Page 40 of Crashing Into You

“It’s not over yet.” The words tumble from me. I can’t lie, though. I don’t want it to end yet. I don’t know what that means, or where it will lead. I just know it doesn’t end here.

He says nothing, and I know he’s waiting.You set the pace. I’ll just follow where you lead.I remember him saying that to me, in the surf. And true to his word, he’s letting me lead.

“Come inside,” I say. “Just for coffee. We can watch the sunset.”

And then see what happens.

ChapterEighteen

Bryce

Idon’t know what’s going to happen here.

And that is fucking exciting in and of itself. It’s been so long since I’ve gone back to a girl’s place and not just tumbled straight into bed with her. This feels like unmapped territory, somewhere I need to find my way through. And I’ve always been a bit of an adventurer.

Claire leads me inside her house, switching on the LED lights under her kitchen cupboards, the glow soft enough that it doesn’t interfere with the magnificent sunset sky framed in the huge windows.

“Fuck me.” Even though I’ve been here before, I pause to take it in. What I would give to live somewhere like this, someplace where the view changes with the light. The ocean sighs and murmurs below, constantly moving, lights coming on along the curving headlands. Claire bustles around in the kitchen, boiling the kettle, pouring water into the French press. I guess when she said coffee, she meant coffee.

It’s fine, though. I lean against the long granite island, watching her graceful movements, almost like a dance. I could watch her forever. Like the sea, I realise, she is ever changing.

Where that comes from, I don’t know. Romantic stuff isn’t usually my style. But it’s how I feel. And with that comes the realisation that, despite the fact I’ve known her for only a week, I’m catching feelings for this girl. Deep, powerful ones. Once again that sense of venturing into unmarked territory rises in me.

I’m cautious, I realise. Part of me is holding back, and I’m not sure why. There’s a lot of deep stuff here, like Matt was saying. All the shit I carry. My dad’s death when I was a kid. Millie’s addiction. My own lack of roots and stability. Do I really want to lay all of this on Claire? Maybe it’s better if it stays as just coffee tonight, despite what my body is telling me to do. But when she turns to me, those ocean eyes of hers reflecting the sky, all my doubt drains away.

“Do you want me to message him?” The words come out almost unbidden, along with a rushing need to comfort her, to hold her close against the world.

She pauses. “Simon?” She wrinkles her nose and goes back to what she’s doing. “No. Don’t waste your energy.”

“It’s not a waste.” I push myself off the counter and go towards her. “Not if it gets him to back off.”

She pours the coffee into mugs, spooning honey into mine. She licks some off her finger. “I don’t want to think about him.”

“No?” I’m close enough to touch her now, her scent of flowers and butterscotch swirling in my nostrils, blended with the warmth of coffee. “What do you want to think about?”

Her finger is still in her mouth. I watch her pull it out. Fuck. I’m getting hard already.

“You.”

It’s like a match to my flame. I pull her to me, my mouth descending on hers. She tastes like honey, and as her arms twine around my neck, her body pressing against me, I’m this close to losing control, to picking her up and throwing her on the sofa to have my way with her.

But I pull back, smoothing the hair from her face, gazing into her ocean-dark eyes. Her mouth is swollen, bee-stung by my kisses. She puts her hand on my chest and takes a breath, like she’s about to say something. Then she stops. I can see the struggle in her face.

“What is it?” I put my hand over hers, over my heart.

“I’m a virgin,” she mutters, looking down.

What the fuck?

Claire

If I didn’t ruin things before, I surely have now.

After my announcement I wait for Bryce to pull away, laughing. To get in his car and drive away, out of my life, back to his existence where the women are all gorgeous and experienced. Why on earth would he want to bother getting to know me now?

But he doesn’t do either of those things. Instead, his green gaze softens. “You are? Truly?” Then he does laugh, but it’s just a breathy chuckle. “Simon really is a dickhead, isn’t he?”

“I know it’s stupid, but I’m glad I didn’t… I’m glad we… er…”