Page 34 of The Castle in the Bay

‘But actually, maybe you should.’

‘What?’ He drew back a little and pulled a face.

‘For practise – in adventure and romance. We could look at it as an extension of the bodyboard lesson.’

‘What? Are you mad?’

She shook her head. ‘A bit. But just trying to help.’

‘I don’t see how that could possibly help me. Sophie dumped me because she thinks I’m boring. What if everything I do is boring…? I’m not risking some random kiss as practise, not if there’s even half a chance you’ll go back and tell the world what a crap kisser that Monty is.’

‘This isn’t school. I wouldn’t do that. If you’re worried about being a crap kisser, then you should definitely kiss me, and I’ll tell you what I think.’

‘You really are crazy.’ He picked up a piece of driftwood and tossed it across the sand.

‘Yeah. I know. Sorry. I don’t know what came over me.’Fucking lust. How cringe could she get. She’d never had to work so hard for a kiss before and this with a guy she didn’t even fancy.

Didshe fancy him?

No. She mustn’t.

‘What if Iamreally bad?’ He swallowed. ‘Just say I agreed, and we did… If you say it’s boring, then what the hell will I do?’

‘Practise?’

‘Are you serious?’

‘It’s the only way to get better at anything.’

They looked at each other for what seemed like a very long time and she was caught in his gaze, unable to look away, even though it was burning into her.

‘Well… ok, then. Let’s do it.’

Now her heart was pounding a little faster than she expected. This was what she craved in some ways, but a bundle of nerves she wasn’t used to were tingling around her tummy. She leaned in. Monty hesitated, then closed the gap between them. His lips pressed against her in a tentative, thoughtful kiss. His touch was gentle, almost too gentle, like he was afraid of breaking her. Her nerve ends sprang to life. This was a teaser. Nice, but not enough.

Monty pulled back before it had barely started, his eyes searching hers. ‘Well, was it boring?’

‘No.’ Iona shook her head. ‘But I can tell you’re holding back.’

‘Of course I’m holding back. I hardly know you.’

‘Then pretend that you do. Pretend I’m Sophie…’

He shook his head. ‘But you’re nothing like her.’

‘Use your imagination. Or close your eyes.’

‘I’m not sure that’ll work.’

‘It will… You’ll see. Be intuitive. Like you were with the waves.’

He tilted his head, his eyelids falling and Iona leaned in to meet him. When their lips met, the pressure was firmer. His hands found her waist, pulling her closer. She responded, slipping her hand around his jaw. Sparks ignited inside her and she opened her mouth, eager for more. Their tongues touched and they both let out a moan and at the same time. Monty moved like he was about to pull back, but Iona clutched his cheek, holding him close, deepening the kiss. When he returned it, Iona smiled into it, which only heightened the pleasure in her nerve ends. The raw impulses inside her were shouting; she wanted to be touched.

But Monty wasn’t kissing her. He was kissing an imaginary Sophie. This was how much he wanted her back.

When they finally broke apart, Iona was breathless, her cheeks were too warm and her breasts felt heavy, almost painful.

Monty eyed her, his brow a little furrowed. ‘How was that?’ His voice was hoarse.

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