Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
He handed her the groceries after she secured her seatbelt. Once they were back on the road, they were at her place within minutes. “It must be nice living so close to everything.”
“It definitely has its perks.”
Eloise opened the door to her apartment. Kiel followed her in, shutting the door behind him. She set up in the kitchen, offered him something to drink, and pulled out the items needed for dinner.
“How do you have all of this stuff?” He picked up a bottle of cracked pepper.
“My aunt knows I like to cook. She stocked up for me.”
Her kitchen was small, but having Kiel in her space didn’t bother her. She didn’t feel crowded or wish he would go sit in the other room. He watched with rapt attention as she spiraled the potatoes into strands, and asked questions as she prepared the garlic butter.
“My mom loves to cook, but she doesn’t do anything like this.”
“It’s easy,” she told him. “Plus, I enjoy cooking. It gives me a sense of accomplishment.”
“You’re an artist through and through.”
Eloise smiled at the compliment. “Wait until you taste it.”
“Should I be scared?”
Eloise let out a small chuckle. “Maybe.”
When their food was in the oven, she opened the bottle of wine and poured two glasses. Kiel guided her to the couch where they sat in silence and sipped the vino. He set his glass down on the coffee table and she did the same with hers.
“Come here,” he whispered as he pulled her toward him. Kiel cupped her cheek and ran his thumb along her bottom lip. Her tongue darted out, tasting him. “You’re driving me crazy.”
“The feeling’s mutual.”
“Is it?” she asked. “Do you feel the same?”
Kiel nodded as his hand cupped her cheek.
She turned her head slightly and kissed his palm. “You’re brighter than the sunshine and as beautiful as the sunset,” she told him. “When I think of you, I smile, and then my heart starts racing in anticipation of seeing you. In a short amount of time, you’ve made my return to Seaport worth it and more. When you lean close to me, touch me, or twirl my hair around your finger, my heart bursts with happiness. It radiates with this glow meant only for you. Somehow, you’ve eased my worries and fears, you’ve unknowingly given me confidence that I didn’t know I needed.”
Eloise moved closer, almost to the point of straddling him. She knew if she did, dinner would burn. Although she rather liked the idea of feasting off each other all night.
“Not to mention, you’re hot as fuck. Each time another woman gawks at you, I think to myself, ‘he’s mine’ and I’m damn thankful we found each other first because I’m not strong enough to stay away from you and I’d do whatever I could to steal you from someone else.”
“Damn, Eloise,” he said, swallowing hard. “I’m not poetic and shit, and can’t compete with those words, except to say I feel the same and am so fucking thankful my parents made me come on this trip because not knowing you or having you in my life would be torture.”
Their lips touched, softly at first, and then with more frenzied passion. Her fingers tangled in his hair and trailed a path along the nape of his neck and his jaw. Kiel’s hand trailed up her thigh and under the shorts she wore. His fingertips grazed the lacy edge of her panties and stilled.
“Something wrong?”
“Nothing at all.”
“Then why’d you stop?”
Kiel brushed her hair away from her face. “Because once we get started, I don’t want anything to interrupt us.”
Eloise wanted the same.
Mostly, she wanted him.
They sat together at her small table, enjoying the meal she’d prepared for them and finishing the bottle of wine. As they ate, they laughed and weren’t shy about touching each other, sharing a few too many kisses that had intention and desire built in them.
After dinner, they did the dishes together. It was more like Eloise washed while Kiel stood behind her, peppering her neck with kisses while his hands sat in the suds. When the last dish was set on the rack to dry, they dried their hands and then stood in the middle of the kitchen. For a moment, neither of them made a move.
Kiel stepped forward, cupping her cheek, and guiding her to look at him. Before he could say anything, she took his other hand and led him upstairs. The setting sun cast an orange and pink glow into her bedroom. Eloise paused at the side of her bed and looked over at her shoulder at Kiel.
Kiel and Eloise stood in the center of the room, facing each other. He moved the strands of hair that had fallen from her bun away from her neck, and Eloise felt a shiver course through her body as his fingertips touched her skin. She closed her eyes as Kiel's lips grazed her neck, and a small gasp escaped her lips.