His Reverie (Reverie #1)(42)

Ah hell. How do I respond to that? Don’t waste your time, we probably won’t last long anyway?

Yeah. That sucks. I can’t say that to her.

“And one of them is coming true tonight. Right now.” She leans in closer to me and rests her head on my shoulder. “This is the best birthday present I’ve ever received.”

I make a noise, dismissing her remark. “Give me a break.”

She lifts her head to glare at me. “I’m serious, Nicholas Fairfield. You created this romantic setting tonight just for me. No one’s ever done anything like this for me before. Ever.”

I dip my head and kiss her before I ruin the moment and say something stupid. Cupping her face, I run my thumb along the smooth curve of her cheek and drink from her lips, tasting the wine there, and the underlying sweetness that’s Reverie. She opens easily for me and I slide my tongue inside, circling it around hers. She scoots closer, her hand going to the back of my head, fingers plunging in my hair as she holds me to her and we kiss like that for long, tongue-filled minutes.

Until I finally break away from her first, pressing my forehead against hers. “Want more wine?” I ask, needing the break from her addicting lips.

She laughs, the soft huff of her breath brushing against my chin. “Okay.”

I reluctantly pull away from her and top off her glass, then fill mine. I sneak glances at her as she drinks, the way she’s curled up on the blanket, her legs tucked under her, her knees peeking out from beneath the hem of her skirt. Her bare shoulders gleam under the moonlight, making me want to lean in and kiss her there but I restrain myself.

For now.

“Look at the stars,” she says, her voice soft, her head tilted back.

I glance up at the sky. “All I can see is the moon.”

“And a few stars, right?” She leans into me again, rubbing her cheek against my shoulder. “Let’s lay down on the blanket and check them out.”

I grab the pillows and arrange them so we can get more comfortable. We stretch out next to each other and I grab her hand, intertwining our fingers. Her shoulder brushes against mine as we both lay there quietly, staring up at the sky. The moon is bright, casting its silvery glow over everything, including the pine trees that surround us. The night is so silent, I can almost hear the ocean in the far distance.

“This is the best night ever,” she says on a sigh, her fingers curling tight around mine.

“Come here,” I tell her, releasing my hold on her hand and lifting my arm. She scoots even closer to me, laying her head on my shoulder and using me as her pillow as I slip my arm around her shoulders. She feels good nestled up close and I stroke her shoulder and arm with my fingertips, making her shiver.

“Keep doing that,” she whispers, turning her face into the crook of my neck. Her lips move against my skin and I close my eyes, savoring the sensation. “You smell good. Fresh and clean.”

“Irish Spring working its magic,” I joke and she laughs, the sound and movement tickling, making me squirm.

She hums against my neck then kisses me there. One little peck after another, until I’m pulling her closer with a growl and slipping my fingers under her chin to lift her mouth to mine. She tilts her head back, her lips part for me and I dart my tongue out, teasing as I lick at her, then suck her lower lip between mine.

I could do this all night. Stare at her pretty face. Touch her. Hold her close. Kiss her until our lips are raw. I pull away from her a little bit so I can study her. The delicate arch of her brows. The kissable tip of her nose. Her swollen lips, her slightly pointed chin…

Slowly her eyes open to find me staring at her. Her brows wrinkle. “What?”

“You’re beautiful,” I whisper as I carefully roll her onto her back so I’m hovering above her. “I feel like it’s my birthday too and you’re my present.”

A smile spreads across her face and her eyes go soft and hazy. “Kiss me, Nicholas,” she murmurs.

So I do.

24

Dear Diary,

(July 18th, 1:12 a.m.) This was the best birthday of my life. I’m in love. Totally and completely in love with Nicholas Fairfield. I know it must be love because no one makes me feel like he does. He looks at me and my stomach flutters. He touches me and my skin burns. And when he kisses me…

I want to melt.

I think all the splashing around with Glenn in the pool earlier this afternoon upset Nick because I caught him staring at me and he looked so angry. But not at me. More like at Glenn. I know he hated how Glenn tossed me around, his hands all over me. Nick’s glare and hard jaw said it all.

And I liked it. I know it’s wrong of me to admit and I’ll probably need to say extra prayers asking for forgiveness before I fall asleep tonight but if it worked and got Nick’s attention, did I really do something wrong?

Probably. But I don’t regret it.

I lucked out and ran into Nick as I was going to the rose garden where Mama and Daddy were holding my birthday dinner. He looked at me, in my new dress with the makeup on and my hair up, like he wanted to eat me up, and that made me feel strong. I’d been so bold with him. I even kissed him and asked him to meet me in the woods. When he promised he would, I felt triumphant but also scared. What if he didn’t show? I would be devastated.

The entire dinner, all I could think about was him. I was so distracted, everyone noticed though no one really said anything to me but Daddy. I reassured him I was fine, just tired and I had a minor headache from the too-chocolatey birthday cake and he seemed to accept that answer.