‘Oh?’ I said. And then her lips were on mine and I felt my whole body fill with warmth, a deep, sparkling glow that spread to the very tips of my fingers and toes. I felt like I was alight, as though I could float up from this rickety bench and soar into the sky. I never wanted it to end.
When she finally pulled away, our faces hovered, inches apart. I felt her breath on my skin, could hear her breathing. The air seemed to dance, charged with energy. I held my breath, not daring to break the moment.
‘Do you feel it too?’ she whispered. I nodded. ‘It’s different, isn’t it?’ I nodded again, unable to find any words to describe how kissing her felt.
‘Do you think…’ She stopped and looked down. I raised my hand to her chin and tilted it gently so she was looking into my eyes again. I felt a pull in my belly, a tug of desire. ‘What do you think happens between us when we touch?’ she said, her eyes wide and searching.
‘I don’t know. But it feels…’ I searched for the right word, and settled on: ‘otherworldly.’
She nodded, a smile spreading across her face. ‘That’s exactly it,’ she said. ‘Otherworldly.’
A dog barking interrupted my thoughts and I pulled away. ‘Shall we have a drink,’ I said, reaching for the bottle. I was glad of the distraction because the tension between us felt unbearable and I needed to take a moment. I popped the cork and watched it fly out across the grass, then filled the plastic glasses I’d brought. Bubbles fizzed over the top and splashed onto the rug and Emma laughed. I held my glass up, and Emma did the same.
‘I don’t know what’s going to happen here, but let’s just drink to us.’
‘To us,’ she said. ‘Here. Tonight. Together.’
13
EMMA
Had I died and gone to Heaven?
I’d been excited and nervous about this date all day, and when Nick arrived my stomach had flipped with desire.
I hadn’t planned to kiss him but in the moment the urge had been overwhelming. And when I did – oh my God. It honestly felt as though my insides had turned to liquid and my skin was on fire.
And even though I wanted to make this a proper date, all I could think about afterwards as we chewed our bread and nibbled on crisps and talked was that kiss – and about kissing Nick again. My body craved it, needed it.
What waswrongwith me?
How was I ever going to be able to let this feeling go and get on with a life without it?
‘Emma?’
Nick looked as though he’d been talking to me for some time and was waiting for an answer. I swallowed my mouthful of bread. ‘Sorry, I was miles away,’ I said, feeling my face flush. ‘What did you say?’
‘I was just wondering whether I should open the other bottle of champagne.’
‘Oh, we’ve drunk a whole bottle already?’ No wonder my head felt a little spinny.
‘Yep. Shall I?’
‘Go on.’ I watched him as he popped the cork and poured the liquid carefully into the glasses. The park was in complete darkness now and a quick glance at my phone revealed it was nearly nine o’clock.
I pulled the blanket over my knees. ‘Want to share?’ I said.
‘Sure,’ he said, giving it a tug closer to him. My knees went with it and brushed against his and the air left my lungs.
It felt as though the air was charged tonight, as though one spark and it might all go up in flames. Was he feeling it too?
I shifted my weight away from him, trying to concentrate. But then I noticed that he was watching me intently. I caught his gaze.
‘What are you thinking about?’ he said.
I shrugged. There was no way I could tell him the truth. ‘Just how nice this is.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Nice, hey?’
