He smiled.
Then his mouth touched mine.
Softly.
Carefully.
The first few seconds felt almost formal.
His lips moved against mine once, then paused.
I waited.
He kissed me again.
Longer.
His hand remained cupped around my jaw.
I placed mine at his waist over the charcoal wool.
“Green?”
“Yes.”
His shoulders loosened.
We found a rhythm without rushing toward anything beyond it.
Kissing for its own sake.
Knowing that changed the intimacy.
Noah could stop at any point without abandoning an unfinished act. I could desire him without letting desire become momentum.
His mouth opened.
I touched my tongue lightly to his.
His breath caught.
“Green?” I murmured against his lips.
“Yes.”
He kissed me more deeply.
My hand traveled along his side but stayed above his waist. Warmth gathered beneath the sweater. He shifted until his knee pressed against my thigh.
Desire tightened hard and low in my body.
Noah noticed.
His kiss slowed.
“Amber?”
I remained still.
