Page 218 of The Grand Duel
I snigger, and she wraps her arms around my back, smiling into my chest.
God, this feels too good.
“Mason said something to me when we first came to look around. He said that the house would be perfect for you because it needs love. That it’s what you’re good at.” She looks up at the beams, the lights hanging from the vaulted ceiling. “I’m so gladyou let yourself have this, Charlie. You deserve it, and in time, the love it’s going to give back to you.”
I roll my lips, wetting them in the hope the distraction will slow my heart as it thumps in my chest.
I want to kiss her.
I want to love her and for her to love me back.
“You know, the world would be a devastating place without you in it, Lis.” I push a lock of her hair back off her face, tucking it behind her ear. “What you said in Italy that night, about your mum and dad having you when they shouldn’t have.” I shake my head slightly, my frown low. “I want you to know that, fine, maybe the world wouldn’t know any better to the loss, but I would. My life would be nothing had Lissie Elton not walked into it.” I swallow, searching her eyes as my gut twists. “And I want you to be mine. I want you to make this place a home with me. I know we’ve not figured this thing out between us, but it’s not taking much effort. I’m falling for you, and it’s like nothing I expected. I can’t explain it other than to call it easy—which is ridiculous, I know, but I thought it would be impossible, and it’s not. Not at all. Not with you.” I swipe the tear that falls from her eye with my thumb. “Will you be my girlfriend, Lissie?”
Her eyes widen, and then she nods, as if not being able to speak.
Fuck.
I smile, my face splitting in two. “Don’t go quiet on me now, baby.”
“You shocked me.”
“This wasn’t planned.” I run my hands over her waist and down to her hips. “But I can’t go another day not having you know how I feel.”
She stares up at me, happiness shining in her eyes. “Can I kiss you? I really want to kiss you right now.”
I shake my head. “My girl doesn’t ask to kiss me. If she wants me, I’m hers. And if I want her…” I lift my hand and run my thumb over her jaw, tilting her head as I bury my hand in her hair. “Then she’s mine.”
Lissie doesn’t lean in or move as I lower my head and tentatively take her mouth with my own.
I frown as our lips meet, hers softer than I ever imagined they’d feel, and instantly, I need more of them. Of her. I deepen the kiss, groaning into her mouth as she kisses me back, her hands running up my chest and into my hair. When her lips part, I dip inside, brushing my tongue along hers. My legs sway, the beat of my heart probably not all that right.
But this is right.
Me and her.
This.
I’d like to think I’m a gentleman, but as Lissie pulls back, I chase her, her lips curling against my mouth when I demand more.
She places short, quick kisses to my lips, and I let her. God, I let her. There’s an ache that starts at the centre of my chest and ends at my fingertips, and it belongs to her. It’s there because of her.
“I—” Kiss. “Don’t know—” Kiss. “Why—” Kiss. “I waited so long to?—”
She chuckles as I trail off and swipe my tongue through her mouth again, loving how it feels. How she feels. Wet and warm. Soft and sweet. Perfect. “You’re perfect.”
I lift her, her legs wrapping around my waist as I place her between the sinks. We don’t break the kiss for even a second, and we stay like that for a long time, until I’m breathless and lost and painfully hard.
My eyes search hers then drop to her swollen lips.
I’m so fucking lost to this woman.
Not being able to resist, I kiss her again, long and hard, our lips dragging away as I nudge her nose with mine, our brows meeting.
“Wasn’t so bad,” she rasps. “Was it?”
“It’s catastrophic, Lissie girl.”
She frowns up at me. “Why?”