in the music.
Her face was bright when I twirled her beneath my arm before resting my hand on her lower back. She fitted perfectly in my arms. I liked the smell of her hair—a citrus scent, so fresh and alluring. Her thick locks tickled the side of my face, and I couldn’t help rubbing them between my fingers as she leaned against me.
I closed my eyes, resting my cheek on her head and feeling like we’d been doing this for years.
The song finished but we stayed where we were. Jane’s fingers squeezed my hand as the next song began. Being a huge Ed Sheeran fan, I recognized the “Kiss Me” cover immediately. Tammy and I used to lie in bed listening to his music all the time.
The thought should have made me move away from Jane, but I couldn’t. We started swaying in time to the music, our feet barely moving as we basically just hugged on the dance floor. Running my arm up her back, I pressed her closer. She turned her head, resting it against my shoulder and brushing the tip of her nose across the racing pulse in my neck.
She felt just right in my arms, like she’d been meant to be there all along.
I didn’t understand it, but that wasn’t enough to stop me from dipping my head and caressing my lips across her smooth cheek. I pressed a kiss against her ear. Her head lifted off my shoulder, her fingers playing with the short curls at the nape of my neck. Her green eyes were so wide and open, searching my gaze in question.
I answered before fear stopped me.
Leaning forward, I pressed my mouth to hers, closing my eyes and relishing the softness of her lips. She pushed back, running her fingers into my hair and tipping her head. I took that as permission to deepen the kiss. Parting my lips, I brushed the tip of my tongue against her top lip—a quiet little knock for entry.
She responded, her breath mingling with mine as she let me in.
Her tongue was warm and tasted faintly of the peppermints she was always sucking between meals. I ran my tongue along it, savoring the flavor, the sensation, lost in the magic of kissing a girl I cared for.
I hadn’t done that in a really long time, and I’d forgotten how much better it was.
Until it ended.
With a small gasp, Jane tore her mouth from mine. “No.” She shook her head and stumbled out of my embrace.
Covering her mouth with quivering fingers, she looked at me with wide, glassy eyes before fleeing the dance floor.
The couple next to me turned to give me a quizzical look but I ignored them, walking back to our table in a slight daze.
Her eyes, the way they shone like that. It reminded me of Tammy, the last time I’d seen her. She’d been standing in our doorway, begging me…and I’d shrugged and told her she was asking too much.
If only I’d said yes.
I could have wiped that look off her face, made her happy.
Instead I’d kissed goodbye the last chance I’d ever have with her.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I stopped at the table, staring out at the black mass of water. Thoughts of Tammy were pushed aside by Jane.
I didn’t want to make the same mistakes I had in the past.
I should have fought for Tammy. Tried a little harder. Was I honestly ready to pull another Harry, shy away from the difficult conversations so I didn’t have to feel anything more than lighthearted humor?
Pinching my lower lip, I let out a sigh and headed left in search of Jane.
Thankfully I found her easily. She was resting against the marble railing, in the next tier down. The wind was making tendrils of her hair dance across her face. She tucked them behind her ear, then slashed her finger under her eye.
Sliding my hands into my pockets, I cleared my throat so she knew I was coming before I ambled over to her. Resting my legs against the railing, I stared across the houses and out to that inky black sea.
“I’m sorry if I crossed a line.”
“No, it’s okay. I…” She shook her head and sighed.
Her lips bunched as she fought a fresh wave of emotion.
I kept my
Her face was bright when I twirled her beneath my arm before resting my hand on her lower back. She fitted perfectly in my arms. I liked the smell of her hair—a citrus scent, so fresh and alluring. Her thick locks tickled the side of my face, and I couldn’t help rubbing them between my fingers as she leaned against me.
I closed my eyes, resting my cheek on her head and feeling like we’d been doing this for years.
The song finished but we stayed where we were. Jane’s fingers squeezed my hand as the next song began. Being a huge Ed Sheeran fan, I recognized the “Kiss Me” cover immediately. Tammy and I used to lie in bed listening to his music all the time.
The thought should have made me move away from Jane, but I couldn’t. We started swaying in time to the music, our feet barely moving as we basically just hugged on the dance floor. Running my arm up her back, I pressed her closer. She turned her head, resting it against my shoulder and brushing the tip of her nose across the racing pulse in my neck.
She felt just right in my arms, like she’d been meant to be there all along.
I didn’t understand it, but that wasn’t enough to stop me from dipping my head and caressing my lips across her smooth cheek. I pressed a kiss against her ear. Her head lifted off my shoulder, her fingers playing with the short curls at the nape of my neck. Her green eyes were so wide and open, searching my gaze in question.
I answered before fear stopped me.
Leaning forward, I pressed my mouth to hers, closing my eyes and relishing the softness of her lips. She pushed back, running her fingers into my hair and tipping her head. I took that as permission to deepen the kiss. Parting my lips, I brushed the tip of my tongue against her top lip—a quiet little knock for entry.
She responded, her breath mingling with mine as she let me in.
Her tongue was warm and tasted faintly of the peppermints she was always sucking between meals. I ran my tongue along it, savoring the flavor, the sensation, lost in the magic of kissing a girl I cared for.
I hadn’t done that in a really long time, and I’d forgotten how much better it was.
Until it ended.
With a small gasp, Jane tore her mouth from mine. “No.” She shook her head and stumbled out of my embrace.
Covering her mouth with quivering fingers, she looked at me with wide, glassy eyes before fleeing the dance floor.
The couple next to me turned to give me a quizzical look but I ignored them, walking back to our table in a slight daze.
Her eyes, the way they shone like that. It reminded me of Tammy, the last time I’d seen her. She’d been standing in our doorway, begging me…and I’d shrugged and told her she was asking too much.
If only I’d said yes.
I could have wiped that look off her face, made her happy.
Instead I’d kissed goodbye the last chance I’d ever have with her.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I stopped at the table, staring out at the black mass of water. Thoughts of Tammy were pushed aside by Jane.
I didn’t want to make the same mistakes I had in the past.
I should have fought for Tammy. Tried a little harder. Was I honestly ready to pull another Harry, shy away from the difficult conversations so I didn’t have to feel anything more than lighthearted humor?
Pinching my lower lip, I let out a sigh and headed left in search of Jane.
Thankfully I found her easily. She was resting against the marble railing, in the next tier down. The wind was making tendrils of her hair dance across her face. She tucked them behind her ear, then slashed her finger under her eye.
Sliding my hands into my pockets, I cleared my throat so she knew I was coming before I ambled over to her. Resting my legs against the railing, I stared across the houses and out to that inky black sea.
“I’m sorry if I crossed a line.”
“No, it’s okay. I…” She shook her head and sighed.
Her lips bunched as she fought a fresh wave of emotion.
I kept my
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