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And something else, this pressure building in my chest, familiar but so much stronger than it’s ever been.
That feeling stays with me as Ari gets the okay to leave, and I lift her down from the ambulance, hugging her to me before putting her down.
It stays with me as I wrap my arm around her waist, my heart squeezing when she rests her head on my chest.
As we drive home, Ari’s fingers entwined in mine, the feeling grows even bigger inside me.
I can’t talk. My thoughts are all tangled and I’m not sure which ones to pull free.
What do I say to her?
I’ve never been more scared in my life?You’re more important than anything to me?I never want to let you go?
Back at the house, in the living room, Ari tugs on my hand to stop me. She faces me, her green eyes soft, and says, “I’m okay, Cash.”
“I know.” Then why can’t I let go of her hand?
She touches my cheek, her fingers so soft on my skin. “Then get that scared look off your face. I’m alright.”
But she so easily could have not been.
And all my reasons drift away. How can I go one second longer without telling Ari how I feel about her?Why am I so afraid?
“Cash?” Ari stares at me, lines of worry etching into her forehead.
I don’t tell her how I feel. I show her.
Cradling her face, I move toward the one thing I’ve thought about for weeks. Months. Years, if I’m really being honest with myself.
And then.
We touch. Her lips are soft and supple beneath mine. My body ignites.
Finally. Our first kiss.
Ari leans into me, sighing. Her hands clutch my arms as she stretches up to meet me. Her heart is pounding, jack-rabbiting against mine.
My fingers tunnel through her hair, the strands like silk. I drop one hand to rest at her lower back, drawing her closer to me.
Just this is enough to make me wanteverything. The brush of her nipples against my chest, her breathy little moans as our kiss continues, her slender body so perfectly fitting mine.
Ari couldn’t miss my reaction, not with it pressing into her belly. But she just smiles against my mouth, nips my bottom lip, then licks the small pain away.
As much as I’d like to take the kiss deeper, I won’t. Not this time. For our first kiss, Ari should be cherished, not ravaged.
That’s for later, if she’ll let me.
We finally pull apart, both of us gasping. Ari’s cheeks are flushed and I can’t resist tracing the tiny freckles scattered across them. Her lips quirk up. “That was—“ She pauses for a moment. “Unexpected?”
My voice deepens. “Was it, though?” Holding her gaze, I ask, “Was it just me, thinking about it?”
Ari puts her hand on my chest, right over my pounding heart. “No. It wasn’t just you.”
She’s so beautiful, I can’t take my eyes off her. “I shouldn’t have waited,” I admit. “I’ve been wanting to. I just—”
“I was afraid.” Her eyes darken, a rich sage green. “I’ve beenafraid. That I’d ruin things between us.“ Looking down, she whispers, “That I’d be heartbroken if you didn’t feel the same way.”
Oh. This feeling.
