Page 49 of His Long-Lost Baby
We walk in silence for a few moments, the waves crashing against the shore. Then Billie speaks up again. “Can I ask you something personal?”
“Sure.”
“What’s the biggest regret you have?”
The question catches me off guard. I’ve never really thought about it before, at least not in those terms. But as I consider her question, a huge wave crashes into us.
Billie shrieks, and we both get soaked head to toe.
Laughing, I shake my head, water droplets flying everywhere. “Well, that’s one way to interrupt a serious conversation.”
Billie joins in, her laughter matching mine. “I guess so.”
“You’re wet all over,” I laugh.
“You are too.” She points at me.
For a few seconds, we just grin at each other. A softness enters her eyes, and her smile slips away.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“For what?” My heart is beating so hard, I worry that she can hear it.
“For talking to me. I really liked this.”
I swallow hard. “Me, too.”
“You didn’t have to share all of that, but you did, and… well, thank you.” Tears fill her eyes.
My chest tightens at seeing her on the verge of crying. “Hey, don’t feel sorry for me.”
She sighs. “I’m not. I just…” She wipes away a rogue tear. “Thank you.”
Before I can even process what she’s doing, she’s stepped forward and entered my space. Her arms go around me, and she tilts her face to mine.
And the whole world turns upside down.
Before I can stop myself, I press my lips to hers.
CHAPTER16
BILLIE
This was not the plan.
I meant to hug James, but he must have misread my intentions. And then, suddenly, his lips were on mine and it was like tasting heaven.
And now here we are, bursting through the door of our hotel room, kissing like our lives depend on it.
My hands roam over his chest, feeling the hard planes of his muscles beneath his shirt. I can’t get enough of him, can’t get close enough to him. I want to crawl inside him, to be as close as two people can possibly be.
James breaks the kiss, gasping for breath. We stare at each other, our chests heaving.
“Billie,” he says, his voice rough with emotion. “Are you sure about this? I don’t want to pressure you into anything.”
I nod, my heart pounding in my chest. “I’m sure. I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”
And then we’re kissing again, our hands pulling at each other’s clothes, desperate for more. We fall onto the bed, our bodies tangled together. James’s hands move over my skin, igniting every nerve ending.