One Summer in Cornwall Karen King (positive books to read TXT) 📖

A kiss that made her pulse race and sparks of desire explode through her body. A kiss that was getting deeper and deeper as Marcus caressed the back of her head with the hand that wasn’t holding her shoulder, and she reached her right hand up to lightly stroke his cheek.

‘Hattie, do you want me to stop . . .’ he murmured, his voice thick with longing.

She knew that he was asking her if she wanted to back out now before they went any further and for a moment she thought about it, the foolhardiness of getting involved with someone like Marcus when she would be leaving soon, but it was too late, she could no more pull away than she could stop breathing. She wanted this. She wanted it more than she had ever wanted anything, and she could tell that Marcus did too. She shook her head. ‘Please don’t.’

Afterwards, as they lay on the bed they had both moved to – without either of them saying a word – Marcus thought back over what had just happened. Their hands had started to remove each other’s clothes, then explore each other’s bodies, before making passionate love. He gazed down at Hattie in his arms, her face flushed, her eyes sparkling, her gorgeous body – that had until a few minutes ago been lying on top of his – was now curled up by his side. She was beautiful and sexy . . . and they really shouldn’t have done that. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t give in to his desire for her, that he would keep their relationship on a friendly basis. Some willpower he had.

‘Well, that was unexpected but wonderful,’ she murmured, kissing him on the lips. ‘Now, is this where you tell me it was a big mistake and we go back to being friends?’

He turned towards her. The question had been teasing but her expression was earnest. The way she was looking at him gave him the impression she felt the same way as him. He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘Definitely not a mistake for me. How about a summer romance with no strings attached?’ he said lightly.

Her lips widened into a smile and she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck. ‘Perfect,’ she said, pulling him closer.

Chapter Thirty-Three

They finally managed to prise themselves away from each other to have a quick shower, get dressed again and finish sorting out the stuff they’d pulled out of the wardrobe and was still sprawled all over the floor. If she hadn’t got viewers coming the next day, Hattie would have been tempted to leave it there, but now she had to make sure that the cottage was relatively tidy.

‘Right, that’s it all done,’ Marcus said when the bedroom floor was finally clear and everything was bagged up. ‘Now, how about we dispose of these and go for a swim. It’s a gorgeous afternoon.’

He was right, it was, and she really wanted to spend some time with him while they had the chance. ‘Deal,’ she said.

‘I’ll put this in the van, then and grab my swimming shorts.’ Marcus leaned over and kissed her on the lips.

She wound her arm around his neck and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss.

‘Carry on like that and we may have to give swimming a miss,’ he whispered in her ear when they finally stopped for breath.

She eased herself out of his embrace and tapped him on the nose with her finger. ‘No chance. I haven’t had a swim in the sea since I’ve been here and this is the perfect afternoon for it. You’ll have to wait until later.’

His eyes twinkled as he grabbed two of the bags. ‘I’ll hold you to that.’

Hattie picked up the remaining two bags and followed Marcus down the stairs with them, almost bubbling inside with happiness. Okay, so she hadn’t planned on getting involved with him, but what the hell. He was gorgeous and they were good together. Why not have a bit of fun? They both knew the score, a summer romance, no strings attached.

An hour later, they were both walking, hand in hand, across the soft, warm sand of the quiet beach Marcus had taken her to. She loved the feel of his hand in hers, of walking beside him side by side, of the way he squeezed her hand now and again and, when she turned to look at him, the way he smiled as if right here, right now, with her, was just where he wanted to be. It was just where she wanted to be too. Walking over this gorgeous beach, her flip-flops dangling from one hand, her feet sinking into the golden sand, the sun shining down on them both. She felt happy, free and . . . cared for.

There was barely a ripple on the turquoise sea, which was quite far out now, and the beach was almost deserted. Most of the holidaymakers would have gone home now the half-term break was over, Hattie realised. She knew that the main influx of visitors would come in July and August, as she and her parents had done. Some of the locals hated this summer invasion, even though they needed the money the holidaymakers spent. She could understand that feeling in a way, it was so peaceful and tranquil now, whereas when they had visited in August the streets had been so crowded her mother had always insisted she held Hattie’s hand, convinced she would be swallowed up in the crowd and never seen again, and the beach had been so packed it had been difficult to find a space to sit.

‘Here okay?’ Marcus’s voice cut through her thoughts and she blinked, then realised they had stopped a short distance from the water’s edge. ‘It’s dry here and the tide won’t be coming in for a few hours yet.’

She nodded. ‘Sure. We don’t want to have to walk a mile out to the sea.’ She put