Page 37 of With You

“It was just a kiss,” I repeat. “Don’t go falling in love with me after one kiss.”

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep,” he says, closing the distance between us.

River’s hand cradles my cheek as he kisses me again, and even though I know this will only make everything more complicated, I kiss him back.

Chapter 15

River

The second time we have to kiss for the performance, it’s a battle not to get carried away again. We keep it simple, a light press of our lips against each others before we finish the routine. I can’t deny that I want more from her, though. That first kiss was better than I could have ever imagined. And it hurts my pride to admit I'd imagined it before, when we were younger.

I’ve always had confusing feelings toward Amelie. One moment I can’t stop staring at her because of how talented she is, and the next I’m affronted by her disdain for me. I’ve tried to deny it for as long as we’ve known each other, but as we got older and she got better and better at her craft, it was hard to stop that admiration from growing. Dancing with her might be the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me, because I know I can’t have her.

The third time we kiss, we do get carried away. The music looping over to the start again as I hold her in my arms.

“River,” she says against my lips, and I can’t help but smile. “We really have to stop.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” I ask, and Amelie shoves her fist against my chest as she pushes me away from her.

“This is a terrible idea.” She covers her mouth with her hand, and if I were more insecure, I’d be offended.

But I know what she means, even without her saying it. All those years of our back and forth, her biting remarks, and sarcastic comments, taunting me endlessly just to get here, at the worst possible time.

“You’re horrible,” she tells me, but the curve at the corner of her lips lets me believe she doesn’t mean it. “You’ve possessed me or something.”

I huff out a laugh as I move closer to her again, and she doesn’t back away. I place my hands on her waist, tilting my head to one side as I look down at her. She’s scowling, but there’s no ire in it.

“I’d like to do a lot more than possess you,” I tell her, and she punches my arm gently.

“We can’t do this in front of everyone,” she says.

“This?” I ask, tipping my head down to press a kiss against her neck.

She sighs for a moment before pushing me away again.

“Definitely not that,” she says. “I don’t know what this is, River, but no one can know.”

“You want me to be your little secret?”

“If you don’t shut up, the only secret will be where I’ve buried your body.”

I lean down to press my lips against hers, for the first time not while performing, but she gives me her cheek instead.

“Please, River,” she says, her voice dropping and losing all playfulness. “I just… I need us to focus on this performance. I can’t get distracted.”

I stop myself from making another joke. She’s right. We can’t let whatever might be building between us affect our performance in any way, not when it’s so important to her.

“We’re good,” I tell her. “We don’t have to tell anyone. And we don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. We can skip the kiss during practice if you want.”

“I never said anything about that,” she mumbles under her breath.

I smile down at her, hoping to reassure her that our performance will be great no matter what we’re doing right now.

“We’re the two best dancers in this entire place,” I remind her. “Nothing is going to stop us.”

She nods, before wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her head against my chest.

“Thank you,” she whispers, but it feels like I should be saying that to her instead.