sound of my name on his lips lights me on fire. His hands find their way under my shirt. He’s stroking my stomach, my back, and over the top of my bra. I can’t help but whimper in pleasure. It comes from a place inside I didn’t know existed. I clutch him tighter to me with my legs.
His lips finally claim mine, and his tongue explores my mouth. There’s a tension building between my legs every time his tongue delves deeper into my mouth. The feeling is electricity and pain, a delicious pain I don’t quite understand. It takes my breath away.
He presses me down so my back is against the bench and my head is half on half off. My hair hanging over the edge. I watch him touch me, the way his hands move across my body. Fight for breath. Every cell, every vein, every minute piece of skin is blooming. Kyle pushes up my shirt, and the tips of his fingers brush along my stomach. I realize he’s tracing my tattoos with his fingers. Taking his time. I let out another whimper. He leans down, and kisses my stomach, his lips and teeth explore down to the button on my jeans.
My body is tuned in. Awake. Alive.
A big smile cuts into my face. I sit up. Desperate to have his mouth on mine again. It’s new. Kissing. Touching. I don’t know if he wants more. My body wants it all—but not yet. Kissing and touching is more than amazing.
He cracks a grin. “What are you thinking?” he asks tenderly.
I move my hands along his chest to his collarbones and down his arms. “I want to kiss you again.”
He answers by covering my mouth with his, urging my mouth open and kissing me so deeply, so passionately, I feel it in my toes. His kisses are desperate, fierce, and hungry. I match his urgency, kiss for kiss. My tongue twirls and dances with his. It feels like we’re one. I’ve pressed my body so tightly against his I can hear and feel his heart beating. His hair is fisted in my hands and my legs are locked behind him, my body declaring what I’ve known along. He’s mine, and I never want to let him go.
Many, many minutes later, he slows his kisses down. His breathing slackens. I match his pace. My lips are swollen and my face feels raw from the scruff on his face. He suckles my bottom lip, and I sigh. Content. Happy.
“That was... You are…” I trail off. Kyle’s features are serious. Does he regret what happened? “What’s wrong?”
He takes my hands, and turns them over, like he’s studying them or seeing them for the first time.
“I’m sorry,” I say, realizing he probably wants more. That he’s used to much, much more.
He grabs me and pulls me tightly against him. “Maddie, you’re the most amazing person I’ve ever known.” His voice is filled with tender astonishment.
I feel the same way about him, but I can’t find my voice. We stay wrapped in each other’s arms a long time. Until finally he pulls me off the bench and walks me home.
At the door he asks, “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“I have a test to study for.”
“Can I cook you dinner at my place?”
My face lights up. “What time?”
“I’ll pick you up at six.”
24
Maddie
He’s Gravity and I’m the Moon
“So Collin? How’d you guys meet?”
I haven’t told Gina about what happened in the piano room yesterday. The experience is too private, too sacred. Kyle and I practiced our duet and he invited me over for dinner. That’s all I said. She seems to think tonight is the night. I’m not sure. My body disagrees.
I pull on my slightly baggy jeans and a white shirt and fluff my hair. I’m wearing it down and wavy. Lip gloss on my lips. Ballet flats on my feet.
Gina hands me her heart necklace, the one she let me wear the other night. “Keep it. It looks better on you.”
“Really? Thanks, Gina.”
“No biggie.” She plops on her bed and flips open her Psych book.
“Collin?” I remind her, rubbing on some deodorant.
“Uh, fine.” She picks up her yellow highlighter and marks a line on the page. “He’s in my Biology class. He’s my lab partner. We talk. He seems to like that I’m crazy. And I like his pretty hair.” Gina slams her book shut and sits. “End of story.”
I’m about to tell her she’s lying when there’s a knock on the door.
It’s