Their noses were first to meet, hesitant and intimate. Brushing lightly.
“Can I get a kiss?” His hot breath shuddered the question against her, and she could feel his anticipation, nearly as strong as her own.
Without letting herself think too much about it, she did as he asked. It was so easy to brush her mouth to his. A dry touch, with none of the messiness his lush lower lip promised, but enough spark to make her want more.
The second was a real kiss, the kind that makes a noise, lips pursed. Another like that, chaste and neat, but ridiculously exciting in its simplicity. They tilted their heads in easy, mirrored unison, lined up for a deeper one.
And then his tongue, the tip against her lip, sweet and soft, requesting permission. Permission was granted, and he slipped in, sipped at her. Not a perfect kiss, because there were still teeth in the way and noses and such, but with such synchronicity and heat that it was by far the best she’d ever had. Massive hands stroked her cheeks, her ears, her shoulders, making her feel tiny and cherished. Fragile, in a good way, but still whole.
It was so right, and he was so patient, that something pushed her to ramp it up a notch, bite his bottom lip—probably a little harder than she should have—pull it taut, then dive back in. He made a little noise when she did that, a sort of surprised grunt, which made the whole thing even hotter. Uma grabbed hold of his hair and positioned his head right where she wanted it, then wiggled against her seat.
That’s when he started to lose it.
His big hands tightened on Uma’s face, then moved to her shoulders, and finally her waist. He pulled at her, though not forcefully—more a suggestion, coaxing, likeWhy don’t you come over here and get on my lap? But only if you want to.Uma wanted to. She did. But—
“No, don’t. Don’t, don’t.” She pulled back, gulping air. It was too much, too soon. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”
“Okay. It’s okay.”
Uma’s face burned, her body finally alive, but she couldn’t do it.
A glance at his face showed his cheek and jaw muscles bunched, his brow furrowed, and his eyes glued to her mouth. His face was stern and hard and a little bit flushed when he looked up and caught her eyes.
“’S okay,” he said, then leaned back, purposefully giving her space.
“I’m sorry,” Uma whispered.
“What’re you sorry for?”
“For freaking out like that.”
“You call that freakin’ out?” He smiled ruefully. “I’m the one who’s sorry.”
“Why areyousorry?”
“I shouldn’t have pushed you.” His next words brought another wave of heat to her face. “You’re so fuckin’ hot, Uma. Got kinda carried away.”
Really? Hot? Me?No, she’d been called pretty or pleasant, but never hot.You clean up well, Joey had said. Like, if she wore the right clothes and got the right haircut and put on the right makeup, she was acceptable for mixed company. But definitely not the type of girl to make a guy crazy. To makethisguy look so helplessly lost.
“Thanks.” Pleased but suddenly shy, she turned away, embarrassed by her own skittishness, wondering if she’d ever feel normal again.
“We don’t have to do anything that scares you. Don’t have to do anything at all. Unless you want to, of course. I wouldn’t say no, if you asked.” He shot a shy smile in Uma’s direction before continuing. “We can do whatever you want.Anythingyou want.”
12
Once the words were out, Ive couldn’t take them back. But as he watched her face go from surprise to something that looked like interest, he decided he didn’t want to. Good. It’d give her something to think on.
The pause before she spoke wasn’t so much awkward as it was full…of promise, maybe. He hoped.
She finally broke it. “I better get back.”
He stood and stretched, whistled for Squeak, and made his way to the door. “Come on. I’ll walk you.”
When she went to grab her empty mug, he stopped her. “Leave that. I’ll get it.”
Outside, the air was bright, their breath visible, their footsteps on gravel the only sounds but for a lone owl and something skittering deep in the woods.
“Thanks for caring,” he said, finally breaking their silence.
