Page 125 of Never Tell Secrets

“I hope you don’t mind me wearing one of your shirts.”

He swallowed, nodding. I sat next to him, tucking my feet under me. I took his wrist, reaching for the knot of the ribbon but he snatched his arm away. “What are you doing?”

I held up the other pieces of ribbon. “I cut you new pieces from my other dress that you love.”

I expected him to be grateful but he shook his head. “I want to keep this one.”

My chest ached but I forced myself to smile. “You’ll get it back.”

Reluctantly he allowed me to remove the ribbon. He watched my every move as I knotted the pieces together, as if I might suddenly throw his precious ribbon into the ocean. A few minutes later, I returned it to his wrist, braided with the two new pieces. He ran his fingers over it, studying it as if it were an alien artifact.

“I’m yours too,” I whispered. His head shot up, he stared at me in shock. “I think I’ve always been yours and you’ve always been mine.”

“Lola, what are you saying?” His grey eyes were shining with hope.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself to leap. “I’m saying that there’s so much between us, so much still to heal and get through but I’m tired, I’m tired of keeping myself away.” Iwrapped my arms around my torso, holding myself tight, then I realised I didn’t have to hold onto myself, I could hold onto him. I slipped my hand into his, gripping it as I jumped.

“I want you back. I want this man that you’ve shown me over the last few weeks. I want him and he’s real, isn’t he? This is really you?”

“Yes.” His voice was hoarse, almost breathless. He gazed at me in the dark, shock and fear plain on his perfect face.

I reached up, tracing the scar on his eyebrow, running my fingers down his cheek and into his hair. This man was a million different things, some of them I liked and some of them I didn’t but all of him was mine. Alfie Tell belonged to me.

“Lola, are you sure?”

No, I wasn’t. I was afraid of the jump, afraid of the pain, but of Alfie I was certain. He would catch me, every time.

“Kiss me,” I breathed. “Kiss me like you kiss me.”

His eyes shone, tears resting on the surface. Slowly, as if I might disappear, he drew me to him. My breath hitched. He was close, so, so close after all this time. I melted into him as his mouth met mine, heated and soft. My entire body lit up, every nerve ending singing with pleasure.

Alfie, my Alfie, was in my arms again. Right where he belonged.

I pulled him to me and he met my passion with a fierceness kept buried for so long. He turned us, pushing me onto my back on the bed of plush cushions and blankets.

I opened my legs for him, drawing him in and he didn’t hesitate. He pressed close, his erection pressing into my aching core pulling a delicious moan from my throat.

I was ready, I was so ready.

With needy hands I clutched at his shirt, ripping it in my desperation. He rose up, pulling it from his body and I followed,kissing his torso until his mouth found mine again and we fell back onto the blankets.

He pushed my shirt up, skin on skin I shuddered, my core wet and throbbing. I ground against him, needing him inside me with a madness I had never felt before.

His hands roamed, my thighs, my waist, his head dipping to my neck where he sucked and nipped until I cried out and he kissed the bite away. I shuddered, smiling. This was perfect, so perfect I felt tears in my eyes. One slipped down my cheek, brushing against his own.

He paused, staring down at me. “Lo? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m just so happy.” I smiled up at him. He flinched, his brows knotting. I brought him back to me, his mouth met mine but his kisses were different, distracted. I pulled back and studied him. “Hey…are you here?” I cupped his cheek, wondering where he’d just gone.

“Lola, I…” he trailed off, his jaw clenching. Conflict shone in every corner of his beautiful face, conflict over whether to speak or not speak. “I have to tell you something?—”

A knock at the door interrupted him. He pulled away, leaving me cold and confused as he went to answer the door. I heard Elliot’s voice and a moment later, Alfie returned, his face an expressionless mask. “I have a business issue to deal with.”

“A business issue? Now?” Was he serious? He couldn’t be.

“I’m sorry, I know it’s inconvenient.”

“‘Inconvenient’?” What the hell had gotten into him?