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Our eyes connected, his smile fading as he paddled in so we were almost touching chest to chest. Every sound around us went silent. It felt like it was just the two of us, there were no birds chirping or trees rustling in the wind.

His lids hovered half open, as droplets of water balanced on the tips of his lashes, reminding me of crystal raindrops. Birch blinked, and I watched the tiny drops break free, cascading down his cheeks and disappearing into the wet hair on his chest.

The water shifted us together, causing our legs and feet to tangle. We didn't speak, we just stared into each others eyes.

My stomach went wild, turning and flipping. Tingles and electric pops hit my veins, making my blood bubble like lava.

We had never been that close before. Not like that, not half clothed, with no one around to stop us from doing something stupid.

Birch leaned in, bringing his lips to my ear. “Can I tell you something?”

I couldn't answer him. My tongue wouldn't work and my brain forgot how to speak as his words washed over my skin like silk. All I could do was nod.

“I like you, and I think you like me. But if I'm reading it all wrong, you have permission to slap me.”

Slap him? Why would I slap him?

Tipping my head a hair, I was about to ask him what he meant. I didn't have the chance.

His lips pressed against mine with a hard kiss. That was the first time I had been kissed by a boy—that I could remember.

His eyes were closed as his smooth lips massaged mine. Flapping my arms up and down to stay above water, my body went up in flames. I felt things I had never experienced before.

My stomach knotted, my ribs hurt, and my most sensitive spot had started to pulse. It was surreal, an out of body experience that I wasn't sure what to do with.

I knew what sex was, and I was well aware of the fact that neither one of us was prepared for that right now. But I didn't want him to stop, his lips felt so good against mine.

The small devil on my shoulder barked in my ear to keep going, to allow him to touch me in ways I had only dreamed about. The angel stepped in, reminding me that bad things can happen if we don't take precautions and things get out of control. I was at a loss, whose side was I supposed to take?

Do I pull away? Do I keep kissing him?

What are we doing here?!

I felt his tongue push past my lips, so I opened wider and accepted. The muscle was warm and wet, smooth and a little rougher than I expected. Swirling his tongue around mine, I copied his movement.

I wasn't too sure if I was doing it right, but he didn't stop me to give me a lesson or laugh at how awkward I was.

Birch kissed me.

And it felt right, it felt perfect, it felt like it was meant to be.

Pulling away, I hovered in the water, feeling like I was floating in the clouds.

Birch smiled, his mouth tinted red from where my lips had just been. “You didn't slap me. . .” Pausing, he bit his bottom lip with a grin. “Does that mean you liked it?”

Splashing him with water, I giggled. “Are you serious? Did you really think I would slap you?”

Raising his brows, he lifted his shoulders to his ears. “I don't really know what I expected.” Throwing his arms out, he tugged me into his waist, and lifted my legs around his hips. “But I liked it.” Kissing my cheek, he pressed his hands into my shoulder blades as he spoke. “Come on, we should probably head back.”

I didn't want to go to back. I wanted to stay there, wrapped in his arms, feeling his heart beat against mine.

Reluctantly I agreed, unfurling my body from his and swimming beside him to the small ledge at the bottom of the cliff.

The entire hike back to the house we held hands, and I knew right then, I loved him. I didn't tell him that, because I wasn't sure if he felt the same. But I knew what I was feeling.

He was the boy who had saved me. He was the reason I was alive. If he hadn't found me, who knows what would have happened.

And because of that, I loved him.