Page 87 of Coffee Break with the Billionaire

I could have done it days ago. I wanted to. I was ready to. But it had to be him to make the first move.

And it was. And, oh my god, the man can kiss.

At first, it was gentle, almost tentative, with lips as soft as they look. And then, after what might have been a practice lap, he really makes his move. Instead of asking, he demands, and then he takes.

I’m along for the ride because I do my share of taking as well.

We stay on the pier until my fingers are numb with cold, so Silas takes my hand in his to warm it as he walks me home.

The lights of The King’s Hat have dimmed when we walk by and when I look in, I see Kalle and Edie by the pool table.

Dancing.

The two of them in a bubble of happiness and love, ignoring the rest of the world.

That’s what it felt like when Silas kissed me.

I’ve kissed my fair share of men. The movie star when I was nineteen, embarking on a whirlwind trip around the world with him, only to discover his interest in me was only to further his career. The athletes, the musicians, the Bitcoin golden boy.

The prince of Laandia.

What I felt for Gunnar was most like what I’m feeling for Silas and I have to wonder if there’s something in the water of Laandia.

He walks me through the alley to the door of the apartment, the only part of staying at Edie’s that I don’t like. But with Silas holding my hand, I want to dance through it, hopscotching over the cardboard boxes and bits of paper the wind has thrown around.

“I had fun tonight,” I tell him as we pause before the door. “Thanks for taking me.”

“I’m always happy to give you another first,” he says, holding my gaze in his green eyes. His cheeks are pink from the chill and his lips—

His lips look a little swollen, thanks to me.

And there’s a bit of a burn on my cheeks from his beard.

“I really enjoyed that last first one.” And I take his coat and pull him closer, standing on my tiptoes to press my lips against his again. “The one that started like this.”

He wraps his arms around me, holding me upright when my knees threaten to buckle.

Silas makes my knees weak.

He gives me butterflies.

My pulse is racing, my heart is thumping. Silas gives me all those things that kisses are supposed to do, and he does them all at once.

He makes me smile.

He sees me smile, and it makes him happy.

I’m so happy kissing him.

We stand there for long minutes, wrapped up in each other, until I can’t feel my toes. And then it takes us another ten minutes to say goodnight.

“Don’t forget to look for your pumpkins tomorrow,” Silas says, backing away from me. “They’ll be out in front of the stores in the morning.”

“I’ll go on a scavenger hunt to find them,” I promise. “On my way to work.”

“Tomorrow.”

Tomorrow is the last shift I have scheduled, but I don’t want to bring that up now. I don’t want to break this bubble. “Tomorrow,”I repeat.

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