Chapter Ten #3
The distance between them vanished as Grant drew her closer, his arms settling around her waist while her fingers slipped into his hair.
Memories and emotions she had spent years trying to bury rose to the surface all at once, reminding her of every reason she had fallen in love with him and every reason she had never truly let him go.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing harder than before, Grant rested his forehead against hers.
The snow continued to fall around them, soft flakes drifting from the dark sky and settling on Grant’s coat and in the strands of his dark hair.
Amelie could still feel the lingering effects of his kiss, her heart beating far too fast and her lips tingling as he rested his forehead against hers.
Neither of them moved, nor seemed willing to put even an inch of distance between them. The world beyond the small circle they occupied had faded away entirely, leaving only the two of them standing beneath the moon’s glow high above.
Grant’s hands remained anchored on her waist as he let out a quiet breath. “I don’t want tonight to end yet.”
The admission sent a warmth spreading through her chest that had nothing to do with the thick winter coat she was wearing. The truth was, she didn’t want it to end either.
A smile tugged at her lips as a slightly reckless thought entered her mind.
Tilting her head back, she met his gaze. “Who says it has to?”
For a split second, Grant stared at her, as if making sure he had heard her correctly. Amelie didn’t allow him to answer. Rising onto her tiptoes, she placed one of her hands against his cheek and kissed him again.
The soft moan that escaped him nearly melted her on the spot.
Grant immediately deepened the kiss, pulling her closer. The kiss was nothing like the tentative one they had shared moments earlier. This one was hungry and passionate.
It was years of longing and missed opportunities, wrapped together in a way that stole her breath.
His hands tightened at her waist while her fingers curled into the hair at the back of his neck, and for several wonderful seconds, the entire world disappeared.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing noticeably harder, Grant stared down at her with a sly grin that instantly made her suspicious.
“Stay with me tonight,” he said softly.
She looked deep into his eyes, and every sensible argument her brain tried to offer took one look at Grant and promptly jumped out the nearest window.
Maybe she should have slowed things down. But instead, all she could think about was how much she wanted to be with him.
A slow smile spread across her face. “I think following my heart is what got me into trouble with you the first time.”
Grant’s grin widened.
“And what is your heart saying now?”
Amelie laughed softly. “That it would be incredibly hypocritical of me not to listen to it.”
The excitement that flashed across his face was almost comical.
“What does that mean exactly?” he asked.
“It means yes. I’ll stay with you tonight.”
The second the word left her mouth, Grant moved. And before she could even process what was happening, he had scooped her off her feet, thrown her over his shoulder, and started striding toward the hotel.
A startled shriek burst from her lips.
“Grant Carter!”
“No take-backs,” he laughed.
“Oh, my God!” She couldn’t stop laughing as she bounced against his shoulder. “Grant, put me down.”
“Absolutely not.”
“People are staring.”
“I don’t care. Let them stare.”
“Grant!”
“I’ve waited twelve years for this. You’re lucky I’m walking and not running.”
Amelie laughed so hard her sides ached. The sheer ridiculousness of the situation felt perfectly fitting somehow. The billionaire businessman carrying her through the middle of a Swiss village like a caveman should have embarrassed her.
Instead, she couldn’t remember the last time she had been this happy.
Then another thought suddenly hit her.
“The boys.”
Grant’s shoulders immediately started shaking with laughter.
“The boys are fine. Plus, they sort of already had an idea that something like that might happen.”
Amelie narrowed her eyes, even though he couldn’t see them. “What does that mean?”
Grant chuckled. “The boys told me that they didn’t mind if I had a sleepover with their mom.”
For three whole seconds, she couldn’t even form words. Then she groaned and buried her face against the back of his coat.
“No, they did not.”
“Oh, they absolutely did,” he said, laughing.
“Oh, my God.”
Apparently, while she had been busy worrying about absolutely everything, Tyler and Trevor had already decided to take charge of the situation.
Honestly? The more she thought about it, the less surprised she became.
Grant laughed again and squeezed the back of her leg.
“Tyler even warned me about using protection. He even used him and his brother as living proof of what happens when you don’t.”
Amelie shook her head as another laugh escaped her. “I cannot believe them.”
“I can.”
The worst part was that she could too.
As the lights of the hotel grew closer and Grant continued carrying her through the falling snow, Amelie found herself smiling.