Page 49 of Ghost Of You

She narrows her eyes at me, but her playful grin doesn’t fade. “I’m sure if I suggested a fun way to use it, you’d change your mind.”

Her boldness catches me off guard, and I nearly choke on my ice cream. She glances over at me, a blush creeping up her cheeks, and I know exactly what she’s imagining.

I chuckle, taking another bite of my ice cream. But as soon as I swallow, a sharp pain shoots through my head—a classic brain freeze. I press the base of my palm against my forehead, closing my eyes as the icy sensation takes over.

Laelia giggles beside me, clearly amused by my discomfort. “Aww, does someone have abrain freeze?” she teases, her voice dripping with mock sympathy.

I pretend to pout, still holding my forehead. “I see how it is. If this were you, I’d be all worried and asking if you’re okay, but you’re just laughing at me.”

“Karma for being seductive,” she quips, unable to hide her grin.

I keep up the act for a moment longer, but when I see her grin fading into concern, I drop the charade, a wide smile breaking across my face. She catches on and bursts into laughter, swatting my arm.

“You’re lucky you’re beautiful,” I say, finally lowering my hand from my forehead.

She bats her eyelashes at me, a smirk playing on her lips. “You can punish me later,” she says, her voice dripping with mischief.

I almost choke on my ice cream, her boldness catching me completely off guard. She gives me a sly grin, clearly enjoying the way she’s thrown me off balance.

I recover quickly, leaning in closer, my voice dropping to a low murmur that only she can hear. “Oh, I’ll be putting ice in a lot of places, just you wait.”

Her breath hitches, and I can see the flush deepening on her cheeks. She bites her bottom lip, clearly affected by the promise in my words. I know she’s picturing exactly what I have in mind, and the thought sends a thrill through me.

"Vanilla, my arse," I mutter, more to myself than her, but Laelia catches it, and her eyes darken with a look that sends a jolt straight through me. The playful smirk on her lips shifts into something seductive, something that tells me she's more than ready to challenge that statement.

Without warning, she shifts closer on the bench, her body pressing against mine, and the heat between us intensifies. Herfingers trail up my arm, slow and deliberate, leaving a line of fire in their wake. “You really think you’re not vanilla?” she murmurs, her voice a husky whisper that sends shivers down my spine. “Show me.”

Her words are a challenge I can’t resist. I lean in, our faces inches apart, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife. My hand slides to the back of her neck, pulling her closer until our lips are just a breath away from touching. The world around us fades, the sounds of the busy street and the chatter of people nearby becoming nothing more than a distant hum.

"Careful what you wish for," I whisper against her lips, feeling her breath hitch in anticipation. Then I close the gap, capturing her mouth in a kiss that’s anything but vanilla. It's fierce, hungry, and full of all the pent-up desire we’ve been dancing around.

She responds immediately, her hands tangling in my hair, pulling me even closer. Her lips are soft, but the way she kisses me is anything but—she’s demanding, taking what she wants, and it’s driving me wild. I grip her waist, my fingers digging into her hips, and she lets out a soft moan that only spurs me on.

But we’re still outside, the public nature of where we are only adding to the thrill. The thought of someone seeing us, of how close we are to losing control right here, right now, sends a rush of adrenaline through me. I pull back just enough to look at her, our breaths mingling as we both try to catch up with the intensity of the moment.

Her eyes are dark with desire, her lips swollen from our kiss, and she’s looking at me like she wants to devour me whole. “Let’s get out of here,” she breathes, her voice shaking with the same need that’s coursing through my veins.

I glance around quickly, realizing we’re still in front of the ice cream parlour, still in full view of anyone who might pass by. But that only adds to the urgency pulsing between us.

I lean in, my lips brushing her ear as I whisper, “Let’s go somewhere more…private.”

She nods, her breath hitching again, and without another word, we both stand, the tension between us nearly unbearable. As we start walking, the thought of what’s coming next leaves us both on edge, and I know neither of us will be able to hold back much longer.

This is far from over. In fact, it’s just getting started.

Chapter twenty-six

After our ice cream date, the anticipation is electric as we step back into my flat. I close the door behind us, the click of the lock echoing through the quiet apartment. I can feel the heat radiating from Laelia as I turn to face her, my heart pounding with excitement.

I take her by the hips, guiding her gently but firmly against the wall.

A wicked grin spreads across my face, my eyes locking onto hers. "What were you calling me earlier? Vanilla?"

Her eyes are smouldering with a fierce, burning desire. A sultry smirk tugs at her lips, and she's clearly savouring the moment, her body already leaning into the heat of our encounter.

"Tell me again, beautiful," I murmur, my voice dropping to a seductive whisper as I lean in closer, our lips almost touching. "How vanilla am I?"

"Very," she breathes out, her voice soft but filled with teasing promise.

---