Page 86 of Follow the Rhythm
“Yeah, so am I. So is everyone. Can’t we be messy together?”
Had there ever been a more tempting offer?
Before I could respond, Charlie leaned forward and kissed me softly, so different from the last time.
Then, it had been furious and frustrated. Now, he was sweeter than ever.
I sighed in surrender, then slid my hands up his arms, over his shoulders, and into the thick hair at the nape of his neck, reveling in every glorious inch of warm skin. He pulled me closer, and it was heaven. I traced his lips with my tongue, and he opened for me, as receptive and enthusiastic as I remembered. But we took our time, savoring the kiss for what it was rather than as a means to something else.
We broke apart, panting, and Charlie pressed his forehead to mine. “I’ve wanted to do that all day.”
I brushed my thumb across his stubbled jaw, pleased when a little shiver ran through him. “Darling, I can’t wait to show you what I’ve been wanting to do.”
Charlie huffed a laugh. His eyes were like liquid gold, and I spent a moment just drinking him in. Part of me knew I didn’t deserve someone so openhearted, but I’d enjoy it while I could.
“Whatever you’re thinking about, stop,” Charlie said, giving me another swift kiss. “It’s too beautiful outside for brooding.”
I drew my finger around the shell of his ear and down the side of his neck, just for the pleasure of watching him react so sweetly to my touch. He captured my hand and placed a soft kiss on each fingertip. The danger of becoming dependent on his guileless responses impressed itself on me all over again.
I smiled ruefully. “Leaving aside your terrible taste in men, we do need to talk about something,” I said. “Jess.”
He stiffened. “What about her?”
“Do you love her?” I’d meant to be more tactful, and the question seemed to echo through the quiet of the clearing.
He leaned away from me, and I saw fear in his eyes. Silence fell between us, the only sound the rushing of the waterfall. For once, I was patient.
“I’m not sure. I think about her just as much as I think about you, so roughly every five minutes, and I’ve got this pain. Righthere.” He used a knuckle to rub a spot above his solar plexus. “But she’s made it clear she doesn’t feel the same.”
I was familiar with that Jess-sized hole in his chest. I’d had the same one for ten years, patched over with scar tissue, but there all the same and more obvious now than ever.
“I don’t want you to have any regrets. If there’s even a chance you could be happy with her, you’re ruining it with me,” I said bluntly.
My heart thrummed with tension. I waited for him to step back, to reconsider. It was the logical thing to do. Given the choice between a strong, beautiful Omega and a broken person with absolutely nothing to offer, I know which option I’d choose.
But he didn’t move away.
“I won’t regret you,” he said, and the expression in his eyes never changed as he kissed me again.
I just hoped I wouldn’t prove him wrong.
Charlie broke our kiss again. He walked backward toward the rocky pool, smiling mischievously at me. “You coming?” he asked before splashing in.
I sighed, tried not to think about leeches, and followed.
Chapter 26 - Kieran
Irelaxed into the rhythm of days with Claire and Deb. The weather was as perfect as it could be for a London summer. I ran every morning along the river, helped Claire in the garden, and went with them to the shops. It felt like I was recovering from an injury or illness with Michael’s mums as my caregivers. But I suspected they were getting as much comfort from having someone to dote on as I was from their calming presence.
Every night, someone in the neighborhood played classical music on the piano, usually sad songs that made my heart twist for Jess or Michael or my friendship with Ellis. It felt like the universe was composing a soundtrack for my current state of mind.
On my fourth day, I finally felt ready to visit Michael.
I went in the late afternoon. Deb and Claire had offered to come, but they weren’t offended when I said I wanted to go alone.
I made the short walk east to the cemetery, away from the river. The sunny weather held, and it felt almost perverse visiting a grave on such a lovely day. The cemetery itself waslush, dotted with Victorian-era buildings, and a war memorial dominated the far end.
Michael was buried in the shade of a tree overwhelmed by a huge climbing rose bush I recognized from Claire’s patient gardening lessons. Fat white blossoms covered the foliage. A warm breeze shook a few petals loose, and they tumbled gracefully to the grass on top of Michael’s grave.
