“Do I? You might not’ve thought of me first, but I always put you first. Always.” I follow the instruction on the script, which is for Magnolia to turn as if she’s about to walk away.
Silver’s hand snaps shut on my arm.
It’s not on the script. Moonshine’s only supposed to call after her. But his choice feels right for the moment. For the intensity between the two characters.
He turns me back toward him, and suddenly we’re close. So close I can smell his woodsy cologne and feel the body heat he radiates.
…so close I can make out the little silver flecks in his blue eyes and the rough stubble on his jaw. I can study how themuscle there tightens as he peers down at me like he’s never seen anything like me before. Like he can’t imagine possibly letting me go now that he has.
It’s how we both feel.
I realize this distantly as the air around us changes, becoming more charged, and we hover in tense uncertainty.
“I always put you first,” he says, still as Moonshine despite how real it feels. “There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t put you first before everything.”
I forget the next line, my breath catching in my throat. My heart’s hammering like a hummingbird trapped in my chest, fluttering so fast I’m dizzy.
Neither of us make any attempt to move away. Instead, we drift closer as if being pulled by invisible strings. His hand comes up so slowly you’d think time was slowed, cupping my cheek. His palm is calloused from years of working on bikes, yet his touch is infinitely gentle.
It’s hesitant like he’s cradling something precious and valuable.
Me.
I lean up toward him, craving more of this feeling he gives me. Craving more of him and the safety net he’s become.
Our eyes hold each other’s the entire time, a question and answer we discover together.
Then… as slowly as we’ve gravitated toward each other, our lips finally meet.
The kiss is everything I didn’t know a kiss could be. Warm and safe and thrilling all at once. Silver kisses me with purpose. His lips seal over mine, both firm and fierce at the same time. Gentle and soft but claiming and assertive.
It’s intentional. It’sconsiderate, like he recognizes how pivotal this one moment between us is.
His hand slides along my cheek, thumb stroking the curve, while his other finds my waist, pulling me closer against him.
I’m left melting into the heat of his kiss. The pleasant warmth he offers me as he presses his lips to mine and we discover each other in a whole new way.
In a way that feels forbidden and inappropriate and probably wrong to most people.
The kiss deepens ’til I feel it everywhere. A warmth spreads through my chest, and the butterflies ripple in my stomach and other parts of me awaken.
Parts I had begun to forget existed after that horrible night.
With Silver, I’m not broken. I’m not a victim. I’m the woman he notices. The one he makes feel special.
Reality crashes back over us with the force of a tidal wave.
We break apart, both breathing hard. Silver stumbles back, running a hand through his hair, looking more dazed and lost than I’ve ever seen him.
“What the hell are we doing?” he rasps. “That… that’s wrong... that’s not right. That… that can never happen again.”
The rejection stings. I’m still tingling from the kiss, still buzzing from the aftereffects, and he’s already regretting it.
“That’s enough practicing,” he says, avoiding my gaze. “We’re done.”
My mouth drops open, the dreamy tingling vanishing. “You’re acting like I planned this!”
“That’s not what I meant. It’s just... this isn’t appropriate.”
