aloft as if approaching a startled mare in a corral.
He was like a big brother to me, and I needed him. In spite of what I’d expressed only moments before, I was kind of glad he was around and that he had my back.
I sighed and softened a little. ‘I know. And I do appreciate it, Al. I really do. But you’ve got it wrong about Fin. He’s all the things I said and more. He makes me feel good and I love to spend time with him.’
He took another tentative step. ‘I know, hon. It’s just… it worries me how fast this is all happening after how he treated you before. I know I’m not responsible for you, but you’re like family to me. If anything was to happen...’
I closed the remaining gap between us and slipped my arms round his waist. Resting my head on his chest, I told him: ‘I’m grateful that you care so much, really I am. But I’ve got this, okay?’
His arms came around me and he squeezed me tight. ‘I’ll always look out for you, darlin’. You know that.’
The day was busy yet uneventful until around three in the afternoon when my cell phone rang. It was Fin’s number, and a shiver of excitement passed through me.
‘Hey.’ My voice was breezy and a little breathy. This was the effect he had on me.
‘Hey, your gorgeous self.’ Oh my God, I loved his accent. ‘I have news.’
‘Oh? I hope it’s good news.’
He chuckled and I could imagine the smile playing on his oh-so-kissable lips. ‘Well, I think it’s quite exciting.’
‘Come on then. Don’t keep me in suspense.’
‘Na, I’d rather keep you in suspense.’ His husky whisper made my muscles clench in anticipation.
‘Fiiiiin,’ I groaned.
