Page 94 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘First, let me give you a way to contact us,’ says Willem sensibly. They tap phones and twin chimes confirm the exchange.

‘Kate,’ says Lucia, turning to me, ‘this might seem a bit bonkers, but I really want to hug you.’

Itisbonkers, but like with Adriana, I feel a sense of solidarity with Lucia. I break into smile, then reach for her and we hug. She promises to keep us informed and Willem and I say our goodbyes.

Outside, we set off into the cool evening without a clear destination in mind. Soon after, we end up by the river and by an unspoken agreement, we stop to take in the view. I rest my elbows on the stone wall and gaze towards Ponte Pietra. It’s even more beautiful at night, its arches with their hodgepodge of stonework illuminated by the lights of Verona.

Across the way, Castel San Pietro sits proudly, silhouetted by the late-dusk sky, a dozen or so Cyprus trees standing sentry. Below, halfway down the hillside, the Roman theatre is bathed in purple light and strains of music float across the fast-flowing river.

‘It’s so beautiful here,’ I say with a sigh.

I sense Willem moving closer, the warmth radiating from his large frame cutting through the evening chill, and I couldn’t be more shocked when his hand rests on the small of my back and he leans in. ‘Youare beautiful, Kate.’

Lips parted in surprise, my head whips in his direction. Our eyes lock and he steps back slightly, his hand falling away. He suddenly seems unsure, as if he might have misread my feelings.

But he hasn’t.

I turn to face him and before he can second-guess himself further – and before I can talk myself out of it – I raise onto my tiptoes, close my eyes, and press my mouth to his.

His hands land lightly on my waist, then meet on my lower back, pulling me close. I slide my hands up his muscular chest, then around his neck, where they clasp. Our bodies melt into each other as his mouth moves hungrily against mine, our shallow breaths mingling as I sink into the kiss, tasting him, breathing him in.

One of his strong hands finds the nape of my neck, and his thumb gently caresses my jawline. The kiss intensifies, igniting every nerve ending and sending tingles down my spine to my toes. Warmth floods my body, igniting my insides.

How many times have I thought about kissing him, encircled in his arms, my body pressed to his? Countless times. And this kiss is everything I’ve imagined, only a thousand times more mind-blowing.

I couldn’t say how long we kiss for – it feels like secondsandyears – but eventually, we ease apart and open our eyes. I drop back onto my heels, keeping my hands clasped behind his neck.

‘That was…’ I say, breathless.

‘Yes,’ he says with a nod, then he breaks into a grin, which I return.

We stare at each other for a long time, and I wonder if this is as much of a pinch-me moment for Willem as it is for me. I’ve never been kissed like that, not once in my entire life.

‘So…’ he says after some time.

‘So…’ I parrot with a tilt of my head.

He looks away as if he’s trying to work up the courage to say something, then it dawns on me what it might be.

‘Are you thinking about our hotel-room issue?’ I ask, and his eyes land back on mine.

His lips disappear between his teeth for a few seconds, then he releases them, his eyes narrowing. ‘Yes. How would you feel about shar?—’

‘I’d feel brilliant,’ I say, interrupting him.

Wowser, I like this Kate. Wanting a man as much as I want Willem must have unlocked something inside me that I never knew was there – a bold, sexy, confident goddess of a woman who is undoubtably about to have the best sex of her life.

Willem’s brows lift, then he breaks into another smile. ‘But we should have dinner first, don’t you think? There are lots of choices around here,’ he adds.

‘Willem, that’s what room service is for.’

I reach for his hand, lacing my fingers with his, then lead him in the direction of the hotel.

Forget about like – Ilovethis Kate.

* * *

When I wake, I’m instantly aware of Willem in the bed next to me, even though it’s a super king. I carefully roll onto my side, not wanting to disturb him. His back is to me, broad and muscular, and I long to reach out and run my fingertips along its ridges, but that might wake him.

---