“Oh,” I mutter, and he looks back up at me.
“I noticed the dress first. The daisies stood out, looking sweet and angelic. Then I looked up and saw you,” he admits, while his hand moves to caress my jaw, then my face. “Can I kiss you, Winnie?”
My heart stops, and I drop my eyes to his lips. Can I do this? Can I kiss a guy I just met when I’ve never given much thought to anyone else? This feels so right to be with Finn. My heart and body are screaming yes.
“Yes,” I breathe and watch as his eyes turn dark and flash with something that looks like triumph.
His fingers glide through my hair, gently angling my face up toward his. He leans in, my eyes close, and his lips touch mine.Finally.Like everything else since I met him tonight, Finn takes control of our kiss. His lips are soft yet hard, and move against mine slowly like he’s savoring the feeling. My hands grip his wrists, and I can feel the thud of his pulse beat in time with every glide of his warm lips. My lower belly clenches when I feel his tongue drag against my bottom lip, and I gasp. He eases away, and slowly his face comes back into focus. Finn’s lips are red and parted slightly, like he’s breathing heavily. His blue eyes are darkened, the same color as a midnight sky, and hooded as he watches me. He takes in every inch of my face, his gaze lingering the longest on my mouth, where I can feel my lips tingling. As far as first kisses go, that must have been one of the best. I swear my world spun and everything faded around us.
“Sorry, guys, we need the bucket,” a new voice calls to us, and I notice we’re stopped back at the bottom of the Ferris wheel. My cheeks instantly heat, and I hear Finn chuckle lightly as he helps me up and takes my hand in his.
“Thanks, man.” He nods to the guy and helps me down the steps, never once breaking contact.
Once we’re through the crowd, Finn pulls me into him, my front to his, and his hands hold my hips. I can feel the heat of those hands through the material of my dress. Everything inside me wants to mold myself to Finn and soak up that warmth.
“I’m going to need your number, Daisy.” His voice is gritty as he brushes my lips with his. My hands move to his chest, and his heart beats strong and steady under my palms.
“Will you call me?” My voice comes out unsure and a little husky, which I blame on him for kissing me breathless.
Finn lifts his head, and his hand comes up, his fingers brushing my hair back behind my ear. “I’m going to call you, Win. Text you. Take you out on dates. I don’t think I could let you walk away from me now that I know what your mouth tastes like.”
My whole body heats and feels like it could combust right here. My core aches, my heart feels like it wants to beat out of my chest and jump right into his. Everything screams how right this feels, even when I know logically it's happening too fast. “Hand me your phone.”
Finn reaches into his pocket and hands over his device. I tap in my number, and he watches me call myself. “Now I have yours too.”
He leans in and kisses my forehead before pocketing his phone again. “I should get you back before your girl thinks I ran off with you.” He looks at my screen, where at least three texts from Angel sit.
“She’s my best friend. She worries.” I shrug and smile. Finn takes my hand in his again, and we start walking over to where our group of friends are gathered around a food booth.
Angel sees me first and waves over her head. I wave back and watch as she says something to Jered, who turns to find us too, an easy smile on his lips before he wraps his arm around Angel’s shoulders. Before we get any closer to the group, Finn tugs my hand, and we stop walking, turning to face each other again.
“Before we get back and I have to share you with everyone again, let me get you your favorite treat.”
A giggle leaves my mouth and I shake my head. “I don’t think I could eat anything right now, honestly.”
His head tilts to the side, and his eyes move over my face, like he’s memorizing the way I look. It causes a mixture of feelings, and my stomach swirls with happiness, unease, and those damn butterflies again. I like him. I want to know more about him. Part of me is scared that I might not see him again when we live in different cities and attend different schools.
“You’re going to see me again, Win,” he says, as if reading my thoughts. It sounds more like a promise he’s making to himself, and I wonder if he has the same concerns.
“I know I will, Finn.” I smile up at him, my fingers lightly touching the edge of his jaw. His eyes soften, and he brings my hand up between us, placing a gentle kiss on my wrist.
“Alright, let’s get back,” he murmurs, and there's a hint of irritation in his voice that makes me laugh. He glances at me and smirks. Whatever worries either of us has about our meeting being a one-time thing vanish once we reach the group.
“Oh, hey, lovebirds,” one of the guys jokes and laughs, ribbing Finn in the side. Without ever letting go of my hand, he takes the brunt of the interrogation from our friends, answering their various questions about where we were and how the Ferris wheel ride was.
Angel is less loud and only slides up next to me, whispering in my ear, “You good?”
I turn to my bestie, giving her a one-armed hug. “I’m perfect.”
I spend another hour with Finn and our meshed group of friends at the fair, where we eat some cotton candy and play some games before my phone chimes and I know it's time for me to leave. Angel’s lips turn up into a forced smile. I can tell she hates this for me.
“Are you turning back into a pumpkin, princess?” Russ asks, and I nod my head, before slipping my phone back into my jacket.
“You know I have a curfew, Russ.”
He shrugs, and a few of the guys take interest in why we’ve stopped, but it's Finn who snares my attention. His brow is furrowed, and he runs his eyes over me. “You have to leave?”
“Yeah, uh.” I bite my lip and feel heat climbing up my neck. It's embarrassing to be a senior in high school and still have my parents expect me home before all my friends during the summer. “My parents like me to be home before they go to bed.”
