Time slows down when his lips are firmly pressed against mine. Electricity crackles between us in a deviously delicious pattern. His lips send a jolt of warmth that slingshots to my core. My entire body was waiting for this moment.
He kisses me softly at first, but I press against him for more. Henry deepens the kiss, and I melt into his arms. Soon, his hands gain their confidence and slowly explore the rest ofmy body. Every touch feels like a mix of eagerness and uncertainty. It feels like I should have never run away the first time.
I want to lose myself in this feeling. I fit against his body so perfectly. He is like a puzzle piece that’s been missing from my life for far too long. Suddenly, I become very away of his wandering hands when they sink below my waist and firmly grab my ass with ease. A moan tickles the base of my throat.
I feel Henry’s lips curl into a satisfied smile. Just as his lips deepen the kiss between us, a sudden rustle in the brush breaks through the quiet.
My heart skips a beat, and I pull back to catch my breath. Henry’s lips are still inches from mine, his eyes wide and searching. We both freeze, and the spell between us simmers.
“Did you hear that?” he whispers, his voice barely audible over the sound of leaves rustling again. Both of his hands slowly unwind from my body, and the loss feels nothing short of devastating.
"I swear to God, if it’s a damn raccoon,” I mutter, my heart still recovering from the kiss.
Henry steps beside me with his arm held out in front of me like a shield. Rustling noises in the woods didn’t scare me, but I’d play the damsel in distress card if it meant his arms wrapped around me again.
“I guess the raccoons in this town really don’t want us to kiss," he jokes. A smile stretches across my face until the rustling sound grows louder and closer. Henry takes a small step forward, keeping that protective arm in front of me.
The sound shifts, and then there’s a quick burst of movement followed by silence. My breath hitches, now unsure of the source of the sound. I instinctively clutch the back of Henry’s shirt, the fabric bunched in my fist. He glances back at me, and his expression softens for a split second before his focus snaps back to the woods.
The bushes part, and out stumbles a scruffy, mud-splattered dog. It halts when it sees us, trying to determine whether we’re friendly.
I let out a sharp breath of relief, quickly followed by a small giggle. “It’s a dog.”
The dog’s ears perk up at the sound of my voice, and its tail begins to wag back and forth more vigorously. Soon, it’s creeping toward me for a closer look.
“Come here, little guy,” I say. I crouch down and hold out my hand for it to sniff. The poor thing looks like it’s been in the woods for days. Its hair is slightly matted at the peak of its back, and I can see its ribs poking through the sides of its body.
Henry is quiet, but I hear a similar laugh tumble out of his throat when he crouches beside me.
When the dog reaches us, it sniffs my hand first before licking it as if to say it approves of my scent. Then, it puts Henry through the same meticulous test, and he passes with flying colors.
“Poor guy. It looks like you’ve been out here a while,” Henry observes while scratching behind the creature’s ear. It looks like some variation of a lab.
“No collar,” I say, examining it from up close. “It looks like we have a stray.”
The dog shifts closer, pressing itself against Henry’s side like it’s already decided he’s the safest thing in the world. He chuckles, petting its head. “Unfortunately, little dude, I don’t think Mr. Darcy wants another roommate right now. He barely puts up with me as it is.”
My heart squeezes. Seeing him being so kind to this random stray sets off a familiar fluttering feeling. Something I’ve become accustomed to around Henry. He was slowly becoming something I was terrified of losing.
“What should we do with you then?” I smile, looking at him for suggestions. Milo would love to have a dog, but I don’t have the capacity to take care of an animal right now.
“I know the perfect home, but it’s going to require a slight detour from our adventure. Is that okay?”
He glances at me, and the air between us shifts again. The kiss lingers on my lips, and all of a sudden, I want to chase that feeling. I wasn’t sure I was ready to go, even if it was somewhere.
“Sure. Lead the way.”
CHAPTER 14
Holy shit, I just kissed Henry.
That’s the only thought running through my mind as I follow at a safe distance behind his car.
The kiss replays in my head on repeat. My lips tingle with the memory of his, like they’re permanently marked forever. One minute, we were two people having a heart-to-heart, and the next, I was lost in him.
I clench the steering wheel tight and let out a breathless laugh. A euphoric feeling of excitement vibrates throughout my body, and I feel lightheaded. I feel like I’m about to faint into a delirious state of happiness. This is new and unmarked territory.
I’ve spent weeks trying to keep everything together—staying focused on school, raising Milo, adjusting to a new job, and dealing with a divorce. I’ve been floating through these big life changes and pushing myself to keep moving forward with no distractions. And now, with one kiss, I’ve never felt freer than I have in this moment.
