Page 9 of Cold Hearted Baren

We remain silent for a while, the only sounds are the gentle rustle of leaves in the evening breeze and the chirping of birds.

“I can't believe it's been four years,” she says after a while, finally breaking the silence. “The pain… It still feels so raw. I don't think I'll ever get over it.”

"Your dad loved you so much, Tara," I say instead. "And he was only happy when you were. You were his little ray of sunshine, remember?"

She nods, then sniffles and chuckles softly. "He always seemed so funny singing that song; You Are My Sunshine.”

A distant memory pops in my head at that moment; of Harry on a sunny summer afternoon swirling a laughing eight-years-old Tara around and singing that song to her, loudly in an off-tune key.

Tara must have remembered the same thing, because we both laugh, hesitantly at first then more freely as the memory envelopes us in warmth. The moment feels bittersweet but also comforting and I'm just so grateful to be sharing it with her.

I don’t feel so lonely anymore…

“Want to go sit over there?” I ask, pointing to a concrete bench in the distance. “We can take our time before we head back home.”

She nods in agreement and we both walk over to the bench, settling down, side by side. We sit in companionable silence for a while, each lost in our private thoughts. I glance at her, noticing the way the tendrils of her golden hair flutter around her face. I desperately want to reach out and tuck the strands of hair away and just as I'm about to give in to the urge, she turns in my direction and our gazes clash and hold, her gorgeous green eyes swirling with emotions that leave me breathless. For a moment, time seems to stand still and all I can do is drown helplessly in the mesmerizing depths of her eyes.

I wrench my gaze away from hers, suddenly overwhelmed by the memories of the kiss and the guilt of avoiding her afterward. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, then return my gaze to hers.

“Tara… I think I owe you an apology for rushing out after our kiss the other night, for not really being around since, you deserve better than that,” I say, the words pouring out. I have never been this flustered around a woman before, but my need for her is doing crazy things to me. She is mine, even if she doesn’t know it yet.

She nods, looking at me to see if I’m going to add anything else. I want to tell her how badly I want her, but I don’t want to scare her away. Finally, she lets out a soft “It’s okay.”

“It is?” I ask, unable to contain my surprise at her forgiveness.

She nods. “I think so,” she replies with a shrug. “I know you’re a busy man, running a huge company, and this thing between us could grow into something, but all I know for sure right now is you give me butterflies and make me feel warm… and safe. You don't know how happy I am that you're my first kiss.”

“That was your first kiss?” I ask, blinking at her in surprise.

Either the boys in her college are blind or I'm just one lucky motherfucker…

“Don't look at me like that,” she murmurs, dropping her gaze bashfully. “I'm not the first or only twenty-one-year-old virgin.”

I chuckle softly, feeling a wave of affection wash over me. She looks so adorable with her face all flushed like she committed a faux pas. Something strange and needful curls in my gut, dominant yet elusive all at once.

I’ve never felt this strongly about anyone before. There’re no other thoughts in my head besides my need to kiss her. No more putting off what I need, what we need.

I turn her face to mine and seal my mouth to hers, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer, loving the way she instantly melts into my embrace, her lips responding eagerly to my kiss.

Our kiss is passionate, clearly leading to something bigger, but we abruptly end it, deciding to leave the cemetery and return home before it gets too late.

Chapter Seven

Tara

After we got back from the cemetery, David had some work to finish up, and I decided to fit in one last round of review before my last final this morning. We retreated to our separate corners of the house, but not before David lifted me onto the kitchen island and kissed me silly, promising that there would be more time for us soon.

The next morning, we’re both in the kitchen grabbing something to eat before departing for our days.

"Do you have to go?" David asks, wrapping his arms around me from behind. He drops his head on my shoulder and nuzzles my neck. "I love the way you smell. Like a field of berries bathed in sunlight."

I chuckle and turn around in his arms. He has an adorable pout that makes him look like a sulking child. I never thought a manly man like David could be so clingy and cute and I'm loving every bit of it. It feels like something has shifted between us since yesterday. He seems like an entirely different person. As I look into his eyes, I see a vulnerability that wasn't there before, a softness that contrasts with his usual stoic demeanor. It's as if we’ve opened up a new level of trust and intimacy and I'm enjoying every bit of it.

His arms tighten around me, pulling me closer, and I feel the warmth of his body against mine.

“I know you have your final, but how much time do you have to spare?” He says in between kisses on my neck. I smile up at him, feeling my body heating up from his suggestive tone and the feel of his body against mine. “In case you forgot, Mr. CEO, you have to work, and I HAVE to get to my very last exam…but,” I continue, turning in his arms and stroking my hand up his sculpted chest, “after today, I’ll be free as a bird for you.”

He plants another soft kiss on my mouth, “I’d like that, little bird.” The new nickname sending butterflies fluttering through my stomach.

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