Page 31 of The Autumn Leaf Bookshop (Everly Hollow #1)

Breathless

Sylas

T his past week has been amazing. I’ve seen her every day, even if it may only be for a little while.

She stayed the night once. Falling asleep in my arms after she collapsed and eventually rolling off of me, tucking herself into my side.

It was then, when she nestled into my side, my arms holding her like they won’t let go, that I realized… that I had fucked up.

I can’t get enough of her. We can’t keep our hands off one another.

The sex has been amazing. We go from watching a movie to kissing her deeply, grabbing at clothing until we can’t wait anymore.

She straddles my lap, pulling her underwear to the side, sitting on my cock so slowly, never breaking that eye contact that I want from her, and she feels so fucking good—hot and tight.

We read together on a rainy day after closing the bookstore. We sat by the fire in those large, oversized comfy chairs, listening to the sound patter against the skylights and windows.

Last night, we took a walk back to the lake. We didn’t make it into the water, but we also didn’t make it off the blanket. Afterward, we just lay there talking, holding hands, our legs intertwined with one another. We whispered to the stars and the moon, wondering if the Goddess was listening.

Somewhere between the smiles and laughs, the intimate moments like this, and sharing our bodies together I realized I’m not just liking her anymore, I’m falling for her.

The festival starts in four days, and she will leave after that. What the hell do I say? I don’t want her to just stay for my magic. I want her to stay because she loves it here and is ready for a change.

We’re tucked into the cozy back room of my shop where the tables have been cleared to make space for stacks of lantern supplies and piles of the sip passports for the Golden Twilight Market.

We’ve been switching off now and then. I’ll work on the lanterns while she works on the passports, then switch.

She’s working on a passport right now. Her face is in utter and complete concentration mode.

Her brows furrow as she focuses intently on adding the labels.

We are giving each participating drinking booth a stamp to stamp the book.

We have books of teas, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, coffee, and even varieties of soda and juices.

“You look deep in thought there,” she says, glancing over before moving on to a new passport book. “You seem lighter, somehow, as if something shifted.”

“Lighter?” I ask, my chest tightening.

I set another completed lantern to the side and pulled one from the box, quickly assembling it.

It looks like a small hot air balloon. Once I finish a few, I enchant them to float until the flame dies out.

When that happens, the lanterns will become golden shimmers in the sky, lifting away in the crisp autumn breeze .

“Yeah,” she says, leaning back, taking a quick sip of water. “Last week, you looked like you had the weight of the world on your shoulders. Now you just seem lighter . ”

I grab each of us a paper plate and hand her one, both of us reaching into the pizza box for a hot, fresh slice of pepperoni pizza. She takes a bite and chews slowly.

“I just felt a little bit off last week, but I’m feeling better now, I think.” I take a bite.

She raises her eyebrows in response. A coy smile on her lips. “You think?”

Setting my plate down, I turn my body towards her and lean forward, my hands resting on my knees. “Well, you’re here. So I’m feeling better.”

She giggles, wiping her mouth with her napkin before turning her body towards me. “Is that so?”

Her legs are crossed. Her heeled boots on dark black leggings, a black tank top that hugs just enough to distract me, and her neutral multicolored cardigan is draped over the back of her seat.

Standing up, I reach out, take her hands in mine, and pull her close to me.

Her hands find my waist as she looks up at my face.

God, I love her smile. She’s leaning into me, looking at my mouth, and I know she’s just waiting for me to kiss her, and I’m starting to wonder what the fuck is taking me so long.

I caress her face with both hands and bring my lips to her, kissing her lightly. Her head angles to deepen the kiss, and she moans as my tongue finds hers and sucks .

I pull away quickly to push the lanterns and passports off to the side before standing in front of her again.

“Turn around,” I whisper, and she does. Her back is flush with mine. Her breath shudders as she feels my hardness pressed against her.

“I know you’re so fucking wet for me right now, Raene.” I tug her black tank top down in the front, freeing her breasts as I begin to knead them, my hips grinding against her to chase the friction I need. Her ass moves against me in circles as I place gentle kisses on her neck.

“Ash, I need you,” she whines.

My hands inch down her belly and find her wetness, and her smell is fucking intoxicating. My fingers are rubbing her and her clit in beautiful, teasing circles.

“Fuck, I need to taste you,” I say. My voice is low and hungry in her ear. “Then I’ll take you.”

I turn her around and pick her up by the waist, placing her on the edge of the table.

I unzip her boots, letting them fall to the ground.

Next are her socks and leggings. I lift one of her legs, eyeing the bubblegum pink polish on her toes before pressing a light kiss to her inner ankle, making her breath hitch. “Lie back.”

She lies back, her head resting at the top of the table as I stand there, watching her slight tremors move through her body as her tits spill from her top and her legs are spread for me, waiting for me to go on my knees, and fuck if I don’t look away as I kneel .

Wrapping my arms around her thighs possessively, I slide her down a couple of inches until her ass is off the table and my face is between her thighs.

My tongue licks her clit, circling it. She releases a sigh of pleasure, lifting her lips gently.

Then my mouth is on her, tongue sliding in and out of her entrance and back to her clit.

Goddess above, she tastes so good. I can’t control the groan that crawls up my throat as I suck on her clit, the sound vibrating through her core.

“Your mouth feels…so perfect, Ash,” she says, her voice low, but there is an edge to it. Her eyes are closed; her hands wrapped around the edge of the table.

I flatten my tongue, dragging it over the bottom of her entrance to her clit in firm strokes that make her gasp, her body writhing with each movement.

Never easing up the hold on one of her thighs, my fingers slid into her wetness so beautifully. I move slowly, deliberately so. I want to take my time with her. I want to cherish every sound she makes. I want to see her beg for more, as she claws her way out of her skin.

Yet, when I curl my fingers—rolling my tongue over that sensitive bud as she thrusts against my fingers—she releases a moan, setting the pace and letting it build in a perfect rhythm.

“Shit, Ash…” she pants, her hips moving quickly. She sits up slightly to see that my gaze is locked on her. She’s unraveling on my mouth, and I fucking love to see it.

I drag a fang over the hood of her clit, and she cries out. Her back arches, thighs trembling as her orgasm crashes over her, and I ride it out, fingers thrusting inside her while my tongue alternates between small licks and sucking.

Her body is still shaking as I rise, unbuttoning my shirt, lips slick with her essence. Her eyes are wild, dark, and hungry for more. I toss my shirt to the floor. She perches on the edge of the table, barely holding on, desperately anticipating what is next as she stares at me.

I gently turn her, her back flush with my chest. “You taste so fucking good.” The words dance like a whisper.

“And look at you,” he coos. “Still trembling. Now…put your hands on the table.”

She places her palms flat on the table, fingers spread wide. I widen her stance and line myself against her entrance.

“That’s it,” I growl, my voice thick with heat. I press into her slowly, inch by inch, savoring the way she throbs around me. I know everything is hypersensitive after her release, but it feels so damn perfect.

A guttural groan rips from my throat as I bury myself fully inside her. “You drive me insane, Raene.”

Just for a heartbeat, I don’t move.

Then I pull back and thrust in, skin hitting skin. Her fingers curl on the table, gripping at nothing, yet desperate for purchase.

I’m slamming into her, each thrust drawing a cry from her lips.

With a hand gripping her waist, I pull her up so her back is pressed against my chest, once more.

I move with a deep, hungry rhythm—one hand on her throat, applying slight pressure, the other finding her clit, fingers working in perfect sync with each quick thrust.

Fuck. The way her pussy clenches and flutters around me has me on a high.

“Ash,” she gasps, one arm reaching back to grip my neck while the other squeezes my forearm.

“Damn, you’re so perfect, Raene. I love how your body makes me feel. I love the way you look when you take me.”

Goddess, she feels utterly perfect in my arms. The words slip out before I can stop them. “ Fuck, I love you, Raene.”

Shit.

There is a pause. Just the sounds of our breathing and my skin slapping against her ass. Her whimpers even halt for a moment when she hears me. Her head turns slightly to look at my face, and I see surprise and a little bit of shock written on hers.

And then I let go. Her mouth opens in a silent scream before she releases a moan when she comes, milking me, until we fall apart together. We stay like this, breathless. My hands are holding her hips as she catches her breath, bent over the table, using her arms to brace and hold herself up.

I said it out loud.

Not in my head.

I pull out of her, pull up my pants, and grab napkins because that’s the closest thing I have to help her clean up.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—” I try to tell her before she cuts me off.

“Sorry? Sorry that you told me, or sorry you said something in a very intimate moment?” She adjusts her top, then slides her underwear and leggings back on, followed by her socks and boots, before settling back in her chair.

She buries her face in her hands, lightly shaking her head.

Squatting in front of her, I gently pry her hands away, waiting until her eyes meet mine. “I’m not sorry for loving you, Raene. I’m falling in love with you. I want to get to know you more. I love spending time with you. You…you make me happy.”

“Ash, you shouldn’t love me. I’m leaving soon.” She jumps to her feet. “This was just supposed to be for fun, you know? Just…good sex. Really, really good sex. Not love. I can’t—”

I pull her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. I close my eyes, breathing her in, hoping this can calm, even just a little.

What did I do?

“You don’t have to say it back, Raene.” I pull back slightly, staring at her face. Something deep in my chest aches. I told her how I really feel, and now I think I fucked this up. “I didn’t mean for it to come out like this, but now you know.”

Her hands slide from my shoulders down to my chest, and she rests her head there.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, a sob escapes her.

Is she crying? I quickly pull her up to look at me, her eyes glistening with tears. I wrap my arms around her, holding her as tightly as I can.

I’m an asshole .

“Fuck, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to cry. Please…don’t cry.”

She lifts her head from my chest, wiping the tears from her face, sniffling. “I have no clue where the hell that came from.”

“Listen to me, Ash, you can’t love me, not when it’s going to end like…like this.” Her voice cracks, the sound splintering through me, carving into my chest.

The words plummet inside me, but I hear them, and she’s right. I have no business falling in love with her. Spending more time together this week is going to hurt who the most? Me or her—or maybe both of us.