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A question.
I nodded.
A promise.
My eyelids slid closed, and I felt his lips against mine, felt the slight stubble on his chin as our skin brushed. Electricity, lust, desire, longing, it all swept through me as I got lost in our kiss, tasting the mint on his tongue, feeling his hand grip the base of my neck, holding me in place so he could deepen the kiss.
A small whimper escaped my lips, one I hadn’t been expecting or holding in, and that only encouraged him more. Our tongues tangled, removing all the breath from my body as I tried to feel him, taste him, get lost in him.
Tyler was a gentleman, but the way he was holding me, his hand dancing up my hip, barely touching the side of my breast, he was holding himself back. Every part of me wanted to find out what more he could do, discover the ways he wanted to touch me.
I fisted my hand in his shirt over his stomach and kissed him hungrily. I’d made out with guys before, but it had never been like this—so all-consuming, so addicting to where I cared more about his lips on mine than my next breath.
Moisture soaked my panties, and even though I’d never had sex before, my body knew I wanted it. Was ready for it. With him.
He pulled back, his heavy breathing matching my own. I studied his hooded eyes, feeling all the passion I saw there.
His voice was husky as he said, “I should get you inside.”
“What if I don’t want to go?” I whispered.
A heated grin hit his lips. “Does this mean I get a second date?”
My smile came all on its own. I nodded. But then my lips turned down.
“What?” he asked.
“It’s wedding week.”
“And?”
“I’m a bridesmaid. It’s a lot of responsibility, and I don’t want to drag you along to it if...” I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence. It was too much too soon.
But Tyler said, “If what?”
“If this wasn’t something that’s going to last.”
His expression grew serious as he took my hand in his. “I can’t predict the future, Hen, but until we figure out what this is...” He gestured between us. “I’m in. All in.”
I bit my bottom lip, holding back a smile. “In that case, will you be my date to the rehearsal dinner and the wedding?”
He cupped my cheek with his hand and kissed me again, softer this time, only stirring the embers instead of lighting a flame.
A curtain in the front window of my house cracked, letting out enough light for me to know my family was waiting on me. They were just as excited to hear about my date with Tyler as I was to tell them and my friends.
“We’re being watched,” I whispered.
“Then I should get you to the door like a gentleman instead of doing everything else I’m imagining right now.”
A swoop of desire went through my stomach.
This could be it, I realized.
The guy I lost my virginity to.
The guy I loved.
But I couldn’t get ahead of myself right now.