Coiled (Book 1 of 2)

Jehanne and Loïc

When I appeared on the grounds they were both already there.

Side by side, waiting for me.

Evan and Reggie, blond and black hair catching in the sunlight.

And they looked breathtakingly handsome as ever; effortlessly cool, completely composed. With their sleeves pushed up given the heat of the day, the two of them smiled at the sight of me.

And me? What of me?

... I don't look cool. Certainly not collected.

But I'm far too excited to care -

"I've missed you!"

The only words I could think to shout before bolting across the front lawn and towards the two of them.

Grinning at this, Reggie broke forward in a run of his own, Evan standing in place and laughing with amusement as Reggie and I finally met halfway across the lawn and fell into each other's arms.

"Closer, closer!"

My whispered plea as Reggie's arms slipped around me, and mine around him. A plea that was abruptly cut off as soon as our lips met for a series of urgent kisses. Stumbling against one another, I felt Reggie laugh against me as the two of us lost our balance and fell down to the grass. Scrambling on top of him, we picked up right where we'd been seconds ago and continued to kiss.

"You look so well -"

"- You too -"

I mean ...

Of course we do.

It's only been a couple of weeks, after all.

But for us ...

For us, that may as well be a lifetime.

It feels that way when every second spent apart's unbearable.

Where Reggie and I were flustered and frantic, Evan was slow and deliberate.

Evan the tease ...

Straightening up against Reggie, I felt my throat tighten as Evan's eyes locked with mine. Slipping his hands into his trouser pockets he gave me a tiny nod as he began to stroll slowly forward.

"Well hello Evan Rosier!"

My words, called out to him with unmistakable amusement as he continued his approach. Beneath me Reggie began to shake again with laughter, his hands squeezing my sides, "Don't fall for his act. His dramatics aside, we all know exactly how excited he is at this moment."

"Excited ..."

Evan's eyes remained fixed on mine as the corners of his lips drew up into the beginnings of a full smile, "... Is a word that fails completely when it comes to expressing my current feelings."

Laughing at this I reached my hand out to him as he neared us, "So why the unhurried walk then?"

"Purely for your benefit, of course."

"... For my ..."

His hand taking hold of mine he pulled me upwards, our eyes never leaving each other's, "... So you can drink in the sight of me. So you can remember exactly what you've been missing."

Only Evan Rosier!

This man, I swear!

... Absolutely unrivalled in his ways.

Shaking my head, I whispered to him now, "You're too much, Evan."

"Perhaps just a bit."

The three of us erupted with laughter at that. Arm looping fully around my waist, he pulled me closer, so close that we were just shy of a kiss, our breaths hitting each other's lips, "Oh, you know I missed you. You know exactly how much I did."