No. It was definitely real. Maxwell’s soft yet slightly chapped lips moved against mine, inexperienced but enthusiastic. There was no tongue. It was adorable and endeared him to me more, if that was even possible.
The kiss lasted a few seconds, but when Maxwell pulled back with a gasp, it felt like only a fraction of one had passed.
He breathed heavily and fast, in and out, like an animal that finally found a hiding spot after being chased down. He stared at me with wide eyes, and his glasses were slightly off-center again. I smiled and fixed them while he let out a small noise of surprise in the back of his throat.
“Um,” Maxwell said, his voice cracking. “I hope that was okay? Oh my god, please tell me you were about to say that you liked me, otherwise just go ahead and kill me right now.”
I laughed out loud. “See? Youarefunny.”
“Theo!”
I took his hands and held his gaze firmly. “Yes, Max. I was about to say that I think I love you.”
Maxwell’s face resembled a beet right about now. If his face got any hotter I was afraid the nearby plants might start melting. I gently put my hands on his cheeks to cool them down.
“Hello? Anybody in there?” I asked.
“Yes.” He blinked. “I just need a second to digest this information. There is a lot going on right now. Just so you know, I don’t think I’ve ever been in love with someone either, so I’m not quite sure how any of this works.”
I smiled. “Then we can figure it out together. How about that?”
He took a moment to think about this and nodded. “I’d like that.”
My smile broke out into a wide grin. This time, I was the one to kiss him. He made a muffled noise as my mouth pressed against his, and he almost stumbled backwards into the rows of plants. My hand shot out and quickly pressed to the small of his back, catching him while never breaking the kiss.
I teasingly ran the tip of my tongue along his bottom lip and I felt Maxwell shudder. Was he ready for that? I wondered if I should ask, but a moment later Maxwell beat me to it--he gently poked his tongue into my lips and I eagerly took the opportunity to capture it in a full kiss.
Unfortunately, I got too into the moment of passion and forgot that humans needed to breathe. Maxwell wrenched away, gasping for air.
“Is it supposed to be like that?” he asked in-between breaths.
“Er, you’re supposed to breathe through your nose if you can?” I said. “And if not, it’s perfectly normal to… y’know, stop.”
His lower lip stuck out in a small pout. “Oh. But I didn’t really want to stop.”
I chuckled. “We can always do it again.”
He smiled and his eyes sparkled. Affection bloomed in my chest like the colorful flowers surrounding us. I took Maxwell into my arms and kissed him again, holding him close, enjoying his warmth. Joy seeped through my body. I felthappy.
Despite his inexperience, Maxwell learned quickly. He took cues from me and within a few minutes he was matching my pace and actions, and we kissed back and forth, like the push and pull of waves.
Maxwell caught his breath again and wiped his forehead on his sleeve. “Is it warm in here or is it just me?”
I grinned and gestured to the ceiling. “I mean, itisobjectively warm and humid in here, since it’s a greenhouse and everything.”
Maxwell tilted his head. I could practically hear the gears turning in his brain as he examined his surroundings. “You don’t eat fruits or vegetables, yet there’s plenty growing here.”
“The veggies and non-fruit flowers are mostly a hobby. Makes you feel grounded, you know? Caleb and Benji and the girls eat some of the veggies now, thankfully,” I explained. “But most of the big fruit trees in the back are for the bats.” I pointed to the ceiling. “There’s some motion-sensor flaps up there, kind of like doggy doors for bats, so they can come and go.”
Maxwell approached a peach tree with fat pink fruit hanging off the branches. “Interesting. I’m no bat expert, but I thought only vampire bats lived in the manor.”
“Nope. There’s lots of types of bats that live around here. Some eat fruit, and some of them eat the insects that the fruit attracts.” I scratched the back of my head. “I guess it’s kind of cliche that bats and vampires live together, huh?”
Maxwell looked amused. “A little.” He pointed to the trees and the tiny swarm of gnats surrounding it. “But you know what they say. If you build it, they will come.”
I noticed he kept staring at the peaches, so I pulled one down for him. “Here. Try it.”
Maxwell hesitantly took a bite. I grinned as a bit of juice dripped down his lip and I swooped in to lick it up. He yelped and blushed hard.
