Hannah. (Van Den Bosch #7)

Chapter 22

22

Johan

Hannah is sleeping at the odd hour of 5 pm, and I’m stuck impossibly between the desire to wake her to hear her voice and steal kisses from her lush mouth or to let her sleep because I know she needs the rest. Hell, this is far from my first time, and I could do with a nap, too, but I'll be damned if I give up any second I can spend watching her.

She’s on her stomach, the sheet pooled down past her waist, covering one-half of her perfect ass and both of her shapely legs. The long expanse of her fair bareback is obscured only by the fall of her chocolate brown hair, stark against the paleness of her skin. The flush that covered her chest and face earlier from our erotic activities has faded, and she has her cheek resting on her folded arms as she sleeps.

Hannah has always been beautiful to me, but seeing her like this—naked, satisfied, and so content—is a whole new kind of gorgeous. She's exhausted, and that's partly my fault. What can I say? It’s been years of fantasies; I’ve wanted Hannah for a very, very long time at this point. There’s a pit in my stomach when I think of the time I spent in bed with Astrid, but despite her loveliness, she has always just felt like a distraction. A placeholder to pass the days. Fuck, I’m an asshole, but all I can do is make sure the break with Astrid is clean and that I treat Hannah with all the affection and respect she deserves.

With one finger, I touch the nape of her neck, tracing a barely-there path down her spine to the adorable dimples right above the swell of her ass. Hannah hums sleepily, shifting and turning her face to the side. One eye opens, and she blinks at me, a slow, satisfied smile curling her lips.

“Are you watching me sleep?” she asks, her words muffled by the pillow.

“Yes.” My response is immediate, and Hannah’s smile widens. “You’re so beautiful. How could I not?”

“You’re sweet,” she mumbles, and her eyes close again. “I don't know how you’re awake. I feel like I’ve run a marathon.”

Because, for some reason, I’m still terrified that this is just temporary. Even if I plan on keeping you forever. I can’t tell her that, though, and ruin the warm, sleepy look of adoration she’s wearing. “I’m awake because it's the middle of the day, but I understand if I was too much for you,” I joke.

“Hm. Actually, I don't think you were too much. You were the perfect amount.”

“Oh yeah? Tell me more. With explicit detail.” I raise a rakish eyebrow, and Hannah giggles, turning her face back into the pillow. “No, wait, don’t hide your laughter! I love the sound.”

“Johannnn,” she protests, and I crawl over the mattress, stretching my body over hers. Hannah sighs happily and then shifts, rolling beneath me, her eyes meeting mine. They're big and bright and so deep that I could drown in them. “Hi.”

“Hey, sweetheart,” I say and lower myself until I’m flush against her, my weight resting on my elbows. Hannah’s hands rest on my shoulders, and her fingers toy with the short hair at the nape of my neck, making goosebumps rise on my skin. “I quite like the look of you like this.”

“Thank you,” she murmurs, then she looks up at me shyly. “For everything.”

I feel a twinge of guilt that threatens to open up into a canyon. I have to stop it now before it becomes too much. “You’re welcome, Hannah.” I ghost my lips over hers, not letting her pull me into the full kiss she so clearly wants. A ball of anxious energy is growing in me, and there is the oddest desperation to run making my leg muscles tighten. I need an excuse. “Wait here, sleepy girl. I'll be right back.”

“Don’t go,” she protests, but I need some space, need to breathe and distract myself from the shameful memory of the other woman back at Cambridge that I’ve so thoroughly broken and how it’s warring with a feeling so vast and unfamiliar that I have for Hannah that I’m terrified it might be….

Might be…love?

“I'll be right back,” I say, pulling on my briefs before shrugging on my robe and tying it tightly. “Promise.”

Our suite smells intoxicatingly like Hannah's perfume and sex, but it's actually a relief to get a lungful of the fresh air out in the hallway. It clears my head and settles me, and by the time I make it downstairs, I’m calm. Focusing on the cool wooden floor under my bare feet and the painfully pleasant stretching of my sore muscles centers me. Okay. Okay. There is a beautiful girl upstairs in my bed waiting for me without a stitch of clothing, and I’m sure as hell not going to ruin that by having a meltdown in front of her.

I find the first house staff member I can and order a small tray of refreshments, insisting that I'll carry it up myself. I’m not sure Hannah would be too happy if a housekeeper burst into the room where she is lounging in the nude.

When I return, she’s sitting up, the sheet wrapped around her like some sort of messy toga, and she breathes a sigh of relief when she sees me. “There you are.” A rush of emotions plays over her features, mirrored in the set of her shoulders and the stiffness of her spine that gradually relaxes. Damn. She must have thought I was having regrets and running off like some asshole. An apology forms on my tongue, but before I can utter it, the tray catches her eye. “What did you bring me?”

Ah, good. Food. A subject that isn’t littered with potential landmines. “Just a little something to bring you back to life is all.” I place the tray on the mattress, decorum be damned. On it are two golden brown pain au chocolats and two small white cups of espresso. “I know you love these, and you'll need the caffeine if you’re going to keep those pretty eyes open for the rest of the night.”

Hannah’s smile is blinding. Then she climbs across the bed and kneels next to the tray, picking up a flaky pastry and breaking it open. The smell of chocolate and butter wafts between us, and she moans.

“This is perfect,” she says and offers me the other piece. I shake my head, and she shrugs, biting into it and licking a crumb from the corner of her mouth. “Mmm.”

“I’m glad,” I say as I watch her eat, and her cheeks turn pink. “What?”

“Stop watching me, Johan. You’re making me self-conscious.” She adjusts her sheet toga, much to my disappointment. The only thing more satisfying than seeing her enjoy the food I brought might be seeing her enjoy it with her perfect breasts on full display. “I feel like I should mind my manners.”

“Never,” I assure her, sitting on the edge of the bed, stretching my long legs out. “There are no manners here, darling. You’re utterly fascinating.”

Hannah finishes the pain au chocolat and washes it down with a sip of espresso. When she’s done, she crawls across the mattress and deposits herself in my lap, her arms winding around me. “Thank you,” she whispers. “It was delicious, and you’re right, just what I needed.”

Her laugh is breathy as I wind my arm around hers, finishing off my own espresso without displacing her and waiting for the kick of caffeine to hit my veins. “Of course it was. My perception is unmatched.”

“Mhm. Arrogant as ever, I see.” She takes the cup from my hands and places it back on the tray. Then her fingers slide through the opening of the robe, her nails running along the muscles of my chest. I shudder at the contact and her nails on my skin. “So, what did you and your overinflated ego have in mind for our newfound energy?”

As much as I’d love to stay in bed with her for the rest of the night, I need to pace myself. After years of pent-up sexual frustration, it would be too easy to wear her out; she’s probably a bit sore already and won’t even realize it until she’s on her feet. As much as Hannah would probably deny it, she's new to all this and needs to go easy, and it’s my duty to take care of her.

“I thought we could explore and go a bit outside,” I tell her. “I used to love hiking through the forest as a kid; there are all sorts of ruins and secret little places to discover. But something tells me you’re not up for a hike, huh?”

Hannah looks down at her legs where they are wrapped around my waist, no doubt thinking of how they shook earlier. “Ah, no. Maybe not today.”

I massage her upper legs, both out of empathy and because I’ll take any excuse to touch her. “I suspected as much. There is a Japanese Garden nearby and a nice paved walk. How does that sound?”

“That sounds lovely.” She rests her cheek on my shoulder and remains quiet for a moment. “Can we just stay for a few more minutes, though?”

I lean back, reclining on the pillows and pulling her with me, and Hannah settles against me happily. The sheets are around her waist, and the creamy swells of her breasts push against me, her nipples brushing the fabric of the robe. My cock stirs, but I ignore it. Later. There is time for that later. Right now, I’ll bury my nose in the sweet scent of her hair and cherish the weight of her body in my arms. Hannah snuggles her face against me as I tell her, “Of course we can.”

There’s little I could deny this woman as long as it’s in my power to give it to her.

“Johan?” she asks, looking up with a hint of concern in her eyes. “Can we stop by a pharmacy? I might need to get something.”

The reality of what she’s implying hits me, and I feel like a total ass for not considering it sooner. “Oh gosh, of course,” I respond, my voice laced with regret. “I’m so sorry, Hannah, I completely forgot you might not be on the pill.”

She offers a small, understanding smile. “That’s alright; I didn’t really have time to think about it.”

I lean down and press a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Don’t worry, we’ll get whatever you need.”

After the Missus has had her fill of cuddling, we quickly wash up, Hannah not wanting to get her hair wet for the second time today with a full shower. We both pull on clothes more suited to our upcoming activities. When Hannah emerges in her cozy, knitted sweater and fitted jeans, my mouth goes dry. It’s not revealing—hell, she’s been naked in bed with me for hours now—but the outfit emphasizes her long, lean legs, and the sweater dips just low enough to give me a tantalizing hint of the shadowy valley between her breasts. Her figure, lithe and soft, would make even a bag look astounding. I can’t resist her. Not even for a second.

“You look gorgeous.” My voice is rough, and Hannah blushes. “Just gorgeous.”

“I'd tell you the same, Johan,” she responds, her half-lidded eyes raking over me. “But I’d be lying.”

Despite her sarcastic comment, I pull her against me, my lips capturing hers. Hannah sighs into the kiss, her arms winding around me and clinging to me. Having this gorgeous creature in my arms makes me feel ten feet tall. It’s all so surreal.

“That’s a hell of a compliment,” I reply just as sarcastically before nipping at her earlobe. Hannah shivers and then gently pushes at me.

“Let's get going before we end up back in bed,” she teases and then takes my hand. Our fingers link together, and it’s the most natural thing in the world.

We head down to the car, and as we’re driving, I point things out to her. “There's a smaller, clear blue that’s perfect for swimming if you’re okay with the spring-fed water being frigid.” Beyond that, an old stone bridge connects us to the neighboring estate, more heavily wooded and wild-looking. “My father has wanted to buy that property for years,” I tell her, and Hannah raises her eyebrow. “He talks about expanding, moving out here for retirement, building a stable...you know how it is––dads and their constant planning.”

She nods knowingly. “So why doesn’t he? It seems a great area to retire in.”

“I guess the neighbors aren’t interested in selling. At least, not to him.” We’re quiet for a moment, and then I glance over at her. Hannah’s face is glowing in the sunlight, her bright eyes taking in the scenery, and her lips parted as she breathes deeply. “Hannah?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you consider a place like this as a second residence?” Her eyes go round, and she turns to look at me. “Not here, exactly, but someplace quiet. Quaint. For the future?”

She looks startled, and I wonder if I’ve gone too far. I could punch myself for letting the words slip out–we just slept together for the first time hours ago, dammit! Still…Hannah’s been a part of my life for a very long time. That’s got to account for something, right?

“Johan, I….” She’s shaking her head, and my stomach sinks. Shit. I’ve pushed too far. “Should we be talking about all this? That’s crazy, right? I mean, we just had sex, and now we’re talking about the future….” She twists the fabric of her shirt in her fingers nervously. “I don’t want to ruin this good thing we’ve got going. But….”

My hands clench and unclench on the steering wheel, and I’m desperate to burn off some of this nervous energy. “But what?”

“But on the other hand, I want to talk about it. It feels right. I’m just not sure that it is,” Hannah admits. “I mean, do you really see us...together for the long haul? I know you said you’re all in–that we’re all in–but discussing the future is even more serious than that.”

My initial instinct is to backtrack, maybe make a joke, and take the heaviness out of the conversation. Except…I don’t think that’s the right move. I don’t like lying to this precious woman who has bared herself body and soul to me.

Bloody hell. Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. If I’ve freaked her out, I might as well be totally honest. We’ve come this far, after all. As I keep my eyes on the road and turn left, I casually say, “Well, I might have been picturing an eventual future together since that day in your grandmother’s office.”

Her breath hitches, and her eyes grow wider still. All she can say is my name. “Johan.”

I take one hand off the steering wheel, holding it up. “I don’t want to pressure you or scare you, but yes. I want this. A lot. I want us.”

The rhythm of the conversation halts when I pull over into a parking spot near the garden entrance. It’s mostly deserted and serene, and it looks like we’ll have a fair portion of it to ourselves. That is…if the things I just said aren’t going to send her running for the hills.

While Hannah and I aren’t strangers to heartfelt, difficult conversations, the fact that we’re having one now, right after sleeping together, is a huge step forward. She hasn’t said anything since I last spoke, maybe two minutes ago, but those minutes feel like hours. Eternities, even, I should let her take her time, not rush her, but Hannah makes me reckless and impatient. So, like the fool I am, I press on anyway. “Do you want it too?”

Hannah inhales deeply, filling her lungs until her chest puffs out before slowly releasing the air through her pursed lips. Gathering herself, maybe. But her answer is one I would have waited forever for if she would have wanted me to.

“Johan, that’s what I’ve always wanted. It’s everything. But…where do we go from here? Back at Cambridge, there are so many obstacles….Astrid, of course. Conrad. Our families, eventually. My, um…tendency to have sticky fingers…” She waves her hands, quickly adding, “Which I’m completely done with, of course! Just…are you sure?”

“Yes,” I tell her firmly. My days with Astrid are officially done. If I’m being honest, I could make the cut a little cleaner and tie up some loose ends. It wasn’t as clean of a split as I’d have liked, but I’ll fix that the second my feet step back on the soil of campus. “It’s you and me, Hannah. Completely.”

Her face softens, and she smiles at me, which lights my heart on fire. Again, all she can say is my name, but within those two syllables is a world of feelings. “Johan.”

“I love hearing you say my name.” God, I’m getting hard for her again already, and we haven’t even gotten out of the car. Just watching her lips shape the sounds might do me in. “You've gotten inside of me, Hannah. In my mind and heart. I feel like I can do anything, be anything, so long as you’re here. You make me feel bigger than life.”

It’s a huge confession, but I’ll be damned if I don’t mean every bit of it. Hannah touches my face, the gentle tips of her fingers skimming over my cheek. “You’ve made me very happy too. I just don’t want us to get ahead of ourselves and screw this up. I’ve wanted this…you…forever, and now that you’re saying everything I’ve ever dreamed of, I don’t want to ruin it.”

“How could we possibly ruin this?” I sweep my arms out in a grand motion, encompassing her and me and even the sunset on the horizon.

“What happens if it doesn’t work out?” she asks softly. “I’m not sure I could stand it. Not after the pain of accepting that I’d never have you and then suddenly getting this second chance.”

“Hannah, I promise you, this is going to work out. It’s us, darling. Just you and me.”

She bites her lip and then nods. Hannah looks resolved, leans forward, and kisses the corner of my mouth. “Okay. We can figure this out, right?”

“Absolutely. Just take it one day at a time.”

“I can handle that,” she says and kisses me again. “For now, show me the garden.”

And just like that, everything is good between us again.

The garden is quiet, and Hannah holds my hand the entire way through the winding paths. The air smells crisp and clean, the trees rustle, and every so often, a bird calls overhead. Hannah points out a frog in the pond and stops to stare at the remaining flowers, her eyes bright. She’s in her element, and she’s happy, and it makes my own spirits soar.

“I wish I could bottle this up,” she murmurs as we sit on a stone bench in the center of the garden. A waterfall cascades quietly to our left. It’s a beautiful, peaceful little spot. Hannah rests her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes, humming happily. “Fall evening, floral notes on the breeze, a charming noble here to escort me…it’s nice.”

“I could bring you here anytime you’d like,” I tell her. “Or somewhere similar. You name the place.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she replies, opening her eyes, thick, sooty lashes obscuring them as she looks up at me. “I have a feeling that anything will do, so long as I’m with you.”

We kiss, slow and indulgent, and Hannah’s mouth is so warm, so perfect, and it sends a ripple of desire through me. This girl is going to be the death of me. I push her hair behind her ear, and she catches my hand in hers, threading her fingers through mine like she’s done so many times this evening. It’s as if she’s afraid if she lets go of me, I might disappear.

I have no intention of disappearing.

“So what's the plan, Johan?” she murmurs and squeezes my hand. “I know we’ve established that we want to give this thing between us an honest go of it, but I’m still nervous. Can we hash out the details? What happens when we go back to Cambridge?”

This is a loaded subject. I figured we'd talk about it more on the drive back home tomorrow evening, but if she wants to have it now, I'll humor her. “We have to return to the real world, is what.” When her spine goes stiff, I continue quickly. “Which just means we need to cool things off at least for a few weeks. Outside of my apartment, at least. In public, we're still teacher and student. And…ah…” I rub the back of my neck, supremely uncomfortable. “Astrid will have to be told eventually.” Hannah goes so still that she might as well be a statue. Poor thing. I knew this would be one of the hardest parts. “Don’t panic, darling. I’ll be the one to tell her. I’ll explain how much you’ve defended her and how much you value her friendship. It might take time for her to accept it, but she’s a reasonable girl. I’m sure you two will find your way back into each other’s good graces soon enough.”

Hannah relaxes a few degrees and leans back on the bench as the wind plays with the loose pieces of her hair. “Okay. Okay. That sounds…well, not good. But it's the best-case scenario, all things considered. Though it will be hard to pretend that we’re just acquaintances in class now.”

“Yes, but as much as I know you love being a troublemaker, let’s keep everything quiet for the time being.”

Hannah laughs, the sound carrying lightly on the breeze. “Okay, Professor.” Then her eyebrows furrow, and she looks at me seriously. “Will we be able to spend time together regularly? Or is that too risky?”

“I’m sure we can manage it, at least occasionally, when we're not around other people, at any rate.”

Hannah nods, and I can almost see the wheels in her head spinning as she considers our options. “Inside your apartment, though…” Hannah scoots closer to me, and her free hand slides up my thigh, making me tense up. “If I happen to walk around the town and accidentally end up in front of your building and ring your buzzer….”

I snort. “Hannah….”

“You'd welcome me in and offer me tea, right?” She bites her lips and bats her eyelashes, and it's the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. Hannah is all innocence, and yet, not. She’s playing, teasing me, and it's working. “And then, who knows what might happen from there?”

“Oh, I think we can make a pretty educated guess.” I smirk, looping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer to me.

“We could be…quiet,” Hannah says, pressing closer.

“Liar. You can't contain yourself,” I whisper. “And neither can I.” Giving up a few degrees of my restraint, I indulge in kissing her deeply, cupping her jaw, and tilting her face so it’s at the perfect angle to slide my tongue into her mouth and tease hers. Hannah whimpers and she's practically in my lap. I can feel the heat coming from between her thighs, and I’m certain that if she were to run her hand over the front of my slacks, she'd find me painfully hard and ready.

Pulling away might be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but it has to be done. If Hannah and I are going to survive the next few weeks, we have to control ourselves, and right now is not the time.

“Later,” I promise her. “For now, let's enjoy this.”

Hannah settles back on the bench, her cheeks pink and her lips swollen from my kisses. She looks thoroughly debauched and utterly perfect. “Fine. You’re right. Something tells me your unmovable scruples are going to become annoying, though.”

“Don’t worry,” I assure her. “I'll make it up to you.”

Hannah grins and nudges her shoulder against mine. “Good. Now, is there more to see?”

As our impromptu date continues, the Portmeirion Japanese Garden unfolds before our eyes, a hidden sanctuary of tranquility nestled amidst the vibrant Welsh landscape. Cherry blossoms sway gently in the breeze, their delicate petals painting the air with a soft, ephemeral blush.

“Feels like we’ve wandered into a fairy tale, doesn’t it?” I remark, a grin playing on my lips and my arm around her hips as we turn to walk down a winding path.

Hannah chuckles softly, her eyes bright with amusement. “Yeah, just waiting for the woodland creatures to start singing.”

We intertwine our fingers once more, silently agreeing to leave the heavier talk behind and just live in the moment. The air is filled with the sweet fragrance of blossoms, mingling with the earthy scent of moss-covered stones. Each step we take seems to bring us farther away from the complicated reality that we actually exist in.

“Think this place has a spell to make time stand still?” Hannah sighs, glancing around at the idyllic scenery.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think it does,” I reply, gently squeezing her hand.

We pause by a tranquil pond, koi fish swimming in elegant arches beneath the surface. Hannah leans closer, her voice a soft whisper against my ear. “Do you think they have secret underwater meetings?”

“Probably discussing the latest gossip in the fish world.”

As we continue our exploration, we find hidden alcoves adorned with glowing lanterns, casting a romantic glow over the gradually darkening landscape. We aren’t the only ones here, but the few other people we’ve passed are nowhere to be seen. With a sigh, Hannah lowers herself to the stone island between two of the bridges, slides off her boots, and slips her feet into the cold water.

“Come join me,” she urges, her smile playful.

“Now, how could I resist such a charming invitation?” I kick off my shoes and sit beside her, letting my legs dangle in the water. The koi have gathered around our feet, their curious fins brushing against our skin.

We lose track of time, content to just be in each other’s presence, enjoying the simple pleasures that surround us. The branches of the trees above dip and sway in the breeze, the leaves whispering secrets that seem reserved for us alone. Hannah rests her head against my shoulder again, her eyes closing as she takes a deep breath.

“I don't want this day to end,” she murmurs, her voice tinged with melancholy.

“Who said it has to end? We could always stay here and start a new life as fugitives from society.” My tone is light, but there’s a trace of seriousness beneath the words. How could I ever go back to a life without Hannah now that I’ve known what it's like to have her?

“I don’t think that will work,” she laughs airily. “Both of our families are quite attached to us, I believe.”

“True, they’d probably send a search party.”

A comfortable silence falls over us, and Hannah’s fingers make languid patterns on my thigh. Her touch is familiar and yet somehow still exciting, sending a jolt of electricity through my veins. It’s hard to remember why I’m supposed to resist her when every cell in my body is aching to feel her pressed against me.

“How is your family doing?” I ask her finally, more to avoid processing the strength of my feelings here and now. The warmth of her cheek on my shoulder seeps into my skin, the sugary scent of her skin headier in the heat of the evening. “I always enjoyed the dinners I was invited to in the past. I can see why the invitations stopped coming, though,” I nudge her foot with mine.

She wrinkles her nose. We aren't supposed to talk about Elise, at least that's what Hannah wished before, but I think after today, the target of my affection between the two sisters is quite clear. I’ve almost forgotten the empty ache I felt for the older Van den Bosch sister so long ago, the yearning for the ideal of what Elise represented. Then, seeing her in Capri with her now long-term boyfriend before they had admitted their feelings and how it had shaken me from the haze of those false, misdirected feelings.

With Hannah...Christ, it is so different. Every beautiful inch of her, the deep, vulnerable, flawed parts of her, I desire all of them with equal ferocity.

Eventually, she answers, and I’m glad to see I’m not receiving any of her ire for inquiring about her sister and the rest of her family. “They're great, actually. Mom and Dad dropped me off at Cambridge. They’d have loved to have seen you.”

“Perhaps another time. Maybe in the next few months, if you think it wouldn't be too odd.”

Hannah considers this. “Maybe. I could figure something out. If not, they'll understand. It’s not like either of us can afford a slip-up before we’ve informed everyone about…us.”

“Right.”

“And...Elise is great too, you know.” Hannah gives me a significant look.

“Is this a test?” I arch a brow, amused.

“No. Just…” Hannah shakes her head. “Nevermind. It’s fine. I’m being silly. And Elise and Dan are still together. I’ve never seen her so happy, Johan. He's the one for her; I really think he is.”

The fact I’m glad to hear that shows just how far separated I am from those years when Elise meant something to me. Something…but nothing even approaching what I feel for Hannah. “That's amazing. Love really does exist, doesn’t it?”

“Of course it does,” Hannah replies instantly back. “Andries and Roxanne are good as well. It’s so odd to see my two older siblings being adults in the real world while the younger ones are still so obviously kids. It leaves me feeling stuck in the middle, honestly.”

“You’re growing too, Hannah. You've got your own direction now, a passion for your major, and a degree to finish. Soon enough, you’ll feel like an adult, too.”

“Easy for you to say,” she teases. “You’re already a functioning member of society.”

“Only barely,” I chuckle. “Trust me, when I was first starting out, I had my fair share of sleepless nights wondering if I was doing the right thing.”

“Well, you did eventually find your path.” She returns my gesture from earlier, nudging my foot with hers and dragging her toes up the arch of it. “And I’ve started to find mine.”

“I’m glad they’re converging.”

“Me too. When I was younger, I always imagined that if I was lucky enough to catch your eye, I’d feel like a kid compared to you—a stupid, silly teenager.”

I frown, turning to meet her gaze. “Really? You’re far from it.”

“I know, but that’s what I thought two years ago. The idea of being with you made me feel immature and childish. Like I’d be overwhelmed by the whole experience, and I’d mess something up, and you’d realize that Elise would have been the better choice.”

A mortifying flash of memory—Elise and Dan on the beach—is quickly stifled. “You know good and well she and I would have never?—”

Hannah isn’t finished. “But that’s not how I feel now. When I’m with you, it’s like I’m the same person you always knew, but suddenly older, stronger, and more confident. It’s like you can see the best parts of me, and that makes me feel invincible. I’ve never felt this way before.”

“Me neither,” I confess, drawing her into my arms. Our lips meet, and in that moment, nothing else matters.

After passing by the pharmacy, I take Hannah back to the cottage once the sun is fully down. Despite the town lights, the stars are bright overhead. We don’t go in right away, walking around the estate together. Hannah’s arm is wrapped around my waist, and my arm is around her shoulders. We’re leaning into each other, walking slowly, content and silent.

“Did you ever imagine we’d be here?” Hannah asks quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“Back when I was just Elise’s annoying little sister, and you were this tall, handsome, unattainable man a million times too good for her. Did you ever think we’d be walking together under the stars, with your arm around me, and me thinking about how much I want to jump you and have you take me to bed?”

I stop and turn Hannah to me. She smirks, and her eyes twinkle. There’s not a hint of insecurity here, just confidence. “It might have occurred to me that I met someone special.”

Hannah pulls away from me, jogging a few steps ahead before turning back to face me. She almost glows in the moonlight. She spreads her arms wide, “Then why aren't you chasing me? I’m right here. Aren't you going to claim me?”

I know she’s playing around, but the image of her, the words, ignite something primal in me. Something dark and possessive that wants to take and mark and claim her as mine. That wants to let the world know that Hannah is mine. Mine alone, and no one else’s.

“Hannah,” I warn.

She giggles and spins and then takes off running down the path, her laugh echoing in the night. I take chase, my longer strides quickly catching her, and I wrap my arms around her, lifting her up off the ground. Hannah shrieks with laughter and twists in my arms.

“You caught me,” she pants, her eyes glittering with mirth.

“And what do I do with my catch?”

Hannah arches her back, pressing her hips forward. “You can start by kissing me. And then, you can take me inside and have your way with me.”

“Seems simple enough.” I kiss her, our mouths hot and hungry as she slides her fingers through my hair. I’m still holding her, and her legs wrap around me.

We’re out in the open, still on the grounds, and yet with her so hot and willing in my arms and her tongue sliding against mine, all rational thought and concern flees.

The need to have her is overwhelming.

We’re a flurry of kissing mouths, groping hands, and stumbling feet as we make our way back towards the cottage, barely breaking apart to catch our breaths. By the time we reach the door, Hannah is practically ripping my shirt as she works frantically to get it off.

“Bedroom,” I command, pushing the door open.

Hannah's already halfway there, and she sheds her clothes along the way, leaving a trail behind her that makes me groan. I follow after her, admiring the sight of her naked body silhouetted against the moonlight filtering in through the window.

When I reach the bedroom, Hannah’s stretched out across the bed, her hair fanned out in a halo around her head. She looks like a goddess, a temptress, a woman who knows exactly how powerful she is. She grins at me, and there’s a devilish gleam in her eyes.

Jerking my now-stretched out shirt over my head, I roll my shoulders, preparing myself to worship her.