That One Moment (Lost in London #2)(91)

“Look at me.” Hayden yanks my shoulder back so I’m lying on my back and he’s holding himself over me. All good humour completely evaporates from his face. “I can’t tell if you’re joking.”

My eyes twinkle with mirth. “It’s a bucket list thing I’ve always wanted to try.”

“You’re out of your mind, Vi, if you think I’m going to allow my girlfriend to traipse around a beach bloody naked for all of France to ogle. Christ, I’m actually getting f*cking pissed off just thinking about it.” He runs a hand through his hair as my heart does little summersaults over his girlfriend title for me.

It never gets old.

I reach up and clasp his face in my hands. “Maybe we can work out an alternative.”

“What is that?” he groans, his grey eyes watching me in agony. “I swear you just like to torture me.”

I lift my brows archly. “Rooftop sex is also a bucket list item for me.”

His eyes instantly heat with desire. The possessive side of him has to look around first, clearly noting that we’re the tallest building for miles and there’s no way anyone can see us from here.

“Or we could always go back to the cinema.” He shoots me a salacious grin. “I know my Bunny loves the movies.”

His head drops down to my neck and he places kisses down every square inch, all the way to the tops of my breasts. He bites down on my tank top strap and pulls it down my shoulder. His breath stutters with excitement when he sees I’ve ditched my bra for the night. “Fuck…Kissing you will never get old.”

“You know what never gets old for me?” I ask and my breath catches just as he cups the weight of my breast in his warm, rough hand.

“Hmm?” he asks as his lips continue their assault along my collarbone.

“Hearing you call me your girlfriend.”

“Mmm, you like that do you?” he asks, thumbing my hardened nipple. “I’ve got one better for you.”

“What’s that?” I suck in a quick breath and let out a sudden moan as his lips wrap around my nipple and he bites down softly.

“Future wife.” His head pops up to watch my reaction.

My hooded eyes turn wide. My expression drops in shock. “I…I,” I stammer.

“I’m not asking yet, Bunny. Believe me, when I ask, you’ll know. But I want you to know that’s where I see this going with you and me. I told you I wasn’t going to waste any more moments with you, so that’s why I’m telling you now.” His face is deathly serious. His grey eyes warm pools of open sincerity.

“Okay then,” I croak in a lame reply.

The corner of his mouth tilts up proudly. “So eloquent with words.” His wicked laughter vibrates against my chest as he touches his lips to mine in a sweet, final gesture.

I wrap my legs around him and inspiration strikes. I blurt against his mouth, “Maybe you should move in here?” He pulls back and looks down at me with a distinct twinkle to his eyes. “Bruce and I have discussed it already and we both think it’s a good idea. I’ll have to warn you about Bruce Hugs, though. They can be rather intense. But it’d be nice to have you around to fix things, take him for a walkies, water the plants.”

“Water the plants?” he asks, pursing his lips to conceal a laugh.

“Yes. I think you’d do a proper job,” I state with a deadpan expression. “Vincent is such a flirt, ya know.”

“Vincent is a flirt,” he grumbles. “I think I can water your plants. And I can take care of your dog. And I can take care of these precious assets,” he purrs, reaching down and squeezing my bum. “It’s time for more.”

I reach up and touch the crinkles around his eyes affectionately all the while knowing that 11:11 has come and gone and he’s stayed right here with me…in the moment…in the present…talking about our future.

“That’s the exactly what I had in mind.”





THE RIPPLE EFFECT



Standing outside of BOLT FROM THE BLUE CAKES and looking at Vi’s excited eyes as she awaits our mystery cake box delivery is an experience in and of itself. I don’t think I ever fully realised how much she loved this place the first time she brought me here. Her blue eyes are bright and twinkling. Her feet won’t stop shifting in anticipation. And she keeps beaming back at me like this is the best day of her life.

I grin.

Bunny has no clue what’s coming.

That’s my new favourite thing about her.

Life with Vi isn’t perfect. Far from it. But with her beside me, I don’t feel broken. I feel whole. I feel loved and I feel f*cking fantastic because she makes me strong enough to know I can feel. Being angry or sad or upset doesn’t feel like the end when you have that one person in your life who wants to love you through it. No questions asked. She f*cking loves me. Any ripple in our relationship is a wave we ride together. Our ripples make us…us. Loving her doesn’t make me weak. In fact, I’ve never felt stronger than when I hold her in my arms.

Vi Harris makes me desperate to continue moving forward. She stirs the ripples.

And now it’s time to make a f*cking splash.

The man behind the window returns with a very different type of box from the normal cardboard ones the mystery cupcakes usually come in. I imagine Vi is frowning in confusion, but I can’t see her expression…