I stare at her—what I can see of her. Right now, she looks so young. So unsure of herself. But the woman who just made love to me knew exactly what she wanted. And she claimed it, holding nothing back and driving me out of my fucking mind because I’d never felt so wanted.
“That was the best I’ve ever known,” I tell her honestly.
She turns, peeking one eye up at me. “Really?” She sounds genuinely surprised.
I chuckle. “Hell yes, Iris. You were incredible.”
She pops her head up, bringing her face level with mine. “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted it that much.” She quickly shakes her head. “I know I haven’t.”
She’s so adorable, I can’t stop my smile. “That makes two of us.”
Her eyes go wide, their whites glinting in the near darkness. And then she smashes her lips to mine, kissing me like I’m what she’s been missing her whole life. Or maybe that’s just what I feel about her.
Damn, it’s true.
She pulls back with just as much force and presses a hand to her forehead. “Shit,” she mutters, shaking her head. And then again. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask gently, hooking her tighter around her middle, but peace and rightness suffuse me. Nothing about this is wrong.
She looks up at me from under her hand. “I… I don’t really know what happens now.”
Like a sniper in the shadows, fear drives an arrow all the way through me. For me, there’s no doubt what happens now. We’re together. For as long as we can be. That’s what I want. No doubt about it.
But for the first time since we kissed, I recognize that Iris and I might not be on the same page. And that scares the hell out of me. Is what happened after our hike going to happen again? Where we just go back to being friends? Dance instructor and student?
I don’t think I can do that now.
My heart squeezes like a fist. I know I’m going to lose Iris eventually. She’s going to leave. But from the moment she said that she’d made a mistake in turning me down, my heart signed on. Bought a ticket on the fucking Titanic and climbed aboard.
Certain doom, but what a ride.
But we haven’t even left the dock. Is she pushing me away already?
I swallow and force myself to face whatever comes. “What do you want to happen now?”
Iris drops her hand, and she stares into me, searching. What’s she looking for? A way out? Hope?
I stare back, willing my fear to quiet. I’m falling for her, and she’s worth the fall. For however long it lasts before I hit the ground. I want to give her whatever she needs, whether that’s one night or an uncharted future.
“I-I’ve never done this before,” she stammers.
“Done what?”
Iris inhales and sighs out a breath. “Wow. This is embarrassing.” But instead of burying her face in my shoulder, she presses her forehead to my chest and hugs me. I hug her tighter and kiss the top of her head.
“No, Iris, don’t be embarrassed.” I squeeze her again. “You can say anything to me. What’s going on?”
She doesn’t move. Instead she speaks against my chest. “Ask me how many people I’ve dated.”
I frown. “How many people have you dated?”
She pops her head up and meets my gaze. “None.”
“Like long-term?” I ask, confused.
Her right brow climbs. “Likeat all.”
I swallow, wanting to make sure I understand. “You’ve never had a boyfriend—or a girlfriend?”
