"For old times' sake," he said, taking me completely off guard.
There was nothing I could say to 'for old times' sake'. Who didn't love to do something for that reason? No one. We all did. I was stunned and speechless, and I was so very attracted to him that the tension began to mount.
"You're thinking about it," he said sweetly, hopefully. His voice was quiet and deep, and it felt like velvet to my ears.
I knew my breathing picked up. I could feel it happening. I could feel my pulse begin to race and see my chest rising and falling.
"I mean, now that you've mentioned it, I can't help but think about it," I said, keeping it light. My eyes went to his mouth, and oh my goodness. "EJ, it's a good thing you live in a different state," I said. My voice came out sounding timid, and he took a step closer to me.
"Why?" he asked in a challenging smile. He was so close that I had to stare up at him, and my knees were officially weak. We weren't touching, but we were close.
"Because I misbehave when I'm with you," I said.
Who was I, Betty Boop? Minnie Mouse? Was I flirting now?
I took a deep breath and glanced away from him. "I'm sorry. I don't want to pressure you," he said. As he said it, he took a small step back.
But I was talking over him at the same time, and I said, "I guess if it's for old times' sake," with a shrug.
"What?" EJ said, leaning in.
I smiled and bit my lip, looking down. "I said, I guess if it's for old times' sake," I repeated. I shrugged. "I mean, you came all this way, and I've, uh, already… I could just kiss your cheek."
What was wrong with me? My voice was weak and shaking, and…what was I doing?
"Sure," he said with a nod. He turned to the side a little, and I knew he was offering me his cheek even though I wasn't looking directly at him. I couldsense him and feel his body heat, and the tension was so thick that I could hardly breathe. I leaned in and softly, gently placed a kiss on his cheek. I left my mouth there for a soft, long second, feeling all the electricity, before pulling back.
I watched as he gave me a gorgeous half smile and then turned to offer me the other cheek.
I grinned at him as I leaned upward to kiss the other one. I left my mouth on there a second longer this time. The warmth of his skin was too good to break away—it was like a magnet to my lips. I had an aching feeling at the thought of pulling back, but I did it anyway. I had to make myself. We were staring at each other after that second kiss.
"It's just for old times' sake," I said vulnerably as I stared.
"Yeah," he agreed easily, that half smile absolutely wrecking me.
I wanted to kiss his mouth so badly that there was nothing I could do to stop myself from it. I leaned in and let my mouth touch his. EJ noticed what I was doing, and he leaned in as well, meeting me, kissing me. I felt like I might fall, and I held onto his arm. EJ put his big hand on my back when I did that. The touch was light, but it was there, and I was warm and gooey with desire for him.
This was not the same twelve-year-old I had kissed. This person was a man, and one of the most perfectly gentlemanly ones I had ever laid eyes on. I wanted him so badly that there was just no way forme to resist him. Our mouths touched lightly for a second or two, and my heart stopped.
He broke the contact just enough to lick his lips. He was still so close to me that something touched my lip when he did it. It was either his mouth or his tongue, but something touched me, and I leaned up and let my mouth touch his again. Once, twice, three times, I kissed him gently before pulling back with a smile.
"It's just for old times' sake," I whispered.
His gaze moved over my face. "This isn't quite how it was back then."
What was he saying? Did he want more, or was he saying we were doing better?I had to assume he wanted more. I wanted more. I would not deny him if he kissed me again. I took a deep breath, my chest expanding. I could see the rise and fall of his big, solid chest as well. I felt desperate to touch his lips again, and I gave a little shrug even though my heart was pounding.
"I'm finding it hard to stop," I said, staring at his mouth.
And then he pulled me closer with his hand on my back, and our lips met with more force than last time. I opened my mouth, and his tongue was there, and there was instant familiarity. It was perfect in so many ways, and I leaned in, aching to be close to him. I wanted him in ways I would not let myself ever want a man again. I wanted him as a friend and so much more. The kiss made me know I wantedmore. The contact felt like such a relief that for several heart-pounding seconds, I forgot where I was. I gave in to the passion of it all. The feeling was raw and primal, and all that existed in those long seconds was the smooth silkiness of EJ's mouth on mine. He held me, and I held him back, and we connected with gentle passion. The kiss was perfection. That moment was full of trust and security, and my innermost being ached for more of it—for more of him.
The physical sensation was so great that I started to feel like maybe, just maybe, I could let my walls down a little.
And just like that, the moment came to a screeching halt.
I jumped back and out of his arms when I heard the sudden pounding noise near my ear. We were not far from my entryway, and the fist on the exterior of my door was loud and jarring. I physically jumped and gasped. I glanced at EJ, who was wearing a serious expression. I smiled, reassuring him when I realized what was going on.
"It's just Nico," I said, smiling though my heart was pounding.
