Page 54 of Take My Breath Away
“Shall we get sorted out and then head off to lunch somewhere?” Perry’s face is bright pink, and he’s looking everywhere but at me. His nervousness settles mine.
“Are you sure, after all those biscuits you’ve just pigged out on?”
I smile and quirk my brow, wanting to put him at his ease.
“They were my starter, and anyway, you made us leave before breakfast.” He pouts but it doesn’t stop the smile twitching the corners of this lips.
The little moment of awkwardness is gone, but with the two of us in such close quarters, I can’t be certain it’ll be the last.
Chapter Twenty-Three
PERRY
“The views are amazing.” James stands on the crown of the hill we’ve just climbed up. Or, maybe I should say the hill he all but sprinted up as I staggered and huffed and puffed behind him.
Our long and leisurely pub lunch ended up turning into a quick sandwich because the bright sunshine and the buffeting wind were irresistible and we were both eager to get out and make the most of them.
James plants his fists on his hips. Looking out over the majestic scenery, he’s like a king surveying his kingdom. He’s as fresh as a daisy but all I’m interested in is laying on my back to stare up at the sky whilst I try to recover.
As James breathes in the natural beauty, I surreptitiously remove the chocolate bar I’ve hidden away in the deep pocket of my fleece jacket. He won’t hear the crinkle of the wrapper over the wind, and I might be able to eat it all before he’s had his fill of natural beauty. Maybe it’s a mean thought, but it’s chocolate so I don’t care.
I push myself to sitting and join James in looking out over the landscape. He’s right, it is amazing, but it’s not the only thing that is.
With his back to me, I suck on the chocolate so that it melts in my mouth. I know it’s a disgusting habit, but I still do it anyway, as I ogle James. I can’t help it. In his lycra running gear, clinging to every hard muscle, he’s even more mouthwatering than the chocolate melting on my tongue.
In a smooth move he slings his arms upwards and reaches high into the sky, but it’s the bend that follows, his arse sticking out and canting upwards as he stretches first one leg out in front of him, bending with smooth ease towards his foot, then swapping to the other. There’s a strangled whine I could try and tell myself is coming from a nearby upland animal, but I know it’s really from me. Strong but lithe, his muscles hard and defined but not bulky. He’s fit, in all senses of the word.
Fit, fabulous, and fuckable.
No—ooo… I can’t think like that, or there’s no way I’m going to get through the weekend without my strength being sapped as all my blood heads straight for my groin, and stubbornly refuses to go elsewhere. As quick as I can, I adjust the growing bulge under my tracksuit bottoms, pulling my hand free just in time as he turns around, the smile on his face broadening when he spots the chocolate bar I’m gripping onto for dear life.
“Tasty?” he says, peeling off his light runner’s jacket and dropping it to the ground.
“Ehhggg?” It’s all I’m capable of saying. I’ve long since stopped chewing — or sucking — on it, and it’s kind of broken in two under the pressure of my death grip. “Yes,” I rasp.
“Good, because it’s time to share.”
He flops down next to me and without a word plucks the chocolate from my hand and chomps down hard on it before giving me back what’s left with a broad wink.
Settling onto his back, James stretches his arms up above his head, holds the pose rigid for a few seconds before he relaxes and releases his muscles on a long, deep sigh.
“I’d forgotten what it sounded like. The countryside, I mean. Up here, you can’t hear anything other than the wind and the call of the odd bird. I’m loath to admit it, but it’s wonderful.”
He’s staring up into the bright blue sky, and I think he’s more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him. Warmth spreads through me, and my heart leaps because he’s feeling this here, with me. This is a time and a memory that will always be ours, shared with nobody else. He must feel me looking at him because he turns his head and his deep green eyes lock onto mine.
“Wonderful. So, so wonderful.”
I can’t say a word, I can’t move. I can do nothing but stare into his glittering, bewitching eyes. He pushes himself up and edges in closer, placing his palms on my cheeks. Holding me with a gentle steadiness, his gaze roams over my face, drinking me in as though he’s seeing me for the first time.
I should ease his hands away. I should move back. I should shake my head, and say no. James is dangerous because if he takes a kiss, he’ll take my heart.
I should ease his hands away, I should move back, I should…
He tilts his head, eyes never leaving my face. They’re intent and serious, taking me in as though he’s committing me to memory.
“I want to kiss you. I’ve wanted to kiss you from the first time I set eyes on you,” he murmurs, his voice low and gravelly, his eyes still searching my face. “Will you let me? Will you let me kiss you, Perry Buckland?”
He must see the answer in my eyes, as his lips lift into a gentle smile. All thoughts of easing his hands away and moving back scatter to the wind. My eyes drop to a close as my mouth softens and parts, my heart leaping and tumbling as his lips brush mine.
