Page 94 of Hawthorne

And it hurts in my heart, knowing that I am letting it happen, letting it grow. I am falling in love with someone I could never give the world to, no matter how much I want to. But I am selfish,so fucking selfish.

I can’t let her go, no matter how big the walls separating us are.

“Let me show you how much I appreciate you,” I whisper on her lips. “How much I cherish you.”

Camilla finally relaxes fully in my hold, coming even closer and giving me my answer.

I shouldn’t give in. I should let her go. But she has imprinted herself into me.My blood and soul. It’s too late to try to go back to before. There isn’t a before, not after we happened.

It will destroy herandme. But until then, I can’t.

We’re both feverish against each other, hot skin grazing all over. My wet lips blindly search for her swollen ones. The thirst, hunger, and all of the lust burning inside of me are expressed through my eager touch and harsh kisses.

Her soft curves feel like silk against my fingers. I can’t help but roam my hands over her body—thick thighs, topped by her bony hips and narrow waist. As my hands rise, her dress rises with them, baring her to me.

Camilla makes no move to fight me on it, and her moans only urge me to keep going. Continuing to touch her slowly is a struggle, but I need to keep it together.

I pull her dress over her head, and the sight of her in a flimsy matching lace lingerie almost drives me crazy. My cock twitchesinside my dress pants, and my hands waste no time finding her body again.

“Vincent,” she moans my name. It was difficult to get her to call me by my name, but good god, I love it when she does it.

Her hands grip my wrists just as my fingers graze her taut nipples over the transparent bra. Showing me her hesitancy.

“Want me to stop? We can stop…” I admit truthfully.

She is perfect.

“So beautiful,” I whisper as my lips graze the skin on her neck. “All you have to do is say the words, darling, and I’ll stop.”

Kisses, licks, nibbles. I do it all, never leaving her neck area. When the silence stretches for too long, I lean back, trying to get a good look on her. The conflict on her face is visible, and I can only imagine how hard her mind must be battling.

“I’m tired tonight,” I lie before giving her nose a kiss. “We can continue this tomorrow. How about we get some sleep?”

She nods, and I turn us around, settling on my back and pulling her to my side. She doesn’t fight me on it, leaning her head on my chest. With my arm wrapped around her shoulders, I pull her to me, bringing her body even closer to mine.

They fit perfectly, as if they were made to be like this, snuggling together.

This feels better than I thought.

“Thank you,” she whispers, and I can’t help but kiss her forehead before a small hum, as my body relaxes before entering a state of deep sleep.

28

Camilla White

“Are you out of your goddamn mind?” I hiss the moment I notice Vincent locking my bedroom door behind him.

In the middle of the day.Worse, on the day his family is coming for “Family Lunch”. On this day, the twentieth of November 1440, the Hawthorne Duke title was created for Augustus I of Hawthorne. He was the one that decided to organise the first tribute lunch, to pass down to his descendants the importance of his family and title.

Even Aunt Lizzie made sure to organise a huge meal on this day. Today, I am taking care of it for Vincent, his brother, and mother. I am sure she is coming ready and eager to torment all of us—well,me.

Vincent’s eyes twinkle with mischief the moment we lock gazes, proceeding to walk towards me with purpose. I turn, my back facing him once again, pretending to tend to whatever I was doing before. Truth is, the exact moment he entered my bedroom, he commanded all my attention to him.

The hairs on my skin stand to attention the moment I feel his presence hovering behind me. He isn’t touching me yet, but I already feel the heat emanating from his body and seeping into mine. Then, Vincent presses his front against my back and hides his face in my hair, nose touching my ear shell.

“I needed something to give me courage for today,” he mumbles against my skin while his hands wrap around my waist.

“Courage?” Tell me about it.I laugh just as my body relaxes and moulds into his. “What’s so bad about it?”

---