Page 75 of All Mine (The All Mine #1)

Etienne

Etienne collapsed on top of Isabella, his chest heaving, her arms tender now, stroking his back as they recovered. He rolled to one side to lie flat, letting his breathing settle and calm. She rolled onto her side to follow him, head on his shoulder.

‘We were pretty good at non-sex,’ Isabella said, ‘but we’re even better at the real thing.’

‘I’m going to have to change my karaoke song now,’ Etienne said and she laughed, her breath tickling his skin.

‘I feel like my pink are cheeks,’ she said, putting her hands to her face, and he laughed at her inability to string a sentence together. He had to admit she was flushed, which he hoped was the sign of a good time. He slipped an arm behind her, holding her closer.

‘Never had you down as a cuddler,’ she said.

‘Never been a cuddler– until now.’ He laughed.

It was true. He’d rarely stayed the night in the past, not wanting the intimacy of it.

But with Isabella, he wanted it all. The waking up together, the saying goodnight.

Brushing teeth together in front of the bathroom mirror, watching television on the couch.

He wanted to share things with her: his days, their nights, her bed. He wanted to share his life with her.

‘I love you, Bella,’ he said quietly and she lifted her face to look into his eyes as she replied, ‘I love you too, Etienne.’

He kissed her softly and she made a tiny sound of contentment in her throat, which he felt in his mouth and made him smile.

The shout made them both jump, slipping as they were back into desire, the kiss building.

‘Hey, Boss!’ Mile End Mickey shouted from the door in the restaurant that led to the flat. ‘There’s some geezer down here says he’s your brother!’