That One Moment (Lost in London #2)(23)
“Is that all—” she starts, but I crush my mouth to hers before she can finish her smartarse remark.
Swallowing the sweet taste of her sugary lips sends shivers up the back of my neck. I plunge my tongue in, desperate for a more satisfying sample. Her tongue responds to my request, pulsing and kneading in a perfect rhythm of ecstasy.
Fuck, she tastes as good as she smells. If that cupcake earlier is the afterlife, then Vi’s lips are eternity. Her grip tightens on the belt of my trousers and she pulls my hips flush against hers. If she didn’t know how much this kiss was affecting me, she sure does now. I press her up against the wall with my groin and she actually moans into my mouth.
Blast it all.
Her hands roam up my sides to my shoulders. Then they slide down to my triceps, to my forearms…to…
I pull back, jerking my cuff-covered wrists from her grasp. She’s panting heavily against the wall. Her mouth looks raw and swollen. Her hair is mussed and wild, doing nothing to tamper my needful desire for her.
In short, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve seen in my entire life.
I bend over and pick my jacket up off the ground, covering the evidence of our encounter. “Thank you,” I say and turn on my heel, striding down the dark alley and cursing myself a thousand times over for every moment that lead up to that one.
WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER
“I’m not kidding, Bruce…You should have seen his face. He looked like I slapped him. I have no bloody clue what I did wrong, or what he was thinking in that moment. Maybe I’m a crap kisser?” I groan and cover my face with my thin afghan as I stretch my legs out to prop on the top rail of my balcony.
After a fitful night’s sleep and thinking of Hayden Clarke the entire time, it’s a new day at last. Bruce and I have been out for our morning stroll, stopped over to the dog shop for a new chew, and now we’re lounging on the balcony, soaking up some rare London sunlight. Anything I could think of to keep myself busy. Brick Lane Market is noisy and bustling with Saturday morning shoppers, street vendors, and traffic. It was a good distraction while it lasted.
Bruce pauses on his new chew and licks his lips, looking at me curiously. “Do you think I’m a crap kisser, Bruce?” I drop down off my patio lounger and grab his wet muzzle to kiss him right on his nose.
He takes this as an invitation to “Bruce Hug” me. Bruce Hugs consist of him walking into me until I’m forced to lie down. Then he flops his entire body on top of me. He’s heavy as hell and he’ll Bruce Hug me for ages if I let him. I think lying on top of me gives him a sense of security by enabling him to keep me right where he can see me.
“All right, Bruce, off you go. I’ve got to get a move on. Leslie is expecting me.” He sneezes in protest.
A bit later, I’m stepping out of my flat, freshly showered, and wearing a pair of denim skinny shorts, brown braided leather flats, and a jeweled print crop top. It’s a beautiful day outside and Leslie’s flat is only a ten minute walk, so I’m able to enjoy my stroll through our neighbourhood. My father wanted me to have a vehicle, but with a Tube stop just around the corner, I talked him out of it. It really doesn’t make sense when there’s only street parking here and my office is so close.
I arrive at the large warehouse that houses Theo’s custom furniture on the lower level and his and Leslie’s flat up above. There are large windows looking into his workshop, and I press my face against the glass to get a good look. It’s filled with various elements of his process and some partially completed projects. Around the corner is a window that looks into a small showroom with an attached office. Leslie has said it’s an appointment only type of studio and I immediately see why. From everything I can see, his work is exquisite. He has somehow captured the beauty of a rustic country style with a fresh and modern design. I imagine his work is coveted and high-priced.
I enter the side door by the garage that Leslie told me would be open. I’m greeted by steps to the left and the shop entrance straight ahead. She said the steps would lead right up to their flat door, so I reach the top and knock, shifting my gift bag in my hand as I wait.
When the door opens, my face is eye level with the most adorable red-haired baby I’ve ever seen. I presume the masculine blond-dusted forearms wrapped around her are Theo’s until I catch sight of familiar brown leather cuffs. I’m stunned when my gaze lifts to find Hayden’s grey eyes peering down on me.
“Hayden!” I exclaim in surprise.
“Vi…What are you doing here?” His face appears just as confused as mine.
I look around for a moment, like I’m in the wrong place. “I’m here to meet Marisa.”
“I didn’t know you were coming around. You never mentioned.”
“I didn’t know you were visiting as well,” I state, grabbing my hair, twisting it around my hand, and releasing it nervously.
He adjusts Marisa, who’s facing out in his arms, and she makes an adorable growly sound. She grabs hold of Hayden’s leather wrist cuff with her chubby digits and tries awkwardly to get it to her mouth. “I’m not visiting. I live here.”
This shocks me. “Since when? I thought this was Leslie and Theo’s flat.”
“It is. I erm…live with them.” He looks rather embarrassed.