Page 77 of By His Play

Any awkwardness from this morning has gone, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

His arms engulf me, and a heavy sigh falls from my lips as I cling onto him.

“It’s okay, Effie. I’ve got you,” he says softly, his lips in my hair as he holds me tighter. “I promise. I’ve got you.”

Unable to hold it together any longer, I fall apart in Kieran’s arms again.

He doesn’t release me for even a second. I couldn’t love him more.

He is hands-down the best friend anyone could ask for.

As my sobs and tears subside, reality begins to slip back in.

The scent of his cologne and the hardness of his chest that I’m pressed against make itself known, distracting me from the grief for a few blissful seconds.

“Kieran?” I whisper before pulling my tear-stained face from his chest and looking up at him.

My vision is blurry, but it doesn’t matter. He’s still as devastatingly beautiful as ever.

He stares down at me with his dark eyes. His tongue sneaks out and runs along his full bottom lip, and my stomach tumbles.

This morning comes flooding back, and I can’t deny that there was a moment when I first woke up where I wanted more.

I wanted him to turn around, take me in his arms, and kiss me.

Make everything else in my life disappear. Just for a few moments.

My heart slams against my ribs as time seems to cease.

Without any thought, I stretch up a little, attempting to lose the space between us.

I swear, I’m not the only one who moves. I’m sure he lowers toward me.

Kiss me.

Please.

I close my eyes, waiting for that moment when our lips touch.

But it never comes.

20

KIERAN

Effie slams the car door and marches toward the house before I even have time to kill the engine.

“Fucking hell,” I groan, tipping my head back and slumping lower in my seat.

Today has been…a clusterfuck of emotions.

I’ve gone from horny, to embarrassed, to angry, to sad, and back to horny again.

Reaching down, I tug at my slacks, giving myself a little extra space.

I’ve been hard since she looked up at me with wide eyes full of longing.

My blood rushes past my ears just thinking about us standing in the middle of the church hall thirty minutes ago.

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