Page 14 of Wistful Whispers

“I—”

“Love me like… a friend?” All the fear seems to have disappeared from his face and there’s a new emotion. Hope.

“Maybe a little… a little more than a friend,” I sniffle and tears sting my eyes again. Bloody hormones.

“Hanny-bee, what are you saying?”

“I think I have fallen for you. I didn’t mean to tell you. I… I don’t want to mess up our friendship. But it’s true. Don’t ask me when because I don’t know. I just realised that what I thought was just friendship has been so much more to me for a while now.” I bite my lip nervously.

He cups my face with both his hands. His eyes are locked with mine and it feels like he’s trying to look into my soul. I’d let him. I’m an open book and he can read me as much as he wants. I have no secrets from him… anymore.

“Hanny-bee,” he whispers before moving closer.

I can feel his warm breath on my lips as he hesitates for a moment, savouring the anticipation. His hands slide down from my face to rest gently on my waist, pulling me slightly closer to him. The tension between us is electric and I find myself holding my breath.

Finally, his lips touch mine in the softest of kisses. It's barely a brush of his mouth against mine but it sends shivers down my spine. I melt into him, letting all the worries and anxiety fade away.

His lips are so gentle, moving slowly and deliberately against mine. Each touch is like a sweet caress that ignites a fire deep within me. I respond in kind by sliding my fingers through his hair and deepening the kiss.

Time seems to stand still as we lose ourselves in each other. There's no rush, no urgency; just the intoxicating thrill of finallygiving into my feelings. His hands roam over my back causing a shiver to race through me.

His lips leave mine for just a moment, trailing hot kisses along the line of my jaw and down to the hollow of my throat. Goosebumps break out across my skin at his every touch and it's like I'm on fire from the inside out.

I tilt my head back to give him better access, relishing in the sensation of his lips on my skin. It's pure bliss; a heady mix of pleasure and longing that threatens to consume me completely.

We finally break apart, breathless and dizzy with emotion. There's a newfound spark in his eyes that takes my breath away and I can't help but smile.

"I love you too, Hanny-bee. I’ve been in love with you for so long,” he whispers.

“Why didn’tyousay anything?”

“I didn’t think you felt the same and I didn’t want to lose you. I’d rather have you in my life as a friend than not at all.”

“Oh, you just have to say swoon-worthy stuff like that don’t you?” I slap him gently on the chest and wipe away the tears.

“We have impeccably bad timing though.” The dark expression is back on his face.

“Or maybe it’s just the right time. I’d rather go through this knowing there are no secrets between us.”And if somethinggoes wrong at least we’ll have these few moments. I don’t say that out loud and I’m not sure if that’s to avoid more worry for him or for me.

“Can I kiss you again?” he asks, looking at me sheepishly.

“You can do whatever you want with me.”Oh wow, where did that seductive voice come from?Jake swallows hard and his eyes go dark with desire.

I didn't think it was possible for him to look any sexier than he already does, but in this moment he absolutely takes my breath away.

He kisses me again, this time with a newfound confidence that makes my knees weak. His lips are soft yet insistent as they move against mine, coaxing a moan from deep within me.

His hands are everywhere at once—tangling in my hair, roaming over my back, squeezing my arse—like he’s desperate to touch every inch of me but doesn’t know where to start or finish.

He backs us towards the bed and guides me down without breaking our kiss. His lean body slides over me, although he’s careful to not put his weight on my tummy. He groans into my mouth as I grind against him, our bodies moving in perfect harmony. It's like we've been doing this forever, like we were made for each other.

Jake breaks the kiss, panting heavily as he rests his forehead against mine.

"Hannah…" he breathes my name like a prayer, his voice full of emotion.

"Yes?" I reply, equally breathless.

I look into his eyes and see all the love he feels for me reflected back at me. How did I never see this before? I must have been blind.

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