Page 49 of All The Happily Ever Afters

“It’s been a while since they’ve been up and running and on this water,” he says and runs his hand over the hair at the back of his head, looking over to the boats and then back to the cabin. “I’m sorry, Lila,” he says with sympathy, climbing off the boat and onto the dock.

Fuck.

My thoughts immediately stray to Alec.

It doesn’t matter that I want him. Or that he wants me, too.

That can’t be enough, but as I question myself, I can’t think of a damn thing else that matters.

Maybe it’s fate, a little voice whispers in the back of my head, so full of hope.

“How long do you think?” I ask Drew as he takes off his gloves and taps them against his palm.

“No longer than a night I’d think,” he answers and then waits for my response.

Just one more night. I tell myself it’ll only be one more night, but I already know I’m lying to myself. I was able to walk away once. I don’t know if I’ll be able to again.

I clear my throat and look over my shoulder, but before I can ask Drew, he answers the unasked question.

“You need a ride?”

Knock.Knock. Knock.

The bitter cold makes my knuckles hurt as I look between Drew, sitting in his car with the engine still purring in front of the Kulls’ estate, and the closed door. My nerves are getting the best of me, and anxiety is racing through my blood.

“Don’t turn me away,” I whisper to the door and raise my fist again to knock harder, just as it swings open. Warmth flowsfrom inside the house, and it makes the outdoors feel that much colder. My arm slowly falls to my side as Alec stands in the doorway, wearing nothing but a pair of slacks on that are hung low on his waist. His broad shoulders fill the span of the door as he takes a step closer to me.

“Alec,” I speak his name just above a murmur. His pale blue eyes peer into mine, filled with questions and then the sound of Drew driving away takes his eyes from mine. It’s only then that I feel I can breathe.

Shit, I think as I turn around and watch Drew pull away... with my suitcase in his car. He’ll be back in a few hours either way, at least that’s what he told me. But he could’ve waited, damn it. I swallow thickly, knowing I have nowhere to go. I’m stuck here and if Alec turns me away, I’ll be all alone. I’ll be leaving this beautiful place exactly how I came here. Alone.

“Lila, I thought you were leaving?” he asks and then a chill sweeps through me. Before I can answer he moves aside and pulls me into the house, wrapping his arm around my waist as if his hands belong on me.

He releases me long enough to shut the door, and I instantly miss his touch. I stare at his muscular back as he closes and locks the door, the click filling the silence. He turns slowly, spearing his fingers through his hair. “I thought you would have been gone already.”

I clear my throat and answer. “I was supposed to,” I confess. “But the boat is…” I falter over my words. “It’s not working,” I spit out.

“Oh,” Alec’s gaze falls to the floor for a moment, and his forehead creases. “So, you’re only here for… how long?” His voice is filled with disappointment and it cuts me deep, making my heart pain.

“A few hours, maybe another day,” I tell him. Why does it hurt so much to tell him that? It’s only been days. It shouldn’t be this painful.

He nods his head and looks down the hall before forcing a smile to his face. “Well, let me feed you at least.”

“I’m sorry, Alec,” I whisper as he reaches for my coat and helps me slip it off.

He doesn’t respond, merely hanging my coat up before turning back to face me. “Lila,” he says and then licks his lips. “You know I don’t want you to go.”

I nod my head, my fingers intertwining with one another but they stop as he takes a step closer to me, filling the space between us. The heat from his body warms mine and draws me closer to him.

“I want you,” he whispers, his lips trailing along the shell of my ear as he moves his body in front of mine, his fingers caressing down to the curve of my waist. And like a moth to a flame, my hands rest against his chest and I lean into his touch, wanting more of him.

He kisses my neck, an open-mouth kiss that makes my head lean to the right so I can expose more of myself to him.

“There’s something real here,” he says as he grips my ass and pulls me closer to him. The sudden movement makes me gasp.

“I don’t think I can promise I’ll take it slow, but I can promise to try,” he says, staring into my eyes. The way he looks at me has me mesmerized. Trapped, even.

“If you just stay, I’ll do whatever I can to keep you.” He tells me words that make me want so much more. Words I’ve only dreamed a man like him would say to me.

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