Folger Shakespeare Library The Tempest Novels & Stories

The books were mostly collections of poetry, with a powerful presence of works by William Shakespeare. “The Tempest,” she murmured, excitement evident in her voice. It brought back memories of her school days when she had wanted to borrow the book from the library, only to find it unavailable. She had never bought it herself, worrying about the burden of moving with too many belongings during her frequent relocations. Her fingers hovered over the spines of the books, dabbing them but refraining from pulling any off the shelf. “Let it go, Chom,” Ladapha sighed to herself, attempting to shake off her longing. She turned to leave but startled with a soft gasp, “Oh!”

It was a study room. “I’m really sorry. I will just go.” I walked in the direction I came in. I couldn’t comprehend why I keep messing up everything. First it was climbing into his bed when he wasn’t there, then the embarrassing Leo story that my bestfriends took the honor of narrating. “Stay.” He muttered. I stopped in my tracks and looked puzzlingly at him. I avoided eye contact and settled my gaze to the books on the shelf. They were classics from Jane Eyre down to the Lord of the Flies. At the bottom of the shelf stood a huge collection of contemporary romance novels, the largest list I had ever seen someone possess.

I asked sliding my tongue over my top lip again. He stared at me with hot eyes for a few seconds, cleared his throat, and shifted in his seat. He picked up the cheese-laden cracker and gently fed me, then slid his hands slowly across my lower lip. I sighed softly, loving the feelings he ignited in me just from one touch. Lewis sighed softly too and I saw that his light brown eyes had become dark and he had the hot look on his face again. He took my hands and pecked them one after the other. “You do so many things to me, Valerie. You also make me feel many things. Many unwelcome but enthralling things that I like a lot”