I raised my hand slowly.
“May I touch you?”
He nodded.
My palm settled against his cheek.
“You have not lost desire.”
“No.”
“You are not broken because wanting frightens you.”
“I know.”
“You do not need to solve everything tonight.”
His eye closed.
“What do we do, then?”
“Whatever feels safe.”
“Such as?”
“We could talk.”
“That sounds unbearable.”
I smiled.
“We could kiss.”
His eye opened.
“That sounds better.”
“We stop whenever you want.”
“What if I want more?”
“You ask.”
“And you?”
“I ask too.”
The tension in his shoulders loosened.
I leaned toward him but stopped before our mouths met.
Noah crossed the remaining distance.
The first contact was tentative.
Then warm.
I placed both hands at his waist and kept them there.
