"I don't mind, Callum. Truly," I add at his skeptical look, and I shrug. "You know, I was never close with my parents. They neverwantedme. I don't judge you for being close to your mom. I wish I had that growing up, what you had with your mom and dad."
Callum’s expression slips into something raw, a little heartbroken for me. I push on and smile brightly at him, showing him that I’m not sore over my parents anymore.
"For family, all I've ever really had was Tess. Then Donna and Rich. Now, the book club, Maeve, and...you. You guys are my family. You guys actuallywantme."
"I want you more than anything, Sophie," Callum murmurs, hand tightening slightly against my cheek. I can't help but nuzzle into it, so warm and comforting.
"I know, and I can hardly believe it some days. I want you too. You're my best friend... that I really,reallywant to kiss..." I say, making his cheeks and ears flush red. "But you're also more than that. You're myperson, Callum. I love that we can laugh together, that you can listen to me rant and rave. I feel safe with you, like I can tell you anything. I don't have to modify myself, I don't have to bend over backwards to earn your approval and your affection—"
"You don't have to earnanythingwith me," his voice roughens, eyes blazing before they drop to my mouth. "Sweet girl, I'm dying to kiss you right now—"
I don't let him finish, I cup his bearded cheeks and finally—finally—press my lips to his.
It feels like coming home.
The kiss begins a little tentatively, like we’re learning the shape of each other's lips, slowly tasting each other. His lips are so different from the ones I've grown used to kissing, a little fuller, and there’s a scratchiness from his beard that's not unpleasant. His arm tightens around me, and his hand moves from my cheek to the back of my neck, angling me closer as he deepens the kiss, our lips molding, moving, fitting together like puzzle pieces.
Callum,my mind hums in pleasure.I'm kissing Callum.
He kisses with passion, but still gentle and sweet, just like him. There’s a confidence I can feel growing in his touch as our mouths move together, in perfect sync. His hand moves from myneck to the hinge of my jaw, gently encouraging me to deepen the kiss, to open and let him in. And I do. I always will.
The best kiss I've ever had,bar none.Somewhere in the back of my mind, the most ridiculous and absurd thing pops into my head, that one line from The Princess Bride.
"Since the invention of the kiss, there have been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind."
I giggle against Callum's lips, and I feel his own lips tilting up in return, even though he has no idea what I'm thinking. It's like he feels it—always on the same wavelength as me. We pull back slightly for a moment, only a breath apart, and my eyes flutter open.
His gaze finds mine—soft and full of awe. He’s looking at me like he can’t believe I’m real. The feeling is mutual. I want to burrow myself in his arms and never leave. I want to kiss him over and over again until I can't breathe, and then kiss him some more.
Like we're being snapped back together, we move back toward each other until—
"Alright, lovebirds, show's over."
We freeze.
The dry, amused voice snaps the moment clean in half and jerks us back into reality. Turning our heads in unison, the Ferris Wheel attendant stands beside the ride platform, arms crossed and smirking.
That's embarrassing enough, but I then realize he's not the only one looking at us—a group is waiting to board the ride, some giggling behind their hands, a few openly chuckling. One guy even gives Callum a double thumbs-up and mouths, "nice."
I don't even know, or want to know, how long they were watching us make out like hormonal teenagers.
Glancing at Callum, I see that his cheeks are as red as mylips, and I know my own cheeks are the same, but his mouth is twitching like he's trying not to laugh.
That does it. I burst into laughter and lift the stuffed otters to cover my face, giggling uncontrollably. Callum sees my laughing face, and he succumbs to his own smile. His hand finds mine as he guides me down the stairs, both of us giggling as we shuffle past the crowd.
"Sorry!" I call out to the crowd, hiding my face in Callum's arm, feeling his own body shaking with laughter. There are a couple of chuckles and even a few whistles, but it all feels good-natured. Callum gently weaves us through the crowd, rounding a corner and finding a section away from the bright lights and people.
Then, with zero warning, Callum scoops me up into his arms like I weigh nothing at all. The world blurs around us, and all I can do is squeal, laughing helplessly as I cling to him, my arms around his neck, and our otters squished between our chests.
"Callum!" I laugh, but his hand goes to the back of my head, cradling me with such tenderness, and he pulls me in to meet his lips again. Deeper and slower this time, and I fall willingly into him. The steel arm wrapped around my waist easily holds me in the air, making me realize just how strong Callum is.
That thought sends a delicious twinge through my lower belly.
"Sorry, I've kissed you once, and now I'm addicted," he murmurs, his voice wrecked and ragged against my mouth. I've never heard this version of his voice before, full of want andhunger, and it makes goosebumps break out across my body. His lips are swollen, but I note with satisfaction that there's no lipstick transfer.
Callum is always handsome, but Callum with kiss swollen lips, mussed hair from my hands, and a sinful grin on his lips?I'm undone.
Humming with pleasure, I cup his face in both hands again and pull him back to me. The kiss deepens naturally, our mouths moving in a rhythm that only we know.
