did last night and taste your lips again. Is that allowed? Is that what we’re doing now or was that just a one-night thing?”
Jules has always blushed, but the way she looks at me right then… “Is that what you want?”
Yes.
I don’t say so, though. I actually don’t know what to say, so I throw the question back at her instead. “Is that what you want?”
Her pretty green eyes flick to the floor for a split-second, then back up to my face. “You want me to be honest?”
My stomach nearly jumps into my throat, that question can bring brutal answers, but I force myself to keep calm. “Always.”
Nodding, she squeezes my hands and steps closer, bringing her lips to my ear. “Yes, that’s what I want. Took me a while to realize it, to realize that somewhere along the way I fell for you, but I want you, I do. I’m tired of pretending like I don’t.”
I’m pretty sure the world around me comes to a screeching halt. Is this real life? Like for real for real, or am I dreaming this shit?
I abandon her hands for her hips before even realizing it, my palms running up the curves of her body. “You sure about that? We already made it weird, Jules. If we go any further, we’ll really be at that point of no return. There’s no—”
“There’s no going back after that, I know, and that’s okay, ‘cause I don’t wanna go back...and I know you don’t either. You’ve been waiting for this longer than I have.”
Damn, was I that obvious this whole time?
Up her neck, around her face, I beckon her impossibly closer, fighting back the urge lay my lips flush against hers and let my touch do the talking. “You’re right, I have, and no, I don’t wanna go back. I’m not sorry about it, either.”
Jules smiles and circles her arms around my waist. “I don’t want you to be sorry, Kai. I want you to show me what it’s like to be yours, what it’s like to be loved by you. I want you to show me everything you wanted to say and do to me over the years but never did.”
I almost laugh in her face. Not in a bad way, but if she only knew how long and extensive that list was. Let’s just say she’s not ready for all that.
“You want me to be honest?” I counter, and she gives me the same answer I gave her.
“Always.”
Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, I hold her curious, unwavering stare like a vise and speak the truth. “I don’t think you can handle all of that in one night.”
It’s subtle as hell, but I don’t miss the slight bulge of her eyes or how her cheeks heat all over again. Which is why her reply leaves me momentarily speechless, even as two girls walk into the dressing rooms, eyeing our proximity questioningly. “Try me. No hesitations tonight, okay? Do whatever you want.”
Chapter Eight
Jules
Waiting for Kaia to kiss me again has been pure torture, especially after our conversation this morning at the dress shop. There were at least three opportune times for her to just swoop in and take it, but it’s almost like she was purposely not doing it. I actually think she was getting off on it to be completely honest.
All I wanted her to do was cross what’s left of the line and just be done with it, for both our sake.
“I can’t believe I’ve really let you talk me into doing this,” she says as we slide into my car and throw on our seatbelts.
I know, I know. She’s only said so over a dozen times throughout the day.
“It’s gonna be fine, you’ll see,” I repeat for the dozenth time, pulling down the sun visor to slide open the mirror. “When we’re sipping champagne with a bunch of other kids from school and it turns out to be one hell of Rush party, you’ll thank me for giving you the extra push.” And hopefully when that happens, I’ll get her unapologetically closer.
We spent so many years keeping each other at bay.
I’m done with that.
Kaia hums by way of agreement and fishes her phone out of her clutch. “We’ll see. At least I’ll have the most beautiful date there, and since you won’t let me drive, I get to play DJ. That’s two wins for the night already. Hopefully we don’t die.”