Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
She turned, and our eyes locked as we neared each other. I paused, just at the edge of her personal space, before she pressed her fingertips to my waist and leaned in. My heart fell a half a dozen floors to my feet, her touch sending shots of fire through every nerve in my body.
Without a word, my hands entwined with hers. She was so soft and quiet against my chest. With every moment, she crawled a little deeper into my chest, settling herself in all of my dark places with her light.
“News to both of us…” My lips connected with her forehead. “You’re my first dance, Daphne.”
She didn’t reply, letting the music and the wind wrap us up in our own warm little bubble. I couldn’t help thinking how easy it would be to weave this woman into my life, wake to her precious smile every morning, and kiss her to sleep at night. If picnics and slow dancing in the moonlight was life with Daphne, what in the hell had taken me so long?
After a few minutes, I finally spoke. “We should get you home. Work comes early.” The truth was, I’d give anything to stay right here with her, all night.
“Just one more song, Arkin?”
I knew then, I was a goner.
C H A P T E R S I X
Daphne
Swaying in the dark with Arkin was perfection. In his arms, I felt the world disappear and I was actually happy. Happiness was something that hadn’t come into my life very often, but here I was, surrounded by strong arms, and it felt good. It was right. His hands found my hair and his fingers gently brushed through it, causing my body and soul to surge with delight. I wanted him to touch me everywhere.
“You are so beautiful,” he muttered into my hair.
I placed my head on his shoulder and breathed him in. I loved his scent, a mixture of work and soap. It was intoxicating, and I couldn’t get enough.
“I am going to kiss you, Daphne. If you don’t want me to, I need you to say it now.” His words felt hot against my skin, and in that moment more than anything, I wanted to feel the sensation of his lips against my own.
“I think I want you to, Arkin.” My words came out as nothing more than a whisper dancing in the air around us. He took my head into his hands, his touch featherlight. He looked into my eyes, holding my gaze and locking it on to his. I could see the passion lurking there, the desperation to keep the darkness at bay for me. He wanted to be gentle for me.
“I am not going to kiss you until your response is more than ‘I think I want you to.’” His thumb grazed my bottom lip, making me inhale a breath. The man was good, I had to give him that. He made me go from not wanting anything to do with him, to wanting to have his gaze linger on my lips.
“I want you to kiss me. Arkin, kiss me…” My words were firm and definite.
It was all he needed. He pressed his lips to mine, slow and gentle. At first it was a featherlight kiss, so light that I could almost think I’d imagined it. Then he pulled me to him with one hand on my waist while the other held my head tight, almost afraid I would move and in a flash be lost to him. His kiss became ignited by some sort of hidden fire. It was as if he had put every fiber of himself in this very moment. He opened his lips as I opened mine, and the mingling of our tongues was a symphony of need, desire, passion, and most of all hope. Hope that two lost souls could find something true and pure. His tongue mingled with mine, creating a need that I didn’t know I could find. This man was special, and I was feeling blessed that at that moment, he was here in the moonlight dancing with me in his arms.
When the kiss ended, I opened my eyes, only to watch as his were still closed. He inhaled and a smile formed on his lips, making the crow’s feet by his eyes crinkle and dance. That smile made me feel like I was floating. The fact that he was relishing a simple kiss made me ache for how lonely he must be.
“That was like tasting a slice of heaven,” he finally whispered as he opened his eyes.
“Well, I’m glad you approved. I’ve been very out of practice,” I whispered.
“So my next question is, when can I do it again?” he asked. “This”—he gestured between us with his hand—“is something special. When can I see you again?” he asked, lacing his fingers with mine.