I can’t stop the endless cycle of these thoughts, going on and on and on, making me wish I could slip through time and live them now.
I own her the same way men owned women tens of thousands of years ago when there were too many dangers in the wild to worry about anything other than primal protection.
She’s mine, and if she doesn’t forgive me, I don’t know what I’ll do.
I won’t be able to stop thinking about her.
If another man tries to stake a claim on her, I don’t trust myself to be lenient. I know I would explode like a wild animal if I ever saw them out in public together.
Just the thought of Fiona leaning against another man the way she leans against me, resting her head against his chest, almost sends me into a ferocious temper.
I squeeze the railing hard, grinding my teeth.
The bell above the door tinkles.
“Forrest?” she calls.
Her voice shimmers through me, causing hands of longing to claw deep inside of me and spread wide-reaching fingers, owning me just the same way I own her.
“Up here,” I say, somehow keeping my voice steady.
She walks to the bottom of the stairs case, gazing up at me.
I let out a low growl from deep inside of me, staring at the way the sequined dress hugs her body. It glitters gold in the faux-candle light, squeezing onto her hips, framing her cleavage like a gift just waiting for me to open it.
Everything about her screams at me to possess her.
She wears short heels, shaping her thick juicy calves.
“I can’t believe I’m really here,” she murmurs, gazing starry eyed at the book lined walls as she ascends the stairs.
“I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you are,” I say, moving to the top of the stairs to meet her. “I was starting to think I’d have to ground a few planes to get my hands on you again.”
She gasps as I grip her hips and pull her flush against me, driving my hungry manhood against her belly.
She looks up at me, lips pursed, eyes shimmering in the mood lighting.
“You wouldn’t go that far to keep me here, would you?” she whispers.
“Look how far I went to get you here,” I growl. “Of course, I would. I’m just sorry I didn’t tell you the second I walked onto the balcony in our room. I should have, Fiona, but maybe I thought – like a stupid asshole – that I could still get over this madness you’ve awoken in me.”
“And?” she murmurs. “Can you?”
I lean down and push my lips against hers firmly, squeezing harder onto her hips and pushing her against the banister.
She gasps and freezes up for a moment, but then she melts against me, moaning through the kiss as our tongues go to war with each other.
I slide one hand up her body, over her delectable hips and breasts, and then softly clasp her neck.
The kiss pauses and we gaze into each other’s eyes.
I feel her smile against me, her lips twitching upward.
“Is that a yes or a no?”
“That’s a kissing you makes me forget the damn question,” I chuckle.
“Do you think you can control the madness I’ve woken up inside of you, Forrest?”
“Never,” I growl. “I’ve never felt anything even remotely close to this before. I never imagined I could feel. And then I saw you and I became so obsessed—and shit, Fiona. I was so goddamned worried I’d scared you away.”
“I’m here,” she whispers. “I know it’s crazy. I know it’s not conventional. But I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. Because …”
“What?” I urge when she falls silent. I kiss the corner of her lips. “What is it, firecracker?”
“Because I would’ve done the same,” she says, letting out a shaky breath as though the revelation shocks her as much as me. “If I’d felt this, and if I could, I would’ve arranged for us to be together. I know I would.”
“You’re as hopeless as I am, eh?” I tease lightly, stroking my hand from her neck to her hair.
“Oh, I’m definitely a wannabe hopeless romantic,” she giggles.
“Is that what you write—romance?”
“I try to,” she says.
I take her hand in mine and lead her to the corner of the room, where I’ve had a dining table and chairs set up beneath a towering bookcase. More faux-candles flicker, making the glass vase dance, the red rose seeming starker and brighter somehow.
“I still can’t believe you did this,” she smiles as I pull her chair out for her.
“Of course I did,” I growl. “Do you like it?”
“I love it,” she says. “Coming here was on my to-do list, but I didn’t expect it to be after hours.”
“So, romance?” I say, sitting opposite her.
“Wait a sec … How are we going to order anything? We’re in a bookshop.”