Page 59 of Polo Fever
Oh God, he’s so cute.The way he’s hating being this vulnerable in front of me. How he’s specifying that he wouldn’t harm a spider. This is disastrous.
How am I going to stop my feelings for him afterthis?!
‘I am fine in enclosed spaces,’ he continues to ramble, shutting his eyes now that we’re officially standing on the viewing platform and I bring him to a stop. ‘And I’m good with speed. I can go fast. You’ve seen me on a horse.’
‘I have seen you on a horse,’ I confirm quietly, gazing up at him as he talks, completely ignoring the view of the entire city stretching out around us and choosing instead to study his face, so strikingly handsome even when scrunched up in angst.
‘So you know that I-I am a strong a-and f-fearless person. Usually.’ His eyes still clamped shut, he swallows again, his Adam’s apple bobbing. ‘Oh God, I hate this, Ash. This is horrible, I can’t… I can’t do it, I’m sorry. I need to—’
The rest of his sentence dissolves on my lips as I’ve reached up to cup his face in my hands and draw his mouth to mine. I couldn’t fight my need to kiss him a moment longer. Any sensible thought has been squashed by the need to be as close to him as physically possible when he’s standing in front of me like this, exposed and worried. In this moment, I can’t help my raw and overwhelming urgency for it to be me that comforts him, and only me.
I want him to need me the way I think I might need him.
The way I know I need him.
He’s stunned by the kiss at first, his breath hitching at my lips, but then I feel the warmth of his hands find my waist before sliding slowly round to the small of my back, locking me in place against him. My arms loop around his neck as I arch my body into his, kissing him tenderly and firmly at the same time, my heart thrumming as he responds by deepening the kiss, his arms tightening around me.
I’m not going to let you fall, my lips are telling him.
I’m not going to let you go, his are telling me.
When we break the kiss, he doesn’t release me quite yet, his forehead pressed against mine. Digging my front teeth into my bottom lip, I slide my palms down to rest against his warm, solid chest as it heaves up and down with heavy, shaking breaths.
Bollocks.I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want him.
‘Are you okay?’ I ask.
‘Better than I was,’ he croaks, the corners of his mouth tugging into that small, secretive smile of his, before he draws his head back to glance to his right. His face crumples and he closes his eyes again. ‘Oh fuck.Mierda.’
‘We’ll go back down.’
‘No, you need to… get your fucking pictures or whatever the fuck you want up here in the sky,’ he says, making me laugh. ‘Thenwe’ll go back down.’
‘Are you sure? If you’re uncomfortable then—’
‘Please,go,’ he insists. ‘And enjoy the view. Don’t rush it and let this all be a waste.’
‘Thank you for coming with me. I wish you’d told me you were scared of heights, but… thank you.’
He shrugs. I run my hands down the curves of his arms,finding his hands and grasping them in mine. He sighs heavily, dropping his head as his eyelids reluctantly flutter open and he keeps his eyes determinedly locked to mine.
‘I won’t be long,’ I add.
‘Sure, sure,’ he says, clearing his throat as though wanting to give the impression he’s in full control, the unease flickering in his eyes giving him away. ‘You go.’
‘I’m going to go up onto the upper deck.’
‘The upper—’ He stares at me, aghast. ‘You can gohigher? Thanthis?’
‘The level above is open air.’
A small, strangled sound emits from his throat.
‘There’s literally a cage around the deck, so it’s completely secure,’ I add calmly, easing my fingers loose of his grip. ‘I’ll be back in a bit.’
‘Fine. Be careful,’ he says gruffly, folding his arms across his chest as he remains frozen to the spot, refusing to go near the window.
‘I will,’ I say, heading to the elevator to go up a level. ‘I just wantonepicture of me hanging over the edge…’
