With The Tide (Outerbanks JJ Maybank x OC)

Chapter 6 - Always

It was hard not to like JJ. From the moment I met him I felt the butterflies. It was more then just the toned body, messy blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, it was his laugh, the side smile he would give when he thought something was funny. It was the intense protectiveness he had for his friends, the way he would do anything for those he cared about. For the four years I knew him and got close to him I convinced myself we would never be more then friends. I told myself I didn't fit the bill for the girls he liked or he saw me like he saw Kie.

I don't know if it was the adrenaline from the fight, the booze, or the bottled emotions that caused me to be direct but here I was telling JJ Maybank to kiss me. To get over himself and the anger he was holding in and kiss me.

When his lips met mine I hesitated. I was surprised. Once my brain caught up to what was happening I brought my hands up to rest on his placed on the side of my face. The kiss was soft but the electricity that I felt when we connected was something I didn't realize I needed until that moment. After several seconds we separated, but only slightly. His forehead pressed on mine. One hand released my face moving down my arm but the other gently brushed hair behind my ear his thumb brushing long my jaw. I opened my eyes and his were locked on mine almost immediately. We stared at each other as if asking each other if 'this' was okay. I searched his eyes for any regret, any sign that he was going to bail, but I couldn't see any. My eyes moved to his lips again just as his thumb brushed my lower lip. Looking back at him the approval was there and before either of us could change our minds our lips collided again.

The first kiss was slow and soft but the second time there was a desperation in it. One of my hands went to the back of his neck pulling him closer the other gripped his shirt. I could feel his hand as it gripped my hip as he backed me into the tree. I felt him deepen the kiss as he pressed his tongue against my lips and I opened my mouth allowing him in. When I pictured kissing JJ, when I started to have a crush on him I always thought I knew what to expect, how I would feel, but here kissing him the sparks that I felt the tightness I felt in my chest was something I was unprepared for.

Finally feeling the need to breath we broke apart both out of breath. I didn't want to open my eyes, didn't want to open them and find out this was a dream.

"Roe?" his voice was husky and quiet and be place a very chaste kiss on my lips a calloused hand brushing my cheek and down my neck. I kept my eyes closed but shook my head slightly.

"If you're going to tell me this was a mistake, please..."

"I have wanted to kiss you for the last few years." He interrupted me and I opened my eyes surprised and confused. "You have no idea how long I have wanted to do that."

"Why didn't you?" I asked my hand resting on the side of his face where a bruise started to form from where Rafe had punched him earlier.

"I... I didn't want to lose you." He whispered closing his eyes leaning his forehead to mine again. I shook my head and let a small laugh escape my lips before I forced him to lift his head to look at me.

"I'm not going anywhere." I smiled at him biting my bottom lip searching his eyes. His eyes brightened and he smiled and I couldn't help but smile wider in response both of us laughing. Down the beach I could hear Kie and Sarah calling my name and I had to force my eyes from JJ's to over his shoulder at the party still raging behind us. Without a word he moved his head in the direction of the party in a nonverbal statement that we should head back.

With a sigh I nodded pulling myself from his hold. "Wait" he pulled me back in a smooth motion placing his lips on mine again. I smiled against his lips as he started to walk back towards the party with me finally breaking our connection smiling back at me. Taking my hand we walked together towards the Pogue group sitting by one of the campfires. Sarah had taken her place in front of John B and Kie was returning from her search with two beers in hand giving one to Pope. As we approached I could see Sarah raise an eyebrow to me her smile widening.