A Pinch of Sugar (Lights Camera Insta-love 1)

“Wow,” I whisper, tears pricking the back of my eyelids.

He turns us onto our sides and I tuck my face into the crook of his neck, before he can see my emotions, which are plain as day on my face. I’ve fallen in love with the real version of Sebastian Cove. Not just the one in my head. I’m so happy about it, but I’m also scared. He’s leaving in the morning, isn’t he?

What happens now? We haven’t spoken about whether we’re going to see each other beyond tomorrow. Am I crazy to think there could be more for us after we only met this morning? He lives in London and I live in New York. We’re an ocean away. I can’t really expect Sebastian to change his life at the drop of a hat, can I? Even if I am willing to change mine.

I am, I realize. I would go anywhere with him.

If he feels as strongly as I do.

If.

I start to panic, but when his strong arms close around me and he holds me like he’ll never let me go, I decide to trust him. And if the worst happens and he decides to fly home tomorrow without a backward glance, at least I’ll have this one perfect night to remember forever.

7

Sebastian

If I don’t make Alice my wife, I don’t know what I’ll do with myself.

She’s given me a glimpse at what true happiness feels, looks and tastes like and I want her by my side forever. In my home, in my bed, everywhere and anywhere I happen to be. I want to be able to reach out and take Alice’s hand.

I’ve woken up far too early this morning, desperate to soak her in. Soak in the very first time I turn over in bed and find her blonde hair in a fan on the pillow, her hands tucked beneath her cheeks. In the first blush of sunrise, she looks like a fairy that has been debauched by a wolf. There are bruises and red marks on her neck, breasts and shoulders, left there by my mouth, teeth and hands.

Good God, I was rough with her.

And my cock is already hard as lead beneath the sheets. If I didn’t suspect Alice was sore, I’d already have her on hands and knees, making her pay for my morning erection. Look what you did, little girl.

I rake a hand down my face and laugh without sound. With her in my life now, I don’t know if my cock will ever be anything but achingly hard ever again.

That’s fine with me.

There is a lightness in my chest I’ve never known. I found her. I found the girl I didn’t even know my soul was seeking. Yesterday morning, the rest of my life looked like an endless maze and now…it’s like an open field soaked in sunshine with Alice standing in the center of it. Smiling.

I’ll make her smile forever. I’ll give her reasons to smile, every single day.

Mere words don’t seem sufficient. I can’t very well just wake her up and ask her to be mine, to come live with me in London and be my wife. She deserves a fucking monument in her honor. I have to do better than words. I don’t even have a ring to put on her finger when I pop the question.

Resisting the urge to kiss her shoulder, lest she wake up and find me totally unprepared, I get out of bed and dress quietly, watching her like a hungry, lovesick fool all the while. I ache to run my palm along the curve of her hip. My fingers hurt without the feel of her skin beneath them. But it won’t be too long until I’m back here with something real to offer. Something worthy of Alice. After all, I need to do better than feeding her cake in bed if I’m going to convince her to marry me after one day of being acquainted.

One day is all I need. Honestly, one minute had been enough.

She’s everything I never knew I was missing.

With one last look in her direction, I promise her without words that I’ll be right back and leave the hotel room. By the time I reach the street, I’m already on the phone with the Tiffany’s store manager, requesting they open immediately so I can buy an engagement ring approximately the size of an egg.

* * *

Alice

The sound of papers being shuffled wakes me up.

I sit up in bed, the sheet slipping down to my waist and bathing my naked body in sunshine. Reflexively, I shield my eyes from the light. What time is it?

Moments from the night before flip through my mind and I gasp, whirling around to look for Sebastian in the bed. But I’m alone.

That must be him making noise out in the other room, right?