Oh God, the desire.
I inhale sharply when Max’s gaze drops to my lips, and before my heart beats again, his hand skates up my chest and fingers my neck in a tender caress as he backs me into the bookcase.
He pauses a moment, biting his lip as he stares at me like a cherished possession, his fingers reverently stroking the sides of my neck and jawline, immediately confirming my submission to him.
I want to submit to him. I want to be claimed by him, lost in him. I want to trust in what we can be together.
A guttural noise escapes his mouth as he seals his lips over mine. His hand maps around to the back of my neck as he angles my face upward to deepen the kiss. His body bows over mine as his tongue thrusts between my lips, harsh and demanding, taking what it wants. And I moan into it, giving him all of me. Every possible inch.
I want to give more. I want to give everything. I want to be strong enough to believe these feelings won’t break me. Strong enough to let go of my past.
My hands wrap tightly around his waist, pulling him to me, the tightness in my muscles unfurling at the familiar pressure of his body flush against mine as an ache throbs between my legs.
I could kiss him forever.
Cool air blasts my damp lips as Max pulls away, a tortured look on his face as he shakes his head. “Goodbye, Cassandra.”
“What?” I gasp, grabbing his suit coat and pulling him toward me, panic dotting my eyes as he pulls away from me. “You just kissed me.”
“It was a goodbye kiss.” He grips my hands and uncurls my desperate hold on him, piercing my heart with the horrible realization that I’ve ruined any chance we had. “This was never the part that was broken.” He pins me with a look that silently says…it was you.
“Why do you seem sad today, Cozy?” Everly asks, stretched out on a towel in the sand by the creek.
“What makes you think I’m sad?” I push my sunglasses into my hair and peer down at her from my seat on the Adirondack chair.
“’Cuz every time you look at me, you get tears in your eyes.” Everly blinks those baby-blue eyes at me, and my eyes start stinging again.
“Allergies,” I scoff and turn to wipe my eyes.
I only have two more days with Everly, and she’s a perceptive little thing because she’s right. I have been crying every time I look at her today. I’m sad my time with her is coming to an end. And the worst part is, I can’t even tell her that tomorrow is our last day together because then I would ruin her mom’s surprise.
Everly turns her attention back to the friendship bracelet she’s making, and I smile as she sticks her tongue out in concentration. Does this kid have any idea how much she’s done for me this summer? A few months ago, I was dreading walking into that boardroom to interview for a nanny position I didn’t want. I didn’t want to step foot in another office, and I wasn’t ready to start punching a proverbial clock again. But my sister was desperate, and I was running low on funds.
So I begrudgingly showed up.
Then I had one conversation with my little Sea Monster, and I was a goner. So much so, I would have been devastated if I didn’t get the job.
This little girl has brought me back to the land of the living in a way I never even imagined. Nothing in my life has been quite as fulfilling as being a part of Everly’s existence. It’s been an honor.
“Did you like our summer of ‘doing less,’ little Sea Monster?” I croak, my voice revealing my emotions more than I expected it to.
“Uh…obviously,” she replies with a flick of her wrist, and I have to bite my lip because she has been mimicking a lot of my mannerisms this summer and the narcissistic pride I feel when she acts like me is totally shameful.
“Why exactly?” I ask, wanting to make sure I suck as much Everly goodness out of her while I still can. “I mean…your parents had you in a lot of cool activities. Was there a reason you were excited to just chillax with me instead of doing all those activities with your friends?”
Everly looks up at me and wrinkles her nose. “I was in the car too much.”
“What do you mean?” I inquire with a laugh at that odd response.
“Between going to Mom’s and going to Dad’s and then back to Mom’s and then to gymnastics and then to swim team and then to school and back again. It just felt like I was staring at the back of my mom’s and dad’s heads all the time. And I like their faces. I especially like my dad’s when he’s just being normal.”
“What do you mean normal?” I ask, my chest aching at the thought of not seeing Max’s face anymore after I move out this weekend. So many damn emotions going on in my body today.