I lean forward and grab his neck, pulling his face down for a kiss. It’s quick, and I’m already doing it before I realize I’m doing it. I feel him tense further, and I think for a second that he’s going to pull away.
But he doesn’t. He only pulls me into him further, somewhat forcefully, and his tongue explores my mouth.
It’s delicious.
It’s exhilarating.
The whole room spins around us, and I feel Nick’s hands in my hair.
My hat falls off. His does too.
And I’m catapulted into another world: the world of kissing Nick. Because it’s just as wonderful as I’d imagined. In fact, it’s better. I feel my body responding to his unconsciously, and he kisses me with such fervor… it’s like I didn’t know what being happy was until this moment. This is the kind of kiss that makes me realize I’ll never be happier than this moment. Kissing Nick Wilder makes me feel so alive, I kind of want to do it forever. He lifts me up slightly by my waist, and I wrap my arms around his neck. He pulls me impossibly close, and I want to melt into him—that’s how close I want to be.
Oh my god, I’m kissing Nick Wilder.
Just as my hands move to his shirt, he pulls apart. We’re both breathing heavily, and the room is thick with longing. The bed is a few feet away, for god’s sake. Not that I’m thinking of doing that, but it breeds a certain atmosphere around us. Plus, he’s Mr. Darcy.
Yes, Mr. Darcy. And I’m Mary Poppins.
That’s all.
I slowly back out of the bedroom, grabbing my hat on the way out, and he watches me as I leave. I don’t know if he knows it’s me, but it’s easier to keep up the anonymous bit if I don’t say anything. It gives us a line of separation—party and real life. Without the mask, I would not have kissed him. Leaving now makes it so that I can possibly face him tomorrow without humiliation. I hope, anyways.
He doesn’t come after me as I walk downstairs. I didn’t expect him to. Tonight was just about that kiss—that one amazing kiss that I’m still reeling from. The one thing I wanted to do anonymously.
I walk back to my guesthouse with a huge grin on my face.
I was pretty sure falling in love with your boss was grounds for termination.
Kissing your boss was definitely grounds for termination.
Thirty.
Nick
I think of going after her. But if I do, I’ll have to admit my feelings, and I still need to sort everything out. That was one hell of a kiss. Passionate. Delicate. Intimate. Sensual. I can still taste her on my lips, and I smile when I think of her having the guts to do something so ballsy.
She thought she was hiding behind the mask, but I knew it was her the moment I heard somebody walk in. I could smell her—the light, flowery scent that always surrounds her, like a fresh spring day. I wanted to turn around. I thought maybe she’d just come to say hello.
But then I felt her hands around me, and then she kissed me…
I sit down on the bed and wipe the lipstick off of my lips.
It’s weird seeing all of my “friends” again—the same ones who seemed to disappear after Isabel’s death, only to reappear when I promised free food and booze.
And if I have to witness another sympathetic head tilt, I might kill someone. It makes me want to shout, “Where were you? If you’re so concerned, where were you after her death?”
I know none of them would have a good answer. She was their friend. I wasn’t. Isabel knew them; I didn’t know them very well. I can see how it might be weird to be at my house without her. I mean… sometimes it was still weird for me to be in the house without her.
I sit up before I get too depressed. A lot of them are busy doctors, I know that, and I shouldn’t hold their absence against them. They’re here now, aren’t they?
Except… Evianna was the definite highlight of my night.
Definitely.
I adjust my shirt and run my hands over my lips, thinking of Evianna and how good it felt to be kissing her.
I never really thought about loving someone after Isabel. To be honest, my love life was the least of my worries, and I was preoccupied with work, and Bria, and trying to get through the day without breaking down.