the water.
I’m going to kiss you, Stephanie.
I know when.
I know how.
Just let me try.
“Stop swimming away, Blondie!” he shouted once she resurfaced.
It had been an hour of chasing and fighting. They’d played Marco Polo once, but she had caught him cheating and that was the end of their game. It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Now, Stephanie brushed her wet hair back from her face and stared at the horizon. Julian slowly made his way to her and then wrapped his arms around her soft and wet body.
For a second, he thought she’d pull away, but instead, she closed her eyes and sighed. As much as he wanted to freeze this exact moment in time, they were still in the middle of their game. It was an asshole move to do what he was about to, but he couldn’t help himself. He had sucked in air before he lifted her up. The second she giggled and squirmed, he dunked her into the water.
There was no movement, just her blonde hair swimming in the water. She was so still that it frightened him. As soon as he bent his knees to get her, she stood up and gasped. Cold water splashed him, but it didn’t relax the frantic surge that met his body at the thought of her being hurt.
Stephanie wiped her face with her hands then huffed. It was the cutest huff, and it brought a smile to his face. Then Julian noticed that her nostrils had flared as she pointed her finger at him.
“I can’t believe you just dunked me!” she cried.
Her attempts at being angry were futile as he let out a chuckle and pulled her against his chest. “Lighten up, Stephanie. You were giggling. You loved it!”
You feel good in my arms.
The thought had him squeezing his arms around her. Just as he was getting comfortable, she pushed at his chest and took a few steps back. The startled look on her face was one he very much enjoyed.
“I was not!” she argued. She furrowed her brow and glared at him.
“You were! Now, come here,” he said, closing the distance until she was in his arms again.
She didn’t fight him. She willingly let him hold her. And as God as his witness, it was one of the greatest moments of his life.
I want to kiss you.
I want it to be a memory for the vault.
I want you to kiss me back.
I want you to need me like I’m afraid I’m going to need you.
“Wrap your arms around my neck,” he whispered, hoping she would.
And then, like a blessing from the skies, Stephanie did as he’d instructed. Their noses touched, which sent electricity to every one of his fingertips and in his chest, where it lingered. When he noticed that she was staring at his lips, he knew she wanted this kiss to happen like he did.
“Close your eyes for a moment.”
Her eyes snapped to his, and he gave her a reassuring smile, hoping she’d let him have one taste, one moment of exploration, one moment of magic.
“Julian.”
It was a soft call of his name. So soft and sweet that the electricity lingering in his chest drove straight into the depths of his heart. It had been the best and worst pain of his life.
“Shh. One more memory for the vault.” And then he went for it. He didn’t care that he barely knew this woman. He didn’t care about what was to come or the details of her past. He just needed to feel her. He needed the relief her lips gave.
She kissed like no other; seeming almost so unsure that he was worried she’d stop. But she found her way and her speed, kissing him back with as much desperation as he offered.
Desperate and needy, heavily were their kisses laced with it. It was all so much more than anything he had ever dreamed. And then she did something he hadn’t expected. She gently bit his bottom lip, and he groaned or growled. He wasn’t sure which. It had sounded like a mixture of both.
More.
God, do I want more than just one kiss.
He pulled away; too afraid he’d do something she wasn’t ready for. That unsureness should have been an alert from the start. He knew she wasn’t as experienced as he, just in the way she kissed. And that in itself was enough for him to break their contact. This. This was special. This was more than just a summer