Page 196 of Save You

“I just came to tell you that your driver is here,” the waiter continues, clearly embarrassed.

James lets go of me, and our hands find each other without any conscious decision of mine.We leave the restaurant hand in hand, like it’s the most ordinary thing in the world, both red-cheeked, mumbling goodbye to the poor waiter, who can’t meet our eyes.

Outside, I’m hit by a wall of cold air.Percy is standing by the car, holding the door for us.I thank him and get in, James close behind me.I sit in the same place as on the way here.James drops into the seat beside me.

His eyes are dark and his lips are as red and swollen as mine.I can still feel the slight throb in my bottom lip—and elsewhere too.I’m electric, my whole body charged.I can hardly sit still for the urge to pick up where we just left off.

The streetlights of Pemwick pass us by and Percy heads out into the country lanes.The screen is up, and I glance to see if the little red light on the intercom is flashing.

It’s not.

I turn to face James, who followed my gaze.His lips are slightly parted and his chest is rising and falling rapidly.There’s no mistaking that he was as caught up in that kiss as I was.

“James,” I whisper.

He holds his breath.

I move like I’m on autopilot.The attraction emanating from James is so all-encompassing that it’s impossible to sit here for twenty minutes without doing something.

Surprise flickers in his eyes as I scoot closer.

“Kiss me, James,” I whisper.

He just shakes his head, but in the same breath, he takes my face in his hands and presses his lips firmly to mine.We sigh simultaneously, and the sounds mingle and buzz in my body.The world around me fades.There’s only James and me—no past, no future.Just us and the nighttime lights flickering past.

“I missed you,” I whisper.

He makes an almost despairing sound and kisses me more deeply.

I’m not prepared for what he does to me.I didn’t think it could feel like this.However often James and I are together—it just gets stronger.The yearning inside me grows with every kiss, an unquenchable longing for him and to be close to him, and I don’t think that will ever disappear.

I dig my fingers into his hair and pull him closer to me.This is all going too fast, and I can’t help myself.James’s firm body is pressed against mine and I need him.In this second, I need him like I’ve never needed anybody.

I’m about to say those words when James pulls away slightly.He looks mistily at me and strokes my cheek with one hand, then lets his mouth move down my throat.

“I missed you too,” he whispers to my neck.He sucks on the skin and my breath catches.“Any time I saw you at school, I wanted to do this.”

I sigh and shut my eyes.“Next time, please do.I give you permission,” I gasp.

He barks out a raw laugh.“Good to know.”

Slowly, James works his way down, but I want to feel his mouth on mine again, so I pull him up and hold him there.His tongue plays around mine, and my other hand is exploring his body.All these clothes are in the way, regardless of how amazing he looks in that suit.I undo his top shirt button.

“Ruby,” he interrupts quietly.

I keep on.At the third button, James grabs my wrist and holds it tight.I look up and into his dark eyes.James stares at me, breathing hard.

I can see him gulp.“Normally, I’d let you undress me anytime.Seriously.Anywhere, for all I care.But…” He breaks off and looks around the car.Then he looks back at me.“I really wanted our next time to be something special.And if we don’t stop now, I…I don’t know if…”

I feel the heat shoot into my cheeks.He’s right.“I wasn’t thinking.”

My face is still burning as I slowly start to rebutton his shirt.But even once I’ve done them all up, I can’t look him in the face.

“Ruby,” James whispers suddenly.

I pretend to straighten his collar, which is perfectly neat already.“Mm?”

“Ruby,” he repeats.“Please look at me.”