Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 130275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“You’re beautiful too,” she said, that well-known blush bursting on her cheeks. Her softly spoken, shaky words destroyed me. I knew what that must have cost her shy nature to admit.
I lifted her hand and pulled off her glove. I kissed her fingertips; I kissed down her fingers and laid kiss after kiss on her palm, the back of her hand. As I leaned down, Savannah’s eyes drifted closed as I pressed my lips to her forehead. The scent of almond and cherry engulfed me. I held her tighter, my arm around her waist pulling her closer to me. My chest was laid flat against hers—I could feel her heart racing.
I ran my lips down to her temple, Savannah’s hands gripped on to my hand so tightly I thought it might leave a mark. I moved my lips down to her cheek and kissed one of her dimples that I loved so much. Savannah sucked in a quick breath. I pulled back and met her eyes. I needed to know she wanted this. I needed to know she felt the same about me as I felt about her.
We wanted this time in Norway to be about seizing the moment and embracing the happiness that had been lost to us for so long. I couldn’t think of anything more euphoric than having her kisses.
Savannah placed her hand on my cheek and began guiding her lips to mine—a clear invitation. I moved closer and closer still, my pulse racing as hard as hers. Then, just as my top lip brushed against hers, a million goose bumps running over my skin, the sound of our friends rushing back down the hill toward us crashed through the cocoon we’d hidden ourselves within.
I halted, my mouth ghosting over hers. Savannah’s eyes closed, then opened, a huff of a laugh bursting between us. Travis and Dylan’s voices sailed around us, and I dropped my forehead to hers in defeat.
“Bad timing,” I said to Savannah, and she laughed again. Lifting my head, I drank in her dilated pupils and heated cheeks. I kissed her rosy cheek, holding it for as long as I could before our friends got too close. I knew Savannah would hate to be caught like this, too on display to curious eyes. Pulling away from where we lay, I held out my hand and Savannah slipped hers in mine. I was convinced that two hands had never fit together so perfectly.
I helped her stand from the snow and dusted the layer that had stuck to her clothes. She shivered, the dampness of the snow starting to freeze against her skin. Unable to resist, I cupped Savannah’s cheeks and kissed her forehead, whispering, “You’re the best thing to happen to me in the longest time, Peaches.”
“Cael,” she said, grasping on to my wrists. She could probably feel my pulse thundering under my skin. Rearing back, I went to move away, when she pulled on my wrists, stopping me mid-step. Biting her lip in nerves, she approached me slowly, then lifted to her tiptoes. I lowered down a fraction so she could place her hand on my cheek too. Then Savannah leaned in and placed a kiss on my stubbled skin.
My heart stopped.
Travis and Dylan came stampeding toward us, covered in snow from head to foot. Savannah turned to them, laughing as Jade and Lili came over too, more snow on them all than seemed to be on the ground.
But I couldn’t take my eyes off Savannah.
“It’s freezing!” Lili said, trembling with cold as they all came to a stop.
“Dinner by the fireplace back at the hotel?” Travis suggested to firm nods of agreement. I hung back a second as everyone began to walk back up the street. The stars were a glitter-covered blanket above, white snow vibrant against the dark night, and then there was Savannah, shining brighter than the stars and snow combined.
Feeling my absence, Savannah turned around and held out her hand. “Are you coming?”
Straightening my coat, I walked to Savannah and took hold of her offered hand. And I followed her up the street, and back to the hotel. With every step I walked beside her, I was quickly becoming aware that I’d follow this girl anywhere.
She was the miracle I never saw coming.
When we entered the hotel, Mia and Leo were in the reception. “Cael? Savannah?” Leo said, calling us from the group.
I glanced down at Savannah and saw nervousness wash over her face. Mia told the others where to get dinner, then came over to us. “We just want to have a chat with you both,” Leo said, gesturing for us to follow him into a private room just off the lobby.
We followed, and Savannah’s hand tightened in mine. She was nervous. There was a table in the room, four chairs around it. “Please, sit down,” Leo said, and Savannah and I sat on one side. Mia and Leo took the seats on the other.