Page 4

HUXLEY

T he way Willa's eyes lit up when I called her Angel is a memory I'll treasure forever.

She truly is an angel. A beautiful girl who is far too sweet for me, but I still can't help thinking how much I want her to be mine.

No, not want. Need . The second I became lost in her eyes, I turned into a different person. A man whose sole purpose in life is to care for this smart, sexy woman.

I feel like a burglar sneaking in as Willa double checks to make sure her aunt isn't home, then guides me up to her bedroom.

It's a nice house – casually comfortable, with lots of houseplants.

Willa's room is done in light blue, with a big fuzzy purple pillow in the center of her bed.

There's a dark wooden desk in front of the window with an industrial gray rubber mat on top of it, across which jewelry-making supplies are scattered.

She picks up a large bottle of light blue liquid and a sleeve of cotton pads, then pulls over the wastebasket. I perch on the edge of the bed with my back to her, then look back over my shoulder to catch a slightly tense look in her eyes.

"If this makes you uncomfortable, I'll figure out something else," I say quickly.

She shakes her head and flashes me a precious grin. "No, this is going to be fine. I just don't want to be the one to yank off your shirt."

"Fair."

Chuckling, I pull it off and turn my back to her completely.

She gets right to work, saturating the top third of my back with the makeup remover.

It's a little chilly, but I keep my mouth shut.

After a few moments, I'm holding back a moan from the amazing feeling of her left hand gripping my shoulder and the right scrubbing in brisk circles, and the immediate closeness between us.

She sighs softly, her breath warm against my spine. “I feel terrible erasing this gorgeous artwork.”

“All good. Crow took tons of photos.” My chin nods into the corner. "So, that's your jewelry making station?"

"Yes."

"The charms are super cute. I'm sure they'll be popular around here."

I catch her reflection in the mirror and notice the way her head shakes. "I love doing it, but I don't have any false hope it could ever be a real job. It's not important work or anything."

She blinks in surprise at me in the mirror when I frown and make a low growl. " I think it's important."

Her laugh is like a ray of sunshine bouncing around the small room. “How? It makes people happy, but it’s just decoration. It’s not saving a life, like what my parents and sister do.”

"People buy handmade jewelry as a treat, right?

Either to perk themselves up or mark special occasions.

" I point to a necklace on her desk. "I bet somebody is going to buy that for their best friend's birthday.

They'll always think of their friendship when they wear it.

And those earrings – they could be a three-month anniversary gift. "

Her lovely eyes grow wide. "I didn't realize you were so sentimental."

"Ha! Busted."

She smiles brightly. "I wish I had the materials to make more.

It's hard to find really interesting stones.

Of course, I'd love to use beach glass, but you know…

" She shrugs. "We're not by an ocean. Maybe at the small lake close to here, but it’s really hard to get to.

The only public access is a two-mile hike, so I haven't made it there yet. "

A wave of happiness fills me. "What if I were to take you to that lake tomorrow after work?"

Her scrubbing has descended to the center of my back. It feels incredible on my tight muscles. "Really? That would be amazing!"

"Good. That’s settled, then."

Willa is a magician getting rid of the marker, scrubbing firmly while asking me plenty of questions about Cedarville. I'm excited to tell her all about this charming mountain town that I've grown to love, especially after spending so much time away from it.

Once the marker has all been scrubbed off and I have yanked my shirt back on, Willa glances toward the clock. "Aunt Carlie will probably be getting home in about twenty minutes. Maybe?—"

"Say no more. I'll get out of here." I turn toward the door, then spin back. "Hey – weird question, but this is the second time you've seen me half-naked. May I examine a part of you, to make things a little more equal?"

Her eyes dance. "Mayyyybe. Which part?"

Placing my hands on her shoulders, I gently turn her around. Pulling her hair up with my right hand, I tug the back of her shirt down with the left, exposing just a few inches of the creamy skin of her back. "Has this spot ever been kissed?"

A shiver runs through her. "No,” she barely breathes.

I can actually feel her trembling as my lips gently drift along her tender skin. I’m sure that taking my time with Willa is crucial to her trusting me. I'm a huge guy, and practically a stranger. The softer and more slowly I move, the better.

Her breath grows slightly uneven as I string loops of kisses that get gradually larger. When I release her, she turns, already enfolded in my arms.

I lean closer, our mouths just inches apart, then pause as her deep blue gaze locks on mine. "Kiss me." It's barely a whisper, but my voice is so deep, it comes out sounding almost like a command. Yet there's a spark in Willa's eyes. She likes that .

She stretches up, our lips meeting tentatively at first. Gradually she snuggles closer and the world melts into a dreamy, slow-motion haze as our lips part, her hands latching around the back of my neck as the kiss blossoms.

My palm slowly slides down her spine, shifting us until her breasts press against me.

I lift her without thinking, getting her up on the dresser so she can lean down and kiss me more deeply.

Her airy gasp sends a wave of fiery lust straight between my thighs.

I've never been so aroused by a woman before, or been so instantly sure that we were meant to be.

Our tongues tangle as I devour her soft mouth. Then I gradually pull back before we can pass the point of no return. When I lift her back off the dresser, Willa seems slightly dazed.

"I have to go right this second, before I picture you sprawled across that bed. But what time are you done tomorrow? I'll pick you up."

She grins. "I'm done at three."

We walk to the front door, where I sneak in one last breathless kiss. "Thank you for scrubbing the marker off my back. I'll be thinking about you all night, Angel."

"Sweet dreams."

I wait until I hear the door latch and lock behind me, then head to my truck and drive home.

I'll definitely be dreaming of my girl all night. Even if we haven't officially established that she's mine yet, I get the feeling that Willa already knows.