AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I give her a second, but just one. “Come here,” I say, and a few moments pass before she shakes her head. “Andie, come here.” I’m trying really hard to be patient, but she’s making it difficult.
“No.”
I detest that word, especially coming out of her beautiful mouth.
“Andie, I need you to come here. If you don’t, I’ll come over there, and even if you run, I will find you.”
I watch her contemplate it, and then, knowing I mean every word, she hesitantly walks in my direction. I push the gameboard out of the way, and she sits in front of me on the coffee table. Her shorts ride high, revealing those thighs I’ve thought way too much about over these past few days. Her oversized sweatshirt hangs off her shoulder, and it’s like a tease that might actually drive me insane.
I search her eyes, wanting to see everything. “Tell me what you’re thinking.” I see so much, but I need to be sure.
“No.”
There’s that damn word again. I move closer, needing her to understand that I’m not going to let this go. I’m not going to let her go. I rest my hands on her bare knees, and she watches as I run my thumbs over them.
“Tell me exactly what you were thinking over there.” I tip my head to where she was standing.
“I don’t want to.”
Her eyes haven’t moved from my hands, but I watch her face. “Why?”
It’s such a simple question, but I know this answer is profound. I can feel it. I know what I want and have a pretty good idea of what Andie wants, but there’s no stepping over that line until I know she’s good and ready. She’s so damn beautifuland so scared, she may not even know what’s happening here or what she wants, and I’ll wait as long as it takes.
Her fingertips meet mine and linger just a second before she pulls them away like they’ve burned her.
“I’m scared.”
Now, we’re getting somewhere. “Of what?”
Her eyes flick up to mine and then disappear, and it might be my imagination, but I think she’s breathing faster. I wrap my fingers around the back of her knees and tug, pulling her just a little closer. I need her to feel safe.
“Hey. Look at me.” I see the effort it takes for her to drag her eyes to mine. “There’s nothing to be scared of.”
She laughs softly. “Funny, I feel like I have a whole lot to be scared of.”
“Andie…” I try, but she cuts me off.
“I was thinking I wanted to try something, but I’m…terrified.”
“Of what?”
She closes her eyes, and her chest rises and falls with a deep breath. “What if…it…feels different? What if…I…feel different?” She peeks at me, and I see a shyness that’s rare. “Or maybe worse, what if it’s…better?”
I cup her face, knowing she’s sorting through the guilt of moving on and that whatever has been building between us is different, new, and possibly even more.
“Don’t punish yourself for something you had no say in. Life is supposed to keep moving. We’re supposed to keep going. In order to do that, we have to risk it sometimes to see what might be there waiting for us.”
I take a breath, needing her to hear me and know she has nothing to be afraid of or feel guilty for. “It’s going to be different and new, but it doesn’t have to be better or worse.” I run my thumb over her cheek, needing her to trust me. “He and I are two completely different people.”
Her eyes flick between mine so fast, thinking, searching, contemplating. Then she’s leaning in. I don’t move. I don’t even blink, letting her decide.
Her fingers run along my jaw softly, tentatively. After a moment, they press into my skin with more force, tugging me closer and letting her lips brush against mine so gently. She pulls back just slightly, searching me again, before kissing me, holding her lips to mine longer this time. Her lips move over mine carefully, hesitantly, and then she tilts her head, inviting me in.
I’ve waited patiently long enough, and I take it. I pull her onto my lap, diving in like I’ve been dying to. My hands find her hair, and her head moves one way and mine the other. Her sweet, smart mouth tastes even better than I imagined–peppermint and honey.
Her body molds into mine. Her soft skin under my hands is like silk, and they’re becoming greedier by the second. I grip her thighs, resting on either side of mine, needing grounding.
Her hands slide around to the short hair at the back of my neck, holding me to her like she can’t get close enough. I let her lead and explore, wanting this to last. Nothing about this feels clumsy or new. It feels like it was always meant to be.
