Page 67 of Fighting

When didsomeone turn on twinkle lights and music?

“Which movie is this from?” I ask Nessa as the opening of a slow song plays. She looks my direction, bringing us close enough for me to lean in. I brush my lips to hers, a soft kiss. This is different from the heated and hurried ones we’ve previously shared. It’s languid and paced.

This is another shift. Hopeful adoration drips over me like honey. A budding belief thatmaybethis is not about optics anymore.

I bury my face in her neck and inhale her citrus and vanilla scent. “Dance with me,” I say pulling us to stand and sway.

I don’t think I’ve ever shared this kind of intimacy with another person before.Shouldn’t I be afraid of this sort of relationship?The question pokes holes in the moment. But I don’t think it’s about whether I want it. It’s whether she finally sees that I’m worthy of it.

Before Nessa, it held no appeal. There was always someone who might be better, hotter, more spontaneous or special. It is impossible to imagine someone who ismoreanything than her.

She wants this as much as I do, right?

I’m startled from my spiraling thoughts when a cool drop of water hits my face. Then another. We pull apart and, in unison, ask, “Is it raining?”

Only then do I notice the distinct chirp and whoosh noises of the inground sprinklers.

Nessa’s eyes narrow, her expression calculated, and in one quick move, she darts away.

But she’s too slow. I grasp her arm, then pick her up and swing her directly into the spray. Like the music was made for us, the tempo matches the movement, so I take the opportunity to pull her through the water and sway to the rhythm again.

“You love your movie moments. Is this supposed to be a downpour declaration of love?”

Love.Mouth agape, I’m searching for the words when the song switches to something upbeat. The music video choreography is so set in my muscles that I break out into the band’s moves on instinct.

Looking over to ensure she isn’t waiting for an answer, I see an even better sight. She’s joined me in hopping and spinning, laughing and singing along.

The grass quickly gets slick, and on the next jump, her heeled boots squish in the puddle, and she wobbles. I reach out to stabilize her, but the momentum is too much, and we both tumble to the now muddy lawn.

Laughing as we slide, my hand falls to the grass and comes up covered in earth. Unable to resist, I raise it in front of her.

She shakes her head as I nod.Game on.

I lunge forward as she shrieks, “Don’t you dare.”

Still on her back, she scrambles away, dragging herself through the muck.

“Brains. Need brains. Big, beautiful brains,” I tease. I clamber after her, low and stiff like a zombie, groaning. The raucous mix is cut with howled laughter. When her back reachesthe stone retaining wall, I prowl forward, closing the gap. Breathless we hover there suspended in time and space, lips a whisper from touching. Her legs part ever so slightly, causing my pelvis to fall snugly into hers. This wakes my dick up, and she gives a soft, appreciative moan in response.

“If I were a human, I could reach into your panties and I bet they would be absolutely soaked for me,” I whisper. This elicits another breathy, wordless reply.

As our mouths join, my hands rove on instinct into her hair, around her face and down her neck. The cold dirt is a jolt to her warm skin, drawing another gleeful shriek, as she leans forward to paint my brow with a matching strip of mud.

I want to keep kissing her, build a home of arguments—real and playful. I want to strip her bare and sink deep inside her. So delirious with lust and affection I nearly forget where we are.

I’m rudely brought back to reality by the boom of a deep voice and floodlights that evaporate our cloak of darkness.

“Is someone there?” Gabe calls out. “Everyone all right? I thought I heard a scream. Hello?”

We quickly scramble apart and rush to stand. “It’s me, Aba,” Nessa calls with a laugh. “Sorry, the sprinklers caused me to slip, and Mateo tried to catch me, which caused…” She waves a hand at our soiled attire.

“I’ll be back with towels. Give me a moment.” He nods and steps back inside.

Maybe it’s my imagination, but I swear he winks at Nessa before retreating.

“You little minx. Did you know this would happen?” I push.

She’s trying to withhold her smile, but the mask cracks quickly. “I had no idea, I swear. This was completely an accident.” She holds her hands out in front of her.

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