keeper of the lost cities one-shot collection

The Kiss - Keefe's pov

MEGA Stellarlune spoilers!! Proceed at your own risk!!

<3

The Kiss - Chapter 42 rewrite - Keefe's Pov

Sophie's words crashed through Keefe.

His eyes burned a little. He'd always hoped that someday she'd realize her feelings, or she'd realize his.

Then he realized that she was probably panicking, a lot knowing her.

He carefully stepped a tiny bit closer, studying her face. "Sophie?" He whispered. Her name felt like a delicate piece of porcelain on his tongue. She didn't open her eyes.

He said her name again and this time she opened her eyes. Her big, brown, gold-flecked eyes fluttered open and he felt his heart speed up.
"You realize," he whispered, careful. He didn't want to overwhelm her or get too giddy. He wanted her to understand. Understand the risks. "That if we do this... it could get very messy."

She looked away and kicked one of the toadstools. "Because I'm unmatchable?"

Keefe's jaw nearly dropped. Never, ever, had he imagined himself giving a single care to the matchmakers. Never. Never once had he ever cared. But she seemed to think he would? Sheesh.

"No," Keefe told her. "The council can feed their matchlists to the gorgodon for all I care. But I wasn't lying when I said my mom will try to use anyone I care about to hurt me."

"Yeah, but I'm pretty sure I'm already at the top of your mom's list of targets, and I'm ready for her."

She reached up and patted the holster of her dagger like it proved that she could fend for herself. He caught her hand. Her hand. Her soft palm in his. He wanted to hold onto it forever. Grip it like a lifeline.

"That might not be enough to stop her." He told her, trying to sound understanding and slow. Calm and comfortable. He wasn't rejecting her; he wasn't trying to hurt her. Honesty was what he was doing. Being honest. That couldn't be harmful, right?

"It might not, but I'm not afraid of her. And not going to let her control my life. So, if she's the only reason—" Sophie said.

"I think we both know she's not," Keefe said, taking a slow cautious step closer. He stared at her almost glowing, beautiful figure as he asked, "Would you like me to list off all the complications?"

He didn't want to — REALLY didn't – He wanted this, wanted her. But...

She shook her head, sending relief coursing through Keefe. "All I care about is how you feel, if you're only doing this,"-she held up their clasped hands– "Because you don't want to hurt my feelings—"

Keefe twined their fingers together and let the truth spill. His feelings, how long he'd liked her; since he met her. He was quiet and careful. But somehow, he ended up shaking a little at the end and whispering, "I can't tell what you're feeling and it's seriously terrifying." Because it was true, and he was beginning to worry and then...

And then.

She tilted up on her toes and lined up to kiss him.

He felt like he was dreaming.

When she stopped short of touching her lips to his, he understood. She was giving him a chance to move away, change his mind. 

He didn't change his mind. He'd never change his mind.

He closed the distance between them.

He'd told her once that he'd never kissed anyone. Never had any experience with it. And he'd never dreamed that his first kiss would be with the girl he loved. The girl he'd been in love with for nearly three years.

He wanted to live in the moment. The small press of her lips against his, the way his hand almost unconsciously went up and rested over her cheek. It was beautiful. Amazing.

He ended up having to pull away. He really didn't want to, but he did.

He leaned back so he could study her gorgeous face clearly. 
"You're okay, right? No regrets?" He asked, internally crossing his fingers that she wouldn't say that he was a horrible kisser. The way she was staring at him probably meant he was wrong.

"Absolutely none," she told him, grinning widely. he smiled relieved.

But then, something else occurred to him.

He cautiously leaned his forehead against hers. The way their faces pressed together, the way his heart seemed to fill, the way she let out a small almost unconscious sigh when their foreheads met, it was all so much and not enough to him.

Kissing and romantic relationships were two things he had no clue about, but he did know one thing.

"I don't want to mess this up," He whispered to her. "Please don't let me mess this up."

"I won't," she promised as she tilted her chin up and kissed him once more, briefly.