Page 70 of The Heir

“Tomorrow is Sunday,” he said with his big grin.

“Oh, yeah, Monday, I mean,” I corrected myself, feeling like the biggest idiot in the universe.

“Monday sounds good,” he agreed, walking a little closer to me. He touched my arm, trailing his fingers down my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake until he reached my wrist. Helifted my wrist to his lips and kissed the inside of my soft flesh there. Electric fire burned within me. He kissed my palm, and then each finger. I felt my breath catch as I noticed his eyes were staring into my eyes. My face must have been bright red, and I was grateful for the cover of night. His lips pulled away from my fingers as he gave me a knee-buckling smirk that sent my insides boiling.

Who is this boy?

He pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me, that time lifting me off of my feet as he held me tightly to him, our bodies flush together.

He pulled away slowly. “I really had a great time tonight with you, Emma.” That signature, playful smile was on his face.

“Me, too,” I gulped like an obsessed weirdo.

“Goodnight.” He stepped away from me and turned.

I watched him as he walked away. I felt my heart crack. It wasn’t right. That was not how the night was supposed to end. I wanted him. I wanted everything he was. I needed him. It was as if with his every touch, he made me his—more and more. I heard the faint song again in my head, and I mentally blasted it so loud that I hoped to drown out my disappointment that our night together was over–without his kisses on my lips.

I moved my gaze from his back and turned to unlock my door. Suddenly, I heard pounding steps, and before I could fully turn around to see what the noise was, Shad had me pushed against my front door soquickly, yet softly. He held me there, panting. His eyes were pure gold, with a hunger that I felt within me. I needed Shad. Could he possibly feel the same about me?

“I should go.” he said as if he were trying to convince himself that leaving was the right choice. But a smile crept over his lips ever so slowly. He ran his nose against mine, our breaths mingling together.

I couldn't speak even if I wanted to. I was under his spell.

He kissed my cheek softly, and I felt something in my tummy doing flips. He trailed soft kisses from my cheek to the corner of my mouth. “Oh, you are so soft.” His lips stilled as he moved away for a moment. “Please, Emma, tell me to go,” he begged, looking into my eyes.

The only thing I could do was move my head, shaking it, ‘no.’

“Please, Emma, I need to leave—Oh, Ancients, help me—” he whispered, kissing my chin, and while I didn’t really know what he was saying, exactly, and why was he having some sort of struggle, it was okay; it was what I wanted—didn’t he know that? He had to want it, too.

“Please, Shad, don’t ask me that, when all I want is for you to stay here.”

He grinned mischievously and moved his lips to my ear. “I can’t. I am so sorry,” his voice was low and husky as he spoke. He pulled away from me, his arms removing me from the door slowly. I didn't like where he was going—away from me. I grabbed the lapels of his jacket and tugged hard. Surprise filled his face as his nose came an inch from mine.

“I dare you,” I challenged him with fire in my eyes. No way was I letting him play with me in that way without getting my first real kiss.

“You dare me?” he chuckled, the most attractive sound I’d ever heard. “You have no idea how badly I–”

“Shad–I dare you,” I whispered. “Do it.”

“You don’t know what you are asking.” My back was against the door, my chest flush, its rising and falling coming so quickly that I couldn't catch my breath. There was a burning passion–a hunger–between us; I was certain that a kiss was the only answer. He kissed my forehead, my nose, avoiding my mouth, and I wanted to scream with irritation, but his kisses made me feel like I was floating, and I didn’t want him to stop until he reached my lips.

“I should not be doing this, Emma.” His eyes were brighter, and he looked into my eyes as if he wanted me to say ‘no’ to his touches, pleading and begging me to stop him.

Why would I ever do that,I thought.

He kept both hands on either side of my head, which was still against the door. He panted, looking at me with eyes that held so much more than longing and desire. The dark, golden color was melting me with each moment. Those eyes locked onto mine. We breathed the same air, and for a moment, my head was spinning. I felt elated, pure joy running through me. That was it, the moment I had been waiting for, my first kiss—our first kiss. But before I could close my eyes and feel his lips against my own, he pulled away from me.

“Emma, there is something I need to tell you.”

I felt cold without him near. I remained there, leaning up against the door, watching him slowly pace back and forth before me. He stopped–his back facing me. Why was he holding back?

“This isn’t exactly easy to say—” He shook his head, “Ancients,” he cursed. “They know I have tried before, too.”

I didn’t know what he was talking about, but I kept silent, listening, waiting for him to let the words pour out of him, if that was what he needed.

“I tried the other night, but I couldn’t find the words. I can never find the words here.” He shook his head. “I have gone over this conversation a dozen times in my head.” He turned back around and looked at me. “So I am not going to use words, Emma.” He walked back to me, and I heard the song in my mind and in my soul once again—the song I had made up. “No words at all,” he whispered as the melody I created just for Shad sped up, and then slowed down.

I looked at him.

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