Page 95 of Begin Again Again

“I’m not running myself down! I know I’m cute—”

Byron laughed.

“—but this isn’t about me! I’m stating facts. You’re stunning and that’s intimidating.”

He considered this, then opened his arms. “Come here.”

Beth hesitated, then moved into him. He hugged her close and she released a breath she hadn’t known she was holding.

“That’s better,” he said. “Nothing like a cuddle.”

Beth didn’t reply. Being held by him felt better than she could say.

“Beth.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve told you stuff no one knows. About how I’m… you know…”

She assumed he meant that he hadn’t fucked anyone since his break up and nodded, not wanting to ask.

“I never planned on…” He cleared his throat. “I told you because you made it easy. And because I like you.”

“Sorry.”

He huffed out a laugh. “You can’t help yourself, can you?”

She smiled. “Not really.”

“Fine, Horoscopes, make jokes, but you are beautiful and I’m gonna tell you so.”

Because you want to fuck me.

The ugly thought punched through her defences. She must have shuddered or something because Byron slid a forefinger under her chin, lifting her face to his. “You are beautiful.”

“And you’re a mind reader, apparently.”

“You’re the one who said you had the worst poker face in the world.”

“So, you’re a mind reader who likes easy pickings?”

He rolled his eyes. “You really are a nightmare.”

“I’m beautiful though, so that’s good.”

They smiled at each other and whatever else they were, Beth understood they’d somehow become friends.

Then Byron’s gaze dropped to her chest. “How are you feeling?”

Beth’s face heated. The water had felt like clothes, but now she was aware of every inch of her near-naked body. “Good, how are you?”

Byron’s hands slid down her shoulders, raising goosebumps she couldn’t blame on the water. He rubbed her softly and Beth wanted to claw at him. Rushing would have felt better—kissing, tumbling together. It would have broken his gaze and given her less space to think and feel. But she waited because there was something in Byron’s eyes that made her want to wait. To hold space with him even as it stung. He steered her back toward the shallows and she moved her feet in time with his. If you were watching from the rocky cliff, it might have looked like they were slow dancing. When they were half out of the water, thighs exposed to the cool air, Byron smiled. “That’s better.”

Beth didn’t know what the hell he meant but she didn’t mind. She thought again of loving the ocean. Accepting that it did things because it did them. She turned her face up, closed her eyes and waited. Byron let her wait, but only for a second. His lips touched hers and Beth melted into his kiss. He stroked up her waist, along her rib cage and down again. The size of his hands and the lightness of his touch made her feel precious. Delicate.

“Beth?”

“Yes?”

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