things at that point."
Unable to handle another second under his penetrating stare, I hobbled to the sink, taking our empty cups. Too big of a coward to face him with my next question, I kept my back turned.
"What happens if we don't want to be together in six months?"
The warmth of his body standing close swamped me with an unexpected thrill. His hand smoothed over mine when he placed our stirring spoons in the warm water. "Having met you in person, I can honestly say I hope that never happens."
We shared corners of the dishtowel, drying our hands. I twirled the blue band circling his wrist until the five diamonds flashed.
"Of all the candidates you could choose from, why me?"
Jordan's fingers cautiously laced through mine. "This probably won't make sense, but I don't know why. I'm drawn to you. Something deep in those blue eyes of yours…a rare innocence. All I know, Marli, is you give me 'butterflies.'" He let go of my hands and stowed his in his back pockets. He glanced away, a telltale blush coloring his cheeks. "Okay, that sounded stupid."
I laughed lightly, my own cheeks glowing. "No, more like honest, which to me is wonderful. Personally, I love butterflies. I think they're amazing."
Jordan caged me against the counter, his eyes leveling to mine. He studied every laugh line, every freckle dotting my face. I stopped breathing when his head dipped and lips lingered close. He touched the corner of my mouth with his finger and I jumped.
"You, uh, have something right there."
Food dried in the corner of my mouth? Oh crap! I tasted my lip. Toothpaste? How horrifying…embarrassing…childlike! I would have slinked, no ran somewhere to hide, but Jordan didn't move. His body pressed close, his head still tipped and eyes so deep, intense…intoxicating, holding my own hostage. I licked my lips to ensure no other remnants lingered and those same eyes flashed dark. His thumb slowly wiped my damp bottom lip.
"I really want to kiss you," he whispered so lightly I wondered if I'd heard a thought instead.
"Then why don't you?" Did I say it out loud or were our minds communicating? Our noses grazed and an eternity seemed to pass.
"You scare me," he uttered in a weightless breath over my waiting mouth.
Inside my chest my heart stilled; my lungs quieted and sealed just enough air to keep me from fainting. Jordan's fingertips tapped my skin delicately as they moved, almost bashful, along my jaw and wrapped the back of my neck. His lips barely brushed mine, but the spark in the kiss was undeniable—a witness to my soul that a crucial shift in my life just happened.
"Now I'm scared," I whispered, no longer feeling my legs.
His arm coasted around my waist, pulling me into him. A seductive smile appeared and my heart skipped another beat. "Can I kiss you again?"
My insides turned mushy, while my body obeyed the gentle command of Jordan's fingers splayed on the small of my back, nestling me against his warm, hulky frame. When I nodded my approval, his fingers braided into my hair, tilted my head back. My lips bloomed against his when they pressed with a second, more confident kiss. My arms circled his neck and held on while I rode an emotional wave of elation, fear, and something new I couldn't describe because I'd never felt it before.
When the kiss ended, our eyes locked and I worried what thoughts bounced in his brain. Did I kiss okay? My breath? He pecked the end of my nose and I flushed, embarrassed. Crap! He's made a mistake and thinking of a way to escape.
"Wow, what just happened?" He took a half step back, parked his hands on my hips. "I, uh…sorry, I shouldn't have—"
Another person suddenly possessed my body and I moved into the few inches separating us. I rose on my tiptoes, tugged his collar and settled my lips on his, hushing his apology. His tongue teased and my lips parted, welcoming the delicious taste of his mouth taking mine.
Jordan's arms wrapped tighter and I molded into his curves as if my body
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