Chapter 35

 

 

All thought of the view evaporated as his lips brushed hers, a tentative invitation that quickly mounted as they closed the gap. Breathing became secondary, thought was redundant, there was only the kiss.

All the desperation, yearning, agony, and excitement exploded, each new contour of his lips leading to another tidal wave that engulfed her anew, the intoxicating contact scattering her thoughts into oblivion.

His hands moved across her back, pulling her tighter, pressing them together. His eagerness heightened her crushing desire, and she clung to the back of his neck, pressing harder against his lips. He pressed back.

She didn’t feel the ground under her feet or hear the shouts of delight by those watching the lanterns. The wind was warm but heat came from within, and Reed’s every touch caused her body to tremble.

After what seemed an eternity they parted. She opened her eyes to meet his gaze, his blue eyes piercing into her soul. Her smile felt like it would break her cheeks, and he laughed in delight.

“Worth the wait,” she said, struggling to breathe.

He kept his arms around her back. “Are kisses always like that?”

“Hardly,” she said, and then raised an eyebrow. “Am I the first girl you’ve kissed?”

“Third,” he said. “But none were like this.”

She laughed and looked to the lanterns, surprised to find them still hovering and swirling above. Their kiss had seemed hours long, but evidently it had just been seconds. Unwilling to release him, she used her chin to point to the sky.

“The scenery certainly adds to the moment.”

“Is that all it is?” he asked, flashing a lopsided grin. “The environment leading to the kiss?”

“I think more experimentation is required.”

He laughed and accepted the invitation, leaning in to kiss her again. To her immense satisfaction, the second kiss was no less powerful, albeit softer. She took the time to explore his lips with hers, and his shoulders with her hands. When they parted again she grinned.

“Is this what I have to look forward to from now on?” she asked.

“Does this mean you’re my girlfriend?”

She smiled and pretended to consider the proposition. “I’ll think about it.”

He abruptly lifted and spun her about, eliciting a gasp and a burst of laughter. “You’ll think about it?”

“Okay!” she cried. “I agree. I’m your girlfriend.”

He set her down, a quizzical expression forming on his face. “You know, this is uncharted territory for me.”

“That’s right,” she said, recalling that he’d only had two brief relationships. Then her smile turned positively wicked.

“What?” he asked warily.

“For the last six months you’ve been teaching me how to date,” she said. “But you have no idea what it means to be a boyfriend.”

“So?”

“So, I get to be the teacher,” she said.

“Does the student get to kiss the teacher?”

“I’ll allow it.”

He laughed and kissed her again, and she found it difficult to breathe. When they parted he pulled away and looked to the mass of lights that were just beginning to drift away. The magic of the moment faded but their hands remained intertwined.

“Do you want to watch the lanterns?”

She wanted another kiss but reluctantly agreed, and twisted so his arms were around her waist. He shifted his hands so they stayed well below her breasts, a subtle motion, but a significant one. She realized that at no time during their kiss had he tried to touch anywhere but her back or waist.

She smiled, realizing that she hadn’t been concerned about him doing so. With every guy she’d ever dated, she’d been on her guard, but with Reed, she knew he stood guard. It seemed new to have the guy be responsible for his hands, and she realized that was the way it should always be. When had she come to expect all guys to treat her with disrespect?

“What’s that sound for?”

“Just thinking,” she said. “Your hands didn’t wander.”

His expression turned quizzical. “Of course they didn’t.”

“Exactly.”

He chuckled under his breath, but it sounded like he didn’t quite understand. He tried to ask, but she shushed him, intent on watching the lanterns float to the horizon. With his arms around her, it was the perfect moment, the perfect end to the dating challenge.

The crowd quieted as all watched the lanterns rise into the sky, taking the light with them. Kate breathed a sigh of contentment, unwilling to leave even when people began to depart. Reed made no move to gather their things and they remained until only a handful of stragglers were in the park. Only then did she reluctantly sigh and turn to Reed.

“Even perfect moments have to end.”

“Is that what this was?”

“As perfect as I’ve ever had,” she said.

His smile was visible even in the gloom. Then he pulled out his phone and turned on the flashlight, using it to gather up the picnic. As they walked back to the car he kept a tight grip on her hand, only letting go when he had to get into the driver’s seat. Then he reclaimed his place.

“Is it cheesy to say I like holding your hand?” he asked.

“I’m glad you do,” she said.

He backed the car out and pulled onto the road, following the cars out of the park. Kate leaned against the door and continued to watch the lanterns. Like a collection of drifting stars, they sparkled in the distance.

When they left the park behind she turned to face him. “It’s not really fair, you know.”

“What’s not fair?”

“Your dates are irresistible.”

“Are you saying you didn’t want to kiss me?”

She laughed at the absurd suggestion. “Of course I did. But you have to know what your dates do to a girl.”

He cocked his head to the side. “I know, which is why I didn’t let the dates become too much.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He smiled and looked her way, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “That I hope we can continue to date.”

She blinked in surprise. “You said our game was over.”

“Do you want it to be?”

She considered the question, but the answer came easily. “No.”

“Neither do I,” he said. “We can go out on other nights and spend as much time together as we want. But every two weeks, we can continue the challenge.”

“And outside that?”

He motioned to her. “You’ll have to teach me. As you said, I have no idea how to be a good boyfriend.”

“You know more than you think,” she said, pointing to the pinpricks of light that were the lanterns.

“Nevertheless,” he said, “I’ll need your help to figure out the rest of it.”

“I’m confident you’ll be a good pupil,” she said. “First lesson, kiss me whenever I want.”

“That I can do,” he said.

They left the mountains behind and he turned onto the onramp to the freeway. He accelerated and they left Denver behind, gradually moving into the mountains that would take them home.

“So, the rules have changed but the game continues?” Kate asked.

“Now that we’re together, our options are limitless.” He smiled, the expression tinged with anticipation. “The game is just beginning . . .”