The Last-Minute-Goodbye Kiss

Book Title: FATHOM
Author: Hero London
Heat: <3 Sweet <3

Calder and Olivia have gone through over two-hundred pages of hate and awkwardness to get to this point, and the simplicity of this kiss is perfect for them.

***

I stood, biting my lip, unsure what to do about this goodbye. He did a half-smile and reached out to pull me in. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on longer than I had with any of the others.

“Please stay in touch,” I said into his ear.

“I promise.”

I kissed his cheek, quick and soft so the others wouldn’t see. As I released him, my cheeks grew warm. While Walter, Uther, and Eamon filed out of the house, Calder hugged me again.

“If I hadn’t been so stupid…” he said.

“It’s okay. You’d better go, they’re waiting for you.”

His eyes searched my face. Just do it, I kept thinking, just go for it. I wanted to yank him toward me. I wanted a real goodbye… but he stepped back and turned to go, his eyes lingering on me for a moment. Then The Scotsman walked up the path to where the Irishman, the German, and the South African were waiting.

Samantha would be furious at me when she found out. Not as furious as I was with myself though. I closed the door with regret and went to go to my room. I hadn’t taken more than two steps when the door flew open. I whirled around.

“Calder, what—”

In two long strides, he was there, holding my face in both hands, and his lips were on mine. I drew my arms around his neck and kissed him back, breathed him in, and held him tight as his arms wound around my waist. I don’t know how long we stood there. Not long enough. When our lips parted, we remained in our firm embrace, forehead against forehead, his breathing quick and earnest.

Then, sooner than I wanted, his hold on me loosened. His hand touched my cheek. He kissed my brow.

“I’ll call as soon as I can,” he whispered. I nodded. He let me go. His desire to stay was deep in his eyes. But he all too soon he was out the door again and didn’t come back.