Falling to Pieces by L.T. Kelly Read Free Book Online Page B

my mind, catching me off guard. I knew nothing about Marc, not his age or where he lived or anything. The only information I did have was unsavoury to say the least. He had an over bearing family that had been described as ‘weird’ by one of his own staff members and a ‘family friend’ who followed any girl he paid an ounce of attention to.
    I stepped back, experiencing the sensation of emptiness without his body pressing against mine.
    “Are you ok?” His face crumpled.
    “Yeah,” I said in a high-pitched ‘why wouldn’t I be’ type of voice. “I just don’t want to miss out on the sights.” I lied waving my hand towards the window and flashing a smile, which seemed unnatural on my lips.
    I moved back to leaning on the rail as I had before. He leaned next to me with his arm resting against mine. The rest of the ride was spent in a surprising, comfortable silence considering this was a first date.
    I glanced over historical London, illuminated beautifully before me, but my mind continued to wonder what questions I should ask him and whether I honestly wanted the answers or if I just wanted him no matter what came with that.
    When we arrived back on the loading dock, the entrance slid open. Marc grabbed hold of my hand as we exited. The operator was tapping his foot on the metal surface, his lips forming a white slash.
    “Good Evening to you, Mr. Romano,” he snapped, not even looking at me. Obviously he was pissed at his boss, whoever he was, for making him stay late to operate the wheel for two single passengers.
    We strolled along the tree-lined walkway hand in hand.
    “Do you want to get something to eat or drink?” Marc said.
    “We could go for a drink,” I said, although I wouldn’t be able to touch a drop. I’d already had a little too much, but I had questions to ask—questions that had seemed inappropriate while on The Eye, in the intimate and romantic setting.
    “Ok, I know just the place.” He stopped and pulled me close, pressing his body against me again, causing the teenager’s blood I’d taken earlier to rush violently towards my groin.
    I pushed aside my doubts about him as he fluttered little kisses over my face and my closed eyelids. Nothing other than dropping him to the ground, biting and making love to him raced around my mind. I excused myself for the vision, because he’d inflicted it.
    He pulled his head away. I opened my eyes and looked into his, they gleamed with a strange luminosity in the streetlight.
    “Come,” he said as he pulled the hand he hadn’t let go of since stepping off the big wheel.
    A few minutes later he was guiding me through the doors of the Corinthia Hotel.
    My heart sped up with the anticipation of us checking in. On the other hand, I thought it presumptuous of him to assume I’d sleep with him on the first date. I had to stifle a laugh. This was the first date I’d ever been on, so what did I know?
    The door was held open for us to enter the marble lobby beautifully lit up by an impressive chandelier with globular glass hung at different levels. The receptionist flashed a fake smile at us as we passed her by.
    ‘ Oh, I was the one being presumptuous ,’ I thought with a sting of disappointment and it must have been displayed on my face.
    “Are you ok, Teagan?” He rubbed his fingers across my knuckles as we continued to stroll through the lobby.
    “Yes,” I said and smoothed out my expression.
    He cocked his head to one side. “Good, this place is the best for cocktails.”
    The entrance to The Bassoon Bar was dark wood framing frosted glass with huge, strangely shaped wooden handles lying diagonally across it. The bar was dimly lit, intimate. Inside, a few couples lounged around, contained within curved booths.
    The bar top was polished so I could almost see my face in it. Marc handed me a thick menu.
    “I’ll just have the Manhattan, please,” I said, distracted by the strange shape the bar formed towards the end. Absent-mindedly I