I Carry Your Heart (Heart Series Book 1) by C.M. King Page A

towards us. His smile grew wider with each step he took.
    Did this guy not ever take a hint?
    “Hey, what’s wrong?” Joel asked, looking concerned by my sudden change in mood.
    I bit my lip in obvious frustration. “Oh just this guy I thought I’d got rid of him,” I murmured. How dare Ryan hijack our special moment together!
    “Hey Ryan,” I chirped with fake enthusiasm. The sweetness in my voice disguised the bitterness, at his untimely intrusion.
    “Izzy, I thought you’d left.” He grinned.
    I didn’t share the same sentiment.
    He stood close beside me, so our bodies were practically touching. Which made me shiver but not in a good way. The next thing I felt was Joel’s muscular arm wrapped around my shoulder, he bent down and kissed my hair.
    I almost fainted with shock.
    Oh. My. God
    “Sorry Ryan, Izzy is with me.” A large grin spread across his face, watching Ryan’s face drop.
    Really?
    I quickly recovered, pulling a pretend sorry face to Ryan.
    But I wasn’t sorry at all.
    We walked off quietly laughing together. Joel’s arm remained around me, as we made our way back out into the garden. It felt so natural, like it always belonged there. I nestled my head in closer, feeling his body next to mine.
    We silently walked over to a quiet corner, sitting down on the swing seat. Our bodies melded together, slowly rocking back and forth. His fingers softly caressed my arm, each tender touch sent shivers through my body. The gentle, rocking motion slowly hypnotised me. I curled up tight against him and lay breathing him in, just staring up at the stars.
    We sat for a few moments in silence. The sky was now fully dark and all the fairy lights twinkled like tiny diamonds in the distance. The lanterns were lit and we basked in the warm, golden glow. It was magical, the perfect setting. Even if it was just for tonight, I knew this memory would exist in my head forever, where I’d relive it a thousand times more.
    I let out a soft sigh of pleasure, concentrating on Joel’s fingers. His lips softly kissed my hair and I closed my eyes savouring his tender touch. It felt so good.
    He tensed a little beside me and I turned to look at him, questioning his reaction.
    Had I done something wrong?
    He smiled softly in return, swallowing slowly. He licked his lips, like he was debating what to say next. Lifting his hand, he gently cupped my face and softly stroked my cheekbone with his thumb.
    “I know I’ve said it already but you do look beautiful tonight, you took my breath away before.”
    And now I officially couldn’t breathe.
    I closed my eyes unable to take his words in. It was like I was dreaming right now. Had I misheard him? But for a moment I wanted to pretend his words were real. Joel began to stroke my face again, slowly drawing me back to the present.
    “You think I’m beautiful?” I whispered. My eyes still remain closed, unable to look into his, until I heard the confirmation this was real.
    “I’ve always thought you were beautiful, regardless of what you were wearing but the way you look tonight…I thought I was dreaming when I caught you.”
    My eyes fluttered open in surprise and I smiled. “Ahh yeah, my knight in shining armour once again, remember when you rescued me the first time?”
    He smiled, like he was replaying the moment too. It wasn’t such a fond memory for me, I grimaced in horror remembering my younger self.
    “God I was such a geek back then, you must have thought I was pathetic.” I closed my eyes, avoiding his soft gaze. My eyes sprang open when his hands gently cupped my face, his eyes silently begging me to look at him.
    “Never, you were so sweet and innocent, I love that quality about you. Back then you barely spoke, you never had your nose out of a book. It was charming, you were a cute little book worm.” He grinned at the last part.
    Hang on, bookworm?
    I scowled at the expression. No girl ever wanted to be compared to a worm.
    “Hmmm book worm? That’s