Pancho greeted us at the front door, his tail wagging like a whirlwind.
“Hey, boy. Did you miss us?” I got down to his level, patting his side before he rolled over onto his back.
Sierra stood next to us with her arms crossed and shoulders shaking as she laughed. “You are such a little traitor.”
“Who can blame him? I’m a lovable guy,” I teased.
“You’re something, all right.” She brushed past me, but Pancho didn’t get up to follow her.
Sierra pulled off the mask covering her mouth and started unbuckling all the straps of her costume.
My eyes fixated on her as she shrugged off her vest and belt, leaving her in a form-fitting long sleeve and black yoga pants.
With a sigh of relief, she rotated her shoulder. “It feels so good to get that stuff off.”
“I bet. That costume did look really good, though.” I stood so I was closer to her level.
Her eyes averted away. “T-thanks. Well, I think I’mgoing to go to bed. Long night.” She seemed distracted, and I wasn’t sure why. “Let’s go, Pancho. Bedroom.”
The dog huffed as he got to his feet, scampering away down the hall.
“Goodnight, Hayes.” She raked her teeth over her bottom lip and turned around to follow Pancho.
“Sierra, wait.” I reached out for her hand, placing her palm against mine. She paused in the middle of the living room, and I pulled her back to me.
Green eyes widened, and, through thick lashes, her gaze trailed up to mine.
“What are you doing?” she whispered. “Hayes?—”
I didn’t let her finish before my hand was cupping her cheek and my lips grazed hers, breaking weeks of tension between us. The kiss was gentle and slow. Soft.
I pulled back for a second, as if to silently ask if she was sure, but she didn’t let the moment hang between us for long. Her lips were on mine again in an instant, hungrier this time. It was as though the feelings we’d withheld for each other had built up for so long that they couldn’t be suppressed any longer. With a simple touch, the dam had broken, and it was time for the love we had for each other to finally be free. No longer caged, no longer confined.
Her lips parted, and I slipped my tongue inside to brush against hers. Her hands slid into my hair, and she pulled me closer.
When we finally came back up for air, I tried to catch my breath. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long.”
“Can we just…take things slow?” she panted, her nose pressed against mine.
Our breaths mingled together in the air between us as she waited for me to respond.
I wished I knew what she was thinking. I wished I knew what I could do or say to ease her mind.
“Yeah. Always,” I whispered against her lips. “Whatever you want.”
Her breath hitched in her throat, and I swear she muttered,Fuck it, before her lips were pressed against mine again.
If emotions could be packed into a single moment, then this kiss was a well spilling over. My teeth grazed her bottom lip, pulling a quiet moan from her.
This was not slow. No, not at all.
“Is this too fast?” I asked, willing to stop if that was what she wanted.
She pulled back, lips skimming my jaw before she whispered, “No, don’t stop. But I need to ask you something. Have there… Were there any others?”
“No.” I shook my head, voice hoarse. “Only you. It’s only ever been you.”
She was my first everything. My first kiss, my first time, my first love, my first heartbreak.
