Page 33 of No One But You
“Thanks.Can I….”I trailed off.It was selfish of me to ask for too much when he was already going out of his way to help me.
“What?”he asked, once more not letting it go as I’d hoped he might.
“Nothing.Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m worrying.”
I huffed a laugh.“I was going to ask if I could hug you, but there’s no need for it.I’ll be fine.”
He gave my hand a little tug.“Come on, then.”
I stared at him in the dark, trying to make out his features.“Really?”
He sighed, and it sounded a little exasperated.“I… I like your hugs.You’re always welcome to hug me.”
My insides lit up.He liked my hugs?That had to mean something, right?
I wriggled closer and laid my arm over his torso.Immediately, the tension began to leach from my body.It wasn’t enough, though, so I laid my head over his heart and melted when he wrapped his other arm around me.
“Is this all right?”I whispered.
“Yeah.”His voice was rough and thick with an emotion I didn’t recognize.
Something brushed over the top of my head and my heart skipped.Had he kissed my hair?
“I’m here for anything you need.”The way he said it—soft and serious—made me think he meant it, and a warm, hopeful feeling unfurled in my chest.
“Anything?That’s a lot to promise,” I teased.
“I know.”His arms tightened around me and another phantom kiss brushed over my hair.“But if it’s within my power to give, I will.”
I turned gooey inside.How was I supposed to resist him when he was so sweet and sincere?
Maybe I didn’t have to.
Maybe, if he’d actually kissed me, and if I hadn’t imagined that flash in his eyes earlier or the warmth in his voice, he wanted me as much as I wanted him.
Feeling daring, I eliminated the last of the space between us.“What if I was to ask for something crazy, like a kiss?”
Quiet descended and settled between us, but it was weighted with expectation.I fought the urge to back away and apologize.I’d never expected to admit my attraction to him, but if there was even the slightest possibility he returned it, then I had to.
At last, he broke the silence.“Do you mean that?”
My breath caught.“I do.”
“Are you sure?You’ve had an emotionally exhausting day, and you’re vulnerable.I’d understand if you just want to feel close to someone, but I don’t kiss people lightly.Kissing means something to me, and I won’t do it if it doesn’t mean something to you too.”
Did that mean there was a chance hewouldkiss me?
If so, I couldn’t let it slip through my fingers.
“I want to kiss you, and I really hope it means something to you,” I told him.“Because it would mean the world to me.”
Even in the dark, I could sense him studying my face, trying to determine whether I was being truthful.Then his lips curved in a beautiful smile.
“Good,” he said, and then he kissed me.
His lips were soft, and when he exhaled, his breath tasted faintly of mint.I drew back, but only so I could kiss him again.I let my lips rest against his, enjoying the pressure and not trying to take it further.
