Page 38 of Come A Little Closer

“Why not?” I asked. “I have several bedrooms for you to choose from. You wouldn’t have to sleep in mine.”

Unless you want to, of course.

Her eyes followed me as I strode closer to her. “Niall…”

“Tallulah?”

“There are some things we need to talk about, and three in the morning is hardly the time to do it.”

“Agreed,” I said easily. “However, we don’t need to talk at all considering that it is, in fact, three in the morning. Let’s just go to bed. I’ll show you to one of the guest bedrooms.”

“I can’t stay here,” she protested again, frowning when I sank to my haunches in front of her. “What are you doing?”

“Getting ready to grab you by the ankles if you try to leave,” I joked softly, imploring as I glanced up into her eyes once more. “Please stay. You’ve had a hell of a week and it was my fault. I really don’t like the idea of you driving back out to the plantation at this hour, but especially not after busting your ass like that all week.”

“Well, in that case, you don’t have to worry. Your truck is safely back at the plantation. I’ll get an Uber to take me home.”

I let out a frustrated grunt I couldn’t hold back. “Really? Do you honestly think that’s going to make me worry less? Look, if you want to leave, I can’t keep you here, but I’m begging you not to go.”

Our argument had turned fairly heated fairly quickly, but it was as if those words gave her either the courage or the inspiration to do what I’d been wanting to since she’d walked through those doors last night.

She leaned forward and caught my face in her hands, pulling me to her as her lips descended to mine. I groaned and moved onto my knees from my haunches, my hands falling to her hips as I slid my tongue into her mouth.

It wasn’t exactly the delicate approach I’d been talking to Jake about, but she was kissing me, and this time, I was even surer than I had been before that it was exactly what she wanted.

17

TALLULAH

Niall’s lips moved against mine and it was like we’d gone back in time. Those same sparks that had been coming off us last Saturday were back, but they were even more intense now than they had been before.

The tension between us had been building for another whole week and I didn’t know about him, but I was about done denying it. Sayra’s pep talk had helped as well, and so had the time I’d had to reflect since last weekend.

Tonight, I knew exactly what I was doing and what I wanted, and I was planning on taking it all the way. Niall Morrison was a gorgeous, intelligent, charming man for whom I had genuine feelings, and I was tired of waiting for… I honestly didn’t even know what I’d been waiting for anymore.

Deliberately shoving all my doubts and fears aside, I slid off the chair and wound my arms around his neck, standing on my knees in front of him. He moaned into my mouth, hooking an arm around my hips and hauling me closer.

I couldn’t remember ever feeling as wanted as I did right now, and that went a long way in convincing me that he was ready for this too. Neither of us seemed to be able to get enough, our lips crashing together again and again until finally he wrenched his mouth away from mine.

My heart was pounding as he stood up, and for a moment, I thought that was it. That he was going to turn around and walk away. But instead, he wordlessly offered me his hand. I moved my eyes up to his, holding those smoldering pools of blue in my gaze, and I slipped my palm into his, letting him pull me up.

As he did, he used his grip on me to spin me in a slow circle and I giggled, surprised as I spun and spun, feeling like a princess under the watchful eye of Prince Charming. When he finally brought me back to him, I landed with my hands on his chest and he lowered his mouth once more, pressing a hard kiss to my lips before he smiled.

“You’re so beautiful, Tallulah,” he murmured into the kiss, sliding his arms around my waist and pulling me closer as he swayed us from side to side. “I want you to stay, but I need you to know it’s not because I’m expecting anything. I just don’t seem to like it very much when you leave.”

I pushed my fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck, tipping my head back to smile at him. “Let’s be honest, it wasn’t going to be easy getting an Uber all the way out to the plantation after three in the morning anyway.”

He smiled. “Well, it’s not an ‘I don’t like leaving you either, Niall’, but I’ll take it.” He slid a hand down the length of my arm until his palm sealed against mine. Then he threaded our fingers together and led me to the staircase. “Would you like to sleep in your haunted wing, or would you prefer the other side of the house? And just so you know, my bedroom is on the other side of the house.”

My heart stammered in my chest, but then I remembered what I’d decided earlier. “Your bedroom sounds good to me.”

He blinked rapidly before a grin spread on his face and his gaze came down to mine. “You heard the part where I said I wasn’t expecting anything, right?”

“I did, but I also remember something about you promising to go on your knees and beg. You didn’t think I’d let you off the hook, did you?”

When we got to the second story, he tightened his grip on my hand and led me down one corridor and then another until finally we reached a door at the very end. Before he opened it, he turned to look at me, a mixture of desire and uncertainty in his eyes. “Even if you come in here with me⁠—”

“I know. I trust you, Niall. I know you won’t push for more than I’m ready to give.”