Glancing at my watch, it’s eleven thirty. I nod in understanding. As I start to walk away from the front door, I notice a light turns on in the only window along the side of the house, and I freeze for a moment, but then walk closer to it to inspect. The curtains open slightly, and her eyes widen. The window swings open and I smile at her.
She’s got on teal satin pajamas, the shorts coming to mid-thigh, stirring something in me. Her hair is tucked into a messy bun, tiny strands framing her face. What makes her even more radiant is the lack of makeup. Her freckles are on full display.
Honestly, she’sso gorgeous.
“Liam? What are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t let tonight end without—” I start, and the words melt in my mouth. She looks at me, confused, and I scold myself mentally.
Don’t chicken out now. Say something. Say it.
“Without?” she prompts.
Sighing while pinching the bridge of my nose, I look around. There’s not a single soul awake right now. It’s her and me.
Like it’s always been.
“Without ...” I continue, and she runs her hands over her arms, the wind blowing, no doubt going right through her thin pajamas. Instinctively, I reach out, wrapping her in a hug, thanking my height for once in my life. The window comes up to the middle of my torso, making this the perfect height difference. She wraps her armsaround me, her face burying into my neck. Small puffs from her mouth land on my skin, making me break out in goose bumps.
Pulling back slightly, I rest my forehead against hers. My heart speeds up, as does my breathing, and I open my eyes to see her looking at me with concern.
“What’s wrong, Liam? Tell me, please,” she pleads. She must think something is wrong when she couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Bianca, you killed me tonight,” I confess, watching her expression, hoping she’ll understand. Placing my hands on her face, my thumb rubs along her cheekbone.
She asks, her expression puzzled, “What do you mean?” A beautiful pink starts to color her cheeks, and I smile, feeling the rapid pulse under my fingertips.
“Every time you’ve kissed meon the cheek in the past, you’ve killed me,” I explain, our gazes locked. “Every. Single. Time,” I continue, moving closer until our lips are almost touching. Our breaths mingle, tangling together, and her eyes widen slightly. She grips my wrists as I cup her face, our noses sliding against each other. I keep eyes trained on her, hoping she wants this too ... that it isn’t only me. Her blue eyes fill with nervousness.
But then, they fill with something else akin to longing and when her eyes flutter down to my lips and shut slowly, I close the small space still keeping us apart.
“Please,please, bring me back to life again,” I whisper, my lips brushing hers. When we meet, a symphony plays in my head. She’s warm against me as my tattooed arms wrap around her waist. It’s anelectrifyingfirst kiss.
Our first kiss.
Kissing her slowly and tenderly—the passion behind it unmistakable—millions of butterflies take flight in my stomach. Her lips part slightly as my tongue teases her mouth, and I immediately sense her surprise. Moving my hand lower, she melts into it when my hand grazes her lower back, a gasp escaping her lips. Takingadvantage of her distraction, my tongue slides into her mouth. She startles, but sinks into it. Her fingers tug gently at the hairs on the back of my neck, causing a satisfying sound to fall from my lips.
Forget my sounds—what catches me off guard arehers. All of them having hints of surprise and pleasure only spur me on. The tentative embrace of her tongue slowly sliding against mine. Her inexperience peeks through, making this kiss feel that much more special. I trace her tongue once more, causing her head to tilt slightly, and my hand entwines in her hair. I have no idea how long it continues, but I pull back as my chest tightens. I pant slightly, as does she, but she doesn’t say anything, and my mind starts running.
Did she like it?
Did she not?
Oh no, she didn’t, and now I’ve ruined everything.
I knew it, I knew it, I knew...
As my mind continues its downward spiral, her hands wrap around my neck and she crashes her lips against mine again.
Surprise takes me, but then is replaced with longing, yearning ...
Love.
I mash my mouth with hers and she runs her tongue along my bottom lip, seemingly more confident. My heart flutters at that, a satisfied sigh leaving my lips. Her mouth swallows the sound and I smile into the kiss.
“Wait, Freckles,” I say, knowing we need to talk, and we separate. She opens her eyes and they seem to sparkle slightly. “I—” I start, and she raises her hand to her lips, tracing wheremylips had been.
“You kissed me.”
