Chapter 25 #2
I stumbled back a little until my back hit a tree. Luke’s hands found my waist, and my arms grabbed his for support. My heart was racing as I tried to get a hold of the situation, but his gaze trapped mine. We were in our little bubble again.
“Well, for starters... I love a good burger,” I whispered and gulped as his nose lightly grazed my cheek.
My breath hitched at the feeling of his hips pressing into mine.
He cupped my face, and I closed my eyes, leaning into his touch.
I couldn’t have helped myself even if I wanted to.
I longed to stay here. In his arms. But my pounding heart reminded me why I shouldn’t.
“Luke,” I breathed, forcing myself to meet his eyes. “You were right yesterday. We’re too different. I’m...” I lowered my eyes, the words stuck in my throat. “I’m not the girl for you. I’m not the girl you want.”
I couldn’t look him in the eyes, but his fingers tensed on my skin. His other arm slid behind me and pulled me closer, making my legs go jello. He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear.
“Hazel, sweetie. Look at me.”
I lifted my gaze. The person staring back at me was collected, confident, and sure. So sure.
“There’s nothing in the world I want more right now.” His eyes didn’t lie, just like mine never could. His forehead touched mine, and I closed my eyes again. It was officially too much for me to handle. My fingers brushed over the linen shirt, feeling his muscles flex the moment I touched him.
This forest had to be enchanted. Otherwise, I would’ve never let a small moan escape me as his thumb traced my lower lip. Just like last night.
“I can’t get it out of my mind,” he softly said, holding me in his spell.
“What?”
He sighed. “The incredible softness of your lips.”
I wanted to throw all my reasons out the window.
I wanted Luke, desperately. And what’s worse—I wanted him to want me.
To really want me. But it was so hard to care about the reality when his scent blinded me and his palm burned into my skin.
His hand slid back to my hip, thumb brushing dangerously close to my lower belly, sending sparks straight between my legs.
Which lips was he talking about?
Oh, my God. Shut the hell up, Hazel! You NEVER say that to him.
His breath hit my face, flooding me with memories of yesterday’s kiss. Kisses, in fact—there had been many. Each different—soft, calm, desperate, rushed, intoxicating, every possible emotion. And the thrill of it happening again sent me into overdrive. Because now I knew how he tasted.
Luke closed in, our mouths so close our breaths tangled. I could already feel his tongue on mine. Just an inch closer.
“HAZEELLLL!”
A loud scream echoed through the majestic forest. We froze, locked in each other’s gaze, afraid to break the spell. Not uttering a word. Not even breathing.
“LUUUKKE!”
Luke groaned, burying his face in my shoulder, his grip on my hips tight.
Struggling to hold himself back. Loud laughter burst from me, and I couldn’t stop.
I felt his lips curve into a smile against my neck.
My giggles only got worse, and I covered my eyes with my hand, embarrassed by the emotions coursing through me.
“I’m dumping them tomorrow,” he muttered, lifting his head. Green moss clung to his hair, his eyes dark and earthy, blending seamlessly with the forest’s palette.
“No, you’re not. You love them,” I said, still trying to tame my laughter. I brushed the tiny particles out of Luke’s dark locks, earning a heavy sigh from him.
“Unfortunately,” he grunted, and then leaned in, pressing a quick, achingly sweet kiss to my cheek. Then, without saying another word, Luke took my hand and led me back to the people he loved most in the world.
* * *
At some point, we had entered a city, but I’d missed the sign, so we could be anywhere.
We parked on a busy street where locals and tourists blended together.
Was it the weekend? I wasn’t sure anymore.
Time blurred together in this sunny country.
Even those with jobs strolled lazily down the street, relaxed and without trouble on their minds.
I found myself smiling, carried by their ease, feeling like one of them.
As we walked down the street, I caught Luke watching me. “What?”
“Nothing, just... you look happy,” he said.
“I’m always happy,” I replied, laughing.
“You always make others think that you’re happy. But right now, I think you actually are.” His words settled inside me, but before I could respond, he smirked. “But not as happy as you’ll be in 3...2...1...”
We turned a corner, and I froze, finally recognizing where we were. A tall white building stood before me, adorned with intricate flowers and angels carved into the stone. Above the large wooden doors, gold lettering shimmered in the soft afternoon sun.
“No,” I gasped, turning to Luke. “Livraria Lello. I’ve always wanted to come here!” A grin stretched across my face as I covered my mouth with my palm.
“Wow, look at that,” Norah added, captivated by the patterns etched into every surface.
“It’s one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, and we haven’t even got inside of it. Ahh, the red stairs,” I practically shouted. Confusion flickered across their faces, but they’d understand soon.
“You know this is the place where J.K. Rowling had the inspiration to write Harry Potter?” I told the most well-known fact in the publishing world, although Norah seemed more interested in the hidden patterns of rooftop tiles. Typical Ravenclaw.
We stepped inside, and it stole my breath immediately. For the next hour, I got lost in the old wooden shelves, surrounded by the incredible smell of book pages that you only get when they’re endlessly flipped by hundreds of visitors. Finally, I had the chance to do the same.
I scanned every shelf, a few books catching my eye, but thoughts of my carry-ons and the dreaded airline weight limit kept me in check. Even if I ditched every piece of clothing, it still might not be enough. All I wanted was to take home at least one treasure from this beautiful place.
On the other hand, a hundred books couldn’t outweigh the heaviness in my heart about Luke and our misstep yesterday. I needed to talk to him. As summoned, he climbed the stunning red staircase and strode straight toward me.
“So, does the U.S. Federal Reserve print as many dollars as we’re spending here?” he quipped.
“You dummy, they use euros here,” I shot back.
Luke’s gaze skimmed the shelves in front of him. We were standing in the middle of the Romance section, filled with kissing couples on the covers, each only differing in pose and background color.
“Who reads these? They’re basically all the same,” Luke said, picking up The Notebook. On the cover, Ryan Gosling was holding Rachel McAdams in his arms, sharing a passionate kiss in the rain.
“Don’t you dare hate on my man Nicholas.” I turned my attention to the book. “Don’t listen to him, you two are perfect. Haters gonna hate.” Luke snorted a laugh.
“I just find it hard to believe. It’s too easy a story.” I snatched the book out of his hands because he clearly didn’t deserve Noah and Allie.
“It’s an incredible story of two opposite people falling madly in love and choosing each other despite their differences, even after all those years.
It’s the total opposite of easy. Besides,” I added, putting the book back on the shelf and looking at it from afar, “who doesn’t like to be kissed in the rain?
” As the words left my mouth, heat rushed to my cheeks.
I knew he felt the shift as much as I did.
“Good to know,” he said, a smile on his lips. I didn’t have to see it to know he had one.
That’s enough. I was flirting with him, and that had to stop.
“Listen, Luke,” I said, checking if others weren’t listening.
“About yesterday.” I pushed out a breath, dreading this conversation since the moment I woke up this morning.
“I shouldn’t have done that to you. With you.
I mean, kiss you. Of course, you kissed me too, I guess, but.
..” I was rambling, but Luke looked unaffected.
“I was a part of it and I didn’t stop it, even though I should have, because we shouldn’t be doing this. ”
“You didn’t like the kiss?”
“That’s not what I said.” I shook my head, trying to get back on track, but it was hard with those tanned muscles flexing on purpose and calling me by my full government name.
“Is there a particular reason why you’re reading the end of a book?” he asked, completely derailing the conversation.
“What?” I blurted a little bit too loudly, and a lady behind us turned her head and shushed us.
“When I walked up, you were reading the last page. Why?”
“Did you hear what I just said?” I asked, frustrated.
“Just answer the question.”
I crossed my arms and looked down at my feet.
“I don’t read the ending. Just the last page,” I said.
“And that is considered the...” he teased as I rolled my eyes. To which he cocked his head in that devastatingly handsome way.
“Sometimes, if a book and the synopsis intrigue me, I sneak a peek at the last page. Not the whole chapter, just the final lines. It never gives away enough to spoil the story, but it’s fascinating to see how it all wraps up,” I admitted.
“By the time I actually read the whole book and reach the last page, I barely even remember. It’s just a kink I have. ”
“A kink, you say?” he grinned at me, like I was cute and it amused him.
“Stop that,” I scolded, but his grin only widened.
It was not the Hazel in particular that he liked.
He liked women in general. Especially the ones whom he kissed.
And he kissed me, because I let him. I had to neutralize this.
I needed to keep my boundaries so that yesterday wouldn’t happen again.
Luke was intentionally not indulging me on this, so I played it his way.
“Yes, a kink. A word you probably toss around every time you drag some stranger home a few hours after meeting her,” I said to him in a sweet, mocking voice.
“And don’t worry—I know I’m not the type of girl a guy like you is looking for.
Not for this, anyway.” I nudged my chin toward the romance section.
His smile faded, but he kept staring, silent.
No words, big boy?!
I gave him my best smile and walked away. Ava found me at checkout while I was searching for my wallet.
“Where’s everyone?”
“I’m not sure about the others, but Luke’s upstairs hating on the old classic romance stories. You know, the usual.”
She laughed. “He’s not that bad. He’s always supported us at least, and as far as I know, he has never tried to talk Alex out of our relationship, so I guess the concept isn’t the problem.”
So it’s me. I’m the problem, it’s— Ahh. Stop quoting Taylor Swift.
All I managed to reply was an indifferent hmm. Outside, I paused, letting the sight of the spectacular building wash over me. With time, I’ve learned that stopping like this helps me stay present. To appreciate where I am and how I got here.
I gazed up at the towering pillars just as Luke joined us, and took a deep breath. The frustration had somehow eased, leaving only gratitude in my heart.
“Thank you for bringing me here.” My eyes returned to the bookstore’s facade, aware of his steady gaze on me. It took all my willpower not to look back.
“My pleasure.”