Page 76 of All the Forbidden Things

“I’ve been back a couple of times since with Cal and Mel. My cousins live in a great spot on a peninsula, so beaches on three sides, but it’s all winding roads and hills through the middle.”

“A bit like Cornwall?”

“I’ve never been to Cornwall,” she admits, shaking her head.

“What? The girl who’d travelled the world by the time she was two has never been to Cornwall?”

She smiles. It’s shy, sweet, cute and sexy. It’s sunshine, and it warms me in ways and places it shouldn’t. I should feel bad about that, and yet, I have zero fucks to give.

“Nope, too busy getting on and off planes to take a road trip around my own country. I’ll add Cornwall to my bucket list.”

I wonder what else is on her bucket list. Something instantly begins to bubble in my belly, and an inexplicable and fierce need to be the one to help her meet every desire on her list hits me. If I could, if it were the right thing to do, I’d give and show this girl the world. “Next year when the weather warms up, we’ll find time and take Layla to Cornwall.”

“Thanks, I’d like that.”

I return her smile, the one that lights my world.

She turns to make her way towards the back door, away from me. I feel the loss of her company before she’s even out of sight. “I’ll watch you cross the drive,” I say to her back.

“Thanks for the Chinese, Max. I’ll go out and get some shopping in the morning, and I’ll cook dinner tomorrow night.”

“You cook?” I question in an attempt to once again stall her.

She turns to answer when she reaches the door, and I’m there. Iwasright behind her, but now she’s facing me, and I’m directly in front of her. She looks up, her blue eyes searching my face, and I’m so fucking torn as to what I should do. What Iwantto do and what Ishoulddo are world’s a-fucking-part.

Unable to resist the need I have to touch her; I reach out and lift her hood up onto her head.

I’m touching her without actually touching her, it’s all I can allow myself to do. It’s not enough, though, I want more, and I think she does too. For now, this is what wecanshare.

“It’s cold out there,” I tell her quietly.

She licks her lips. I watch. My hands are still on either side of her face, holding on to her hood. I pull her towards me and brush my nose over her cheek, to her ear. I breathe in the scent of Billie Wild and hold back a groan. Instead, it’s she who makes a noise. It’s a sound somewhere between a sigh and a whimper, and my dick’s instantly hard.

“G’night, Bamm.” I kiss her cheek. “Don’t let the bed bugs bite,” I say with my mouth still pressed against her soft skin.

She doesn’t move for a few seconds, and when she does, she spins around with her head down and jogs across the drive, giving me a small wave before going through her front door and closing it behind her.

“I’m in so much fucking trouble,” I whisper as I close my back door.

Billie

He winked at me.

He kissed my cheek.

Max Young winked and kissed my fucking cheek.

I almost did handstands and backflips across the drive to my front door last night. Instead, I walked awkwardly, and probably a little stiff-legged as I felt his eyes on me the whole way. I couldn’t even look back when I waved, as I’m sure the absolute pure elation I was feeling would've been recognisable all over my face. So, I calmly closed my front door, leant back against it, fist-pumped the air, and stamped my feet in a little happy dance.

This morning, I don’t want to appear too eager to get across to the main house to see Max and Layla, but I am buzzing as I get myself up and ready for the day.

I have my “Ma & Pa” playlist blasting through the sound system. It’s full of the songs my parents loved, and I’m singing along to the lyrics of “Dreams” with Stevie Nicks as I brush BB crème over my face. Without trying to look like I’ve made more effort with my make-up than any other morning, I sweep highlighter over my cheeks and beneath my brows, which are in desperate need of a wax and tint, before swiping my usual tinted balm over my lips.

I pile my hair on top of my head and use a curly tie to hold it in place. My hair, too, could do with some attention, so once I’m done, I search on my phone for the hair and beauty salon in Belsize Park I’ve always used when I was home. Luckily, they have an online booking system and can fit me in for a cut, blow-dry, lash and brow tint, and brow wax. But the only appointments I can make work are on Friday night, meaning I’ll have to cancel the dinner plans I made with my brother. So, I send him a text, asking for a rain check, and he calls me almost the instant I hit send.

“What’s more important than dinner with your big brother, kid?”

“Hair, lashes, and brows. I’m desperate, and the only appointments they have that I can make this week are on Friday evening. Sorry,” I add after a moment’s pause.