Chapter 12 #2
“Oh, um, hi,” I hear from a few feet away, and I see Isabella walking toward us, apron still on, and a little bit of flour dots her forehead.
The bakery is a block from where I met Luca, and I imagine she had no idea I’d be here.
“I was just coming to grab a drink while I finish up my muffins for tomorrow.”
Her eyes are zeroed in on Caleb, then they dip to where my arm holds him in place. I flex my hand, and watch as her pupils dilate.
“You wanna join us, Belle?” Luca asks.
“No, but thanks. I have a lot to finish, but I need a little caffeine to do it,” she explains, tearing her gaze from me to look at her brother.
“You sure? Seb can scoot over,” Luca says with a smirk. Asshole knows exactly what he’s doing, baiting both of us.
“No. I need to get back to work,” Isabella says. She grabs the large fountain drink the server left for her on the counter, and waves to us awkwardly.
Nope.
“I’ll walk you,” I announce, carefully sliding out of the booth and depositing Caleb into Hannah’s arms.
“You look good with a baby,” Hannah whispers. “You think she’ll want to be the momma?”
“Say a prayer for me,” I murmur as I wink at her and wave at her husband. Turning, I expect to find Isabella, but see she’s already through the door and speed-walking down the street. Damn, she wants to avoid me that badly?
I take off at a jog to catch up to her, calling her name. She turns, and at the same time, I notice her ex-boyfriend loitering outside the bakery entrance. Shit. I turn Isabella slightly so I’m blocking the angle, and whisper, “Do you trust me?”
“Why?” Unblinking, I see the immediate fear she feels.
“Yes or no, mi Cielo .”
“Yes,” she whispers.
“Good.” And with that, I bend down and take her lips with mine.
This is nothing like the kiss at the Clubhouse where I basically marked territory.
This kiss is a fucking branding. This kiss is full of every ounce of desire I’ve felt for this woman over the last decade.
Pulling her to me, I slide one hand to the back of her neck and an arm around her waist. I grip her braid, pulling lightly, moving her head the direction I want so I can take the kiss deeper.
Isabella gasps into my mouth, and I take the opportunity to slip my tongue between her perfect lips.
I groan as her tongue sneaks out to tentatively touch mine, and her arms come around my waist.
God dammit, this is the best kiss of my life. I fucking knew it would be like this with her. I knew it. It’s perfect. Her taste explodes on my tongue, and I can’t help but think about how she tastes elsewhere. I need this beautiful woman in my bed.
Her warm vanilla scent covers me like a quilt, the scent I’ve come to know as something so inherently Isabella that I think no one else should ever smell this way. Sugary sweet, a juxtaposition of her quiet and reserved personality.
I hear a catcall from somewhere, forcing me to focus before I do something subconsciously like grab her ass, and I break off the kiss.
We’re both breathing heavily, and I look down to find Isabella’s pink lips gloriously plump from the kiss.
I slide my hand along her jaw, then gently rub my thumb against her bottom lip.
“Why?” she whispers breathlessly.
“Your ex was watching,” I murmur. Her eyes widen as she attempts to look beyond me, but I tighten my arm around her waist. “If you look for him, he’ll know it was a show for him. Leave an arm wrapped around me as we walk back to the bakery. Now look up at me, and pretend you really do like me.”
She laughs lightly, and buries her head against my chest. I can’t resist the opportunity to kiss the top of her head, and we begin walking back to the bakery.
My phone is vibrating incessantly in my pocket, as I’m sure Luca watched, and I bet the Eternity Springs phone tree is already working overtime.
Hell, I bet an article on The Eagle Has Landed , the stupid city website that turned into a TMZ-inspired gossip site, is getting approval as we walk .
“Just so you know,” I whisper so only Isabella can hear, “I didn’t just kiss you for him. I kissed you because I’ve wanted to know what you tasted like for years, mi Reina . Years. And when you finally accept that this is happening, I plan to taste every perfect inch of your body.”
“I don’t know how to respond to that,” she stammers, but her arm tightens around my waist. We pass the spot where her ex was, and I stop right outside the bakery. Turning her, I look into her eyes.
“You know exactly how to respond, but your brain is fighting you on it. You want this as much as I do. I know it,” I tell her strongly.
Looking in the bakery, I see Trace skulking around the back, and Isabella’s part-time associate standing behind the counter.
How the hell Isabella snuck out without Trace knowing is beyond me, but Trace will be getting an earful about the whole situation later today.
“And the next time you want a drink, you send whichever one of my men is in there, or you call me.”
“That’s ridiculous. Why would I call you for a soda? You’ll undoubtedly be at least thirty minutes away,” she scoffs, rolling her deep brown eyes.
I bend down so we’re eye level. “If no one can get you a drink, I will happily drive here to get you one. I told you I’d never lie to you, and this is no different. You have my word. Now please promise me you won’t go by yourself again.”
She studies me momentarily. “This is my town, Sebastian. I think I’m safe here.”
“There are only two places you’re safe, Isabella. One is in my house, and the other is in my bed. Preferably underneath me. Promise me you’ll call me if you need a drink.”
“In your bed,” she repeats.
“In my bed.”
“Underneath you,” she whispers, not realizing her hand holding my shirt has tightened into a fist, anchoring me to her.
“Underneath me.”
Isabella bites her lip, hesitating momentarily before blurting out, “ Only underneath you?”
A wicked smile blooms across my face. Finally, my sweet girl wants to play.