Her eyes widen, flicking between mine, but I wait, giving her the choice. I want this kiss, I've wanted it for so many years, but I need her to want it, too.
“God, you’re beautiful.” The words escape before I can catch them, but I don’t regret a single syllable. Instead, I let my eyes trace the lines of her face, waiting, hoping she’ll lean in.
For a second, I think she might step back. Her eyes hold mine, uncertainty flickering like she’s still deciding if this is allowed—ifwe’reallowed. But just when I think I’ve read this wrong, she leans up to close the distance, her lips brushing against mine in a tentative, soft touch.
It’s barely there, a whisper of a kiss, like she’s testing the waters. But it’s enough to set every nerve in me alight. The second her mouth parts slightly, every ounce of restraint I’ve been clinging to crumbles.
The heat between us ignites, flaring like a spark catching dry tinder. My hand slips into her hair to tilt her closer, my other finding the curve of her waist to steady us both. Her fingers twist into the front of my shirt, holding on like she’s afraid to let go. But as she melts into me, her arms wind up around my neck, pulling me in as if we’re both starving for this.
Time collapses around us, every missed moment and unspoken word filling the spaces between each drag of our lips. Every night she’s felt alone and I’ve felt lost, every memory that's lingered with an ache—it’s all right here, in this kiss. She tastes like red wine and something uniquely her, and I realize this is it.I want to fill every corner of her heart that’s been left waiting, every dark space that’s ever been hurt or broken. I don’t ever want to stop.
Her fingers flex in my hair, a soft sound escaping her as the kiss deepens. A groan slips from me, rumbling into her as I press her closer, needing her to feel how real this is. It’s every unsaid promise, every piece of me I want to give her.
When we finally pull back, we’re both breathless, and the air between us feels charged and fragile. Her eyes are wide and searching mine, her lips flushed and slightly parted. It takes everything I have not to pull her back in, to show her how far gone I am for her.
Fuck.
She stares at me with her fingers pressed to her lips, and I can see the doubt creeping in, the rush of thoughts crashing over her.
“Oh God, Jake, I… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“Hey, hey.” I catch her hand, keeping her close. “Don’t apologize.” My thumb brushes over her knuckles, hoping to ground her. Groundme.
Her eyes search mine hesitantly, like she’s waiting for the other shoe to drop. But all I feel is relief. Relief that I’ve finally kissed her, finally shown her how I feel.
“I just… I wasn’t sure if… this is what you wanted.”
“What Iwanted? Charlie, I’ve wanted to kiss you since that last night at camp,” I confess, the words spilling out before I can stop them. “And now that I have, I’m not letting it go.”
I can see her wrestling with herself, the mix of emotions flashing in her eyes. Relief, fear, hope. Gently, I tug her back into me, not ready to let her go just yet. This is it for me.
“But you know whatelseI want?” My eyes roam her face, trying to read her. “A date. With you.”
She blinks, processing. “A date?”
“Yeah. Because after that kiss, I’m not stopping at just one.”
Her brows knit together, a hint of doubt crossing her face. I can see her struggling, sorting through all the reasons to say no.
“Jake, this… it’s moving fast. I’m not sure—”
“Maybe it feels fast to you,” I say, cutting in softly. “But I’ve been waiting for this moment for twelve years.” I cup her jaw, thumb brushing slowly over her cheek. “I know what I want. And I thinkyou do, too.”
She hesitates and looks down, but I’m not having it.
“Don’t second-guess this.” I lift her hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “This is real, Charlie. You and me, we’re happening.”
She looks at our joined hands, and I can see it—the spark she’s trying to push down and ignore, but she can’t.
“Please, Charlie girl?” My thumb traces slow circles over her skin. “All you need to do is say yes.”
She looks up slowly, and when her eyes meet mine, I see her decision in them. The edge of her lips curl, and she whispers, “Okay.”
A smile spreads across my face, a quiet victory. “Tomorrow,” I say, giving her hand a final squeeze as I step back. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
She nods, cheeks still flushed, and I see the thrill mixed with nerves in her eyes. I want to kiss all that doubt right out of her, to hold her close and remind her how real this is. Tell her I’m all in, and I’m not going fuck this up. But I hold back, knowing I need to give her time.
At least, I try to.