Drew Starkey Imagines

Never Been Kissed

The summer air was warm and thick with salt, the kind that clung to your skin and curled in your hair. Waves rolled gently against the shore, the rhythm of them like a soft heartbeat in the background. You stood barefoot on the sand, toes sinking into the cool surface just beyond the sun's last reach, watching the horizon fade into a deep gradient of gold, coral, and lavender.

Rafe was standing just behind you, close enough that you could feel the heat of him at your back, his presence familiar but still electric. Being with him had been a whirlwind—a gentle one, surprisingly. You'd expected arrogance, edge, maybe even recklessness. But what you'd found instead was someone who took his time, who looked at you like he was learning you piece by piece, never rushing, never pushing.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" he murmured, his voice low, quiet enough to be a part of the breeze.

You nodded, not taking your eyes off the sea. "Yeah. It feels like everything else just... fades away out here."

A long pause stretched between you, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was like the two of you were waiting for something without needing to say what it was. And maybe you were.

He stepped beside you, his hand brushing against yours before he gently laced his fingers through yours. That simple touch—his fingers rough from surfboards and steering wheels, yours soft and a little shaky—was enough to make your stomach twist.

You'd never kissed anyone. Not once. Not because you hadn't had chances—there'd been school dances, awkward movie nights, too-long car rides with boys who leaned in just a little too close. But you'd always pulled back. You didn't want your first kiss to be something forgettable, a story you didn't even want to tell later. You wanted it to matter.

And somehow, without even knowing, Rafe had made it matter.

He turned toward you, his free hand brushing a strand of hair from your cheek. "Can I do something I've been wanting to do for a long time?"

Your breath caught, heart thudding like it wanted out of your chest. You didn't answer with words. Just nodded.

He leaned in slowly, giving you every second to pull away. You didn't. You leaned in too.

His lips met yours softly, almost like a question. They were warm and smooth, with a tenderness that surprised you. The world stilled around you—the wind, the waves, the gulls. Everything melted away except for the feel of his lips on yours, the sun dipping beneath the ocean like it was bowing out just for the two of you. Sand was between your toes, your skin kissed by sun and sea, and your heart? It soared.

When he pulled back, he looked at you like he was seeing something new. "Wow," he breathed, his thumb still grazing your cheek. "That was... something."

You smiled, unable to speak. You didn't need to. He squeezed your hand.

"Worth the wait?" he teased gently.

"More than worth it," you whispered.

You didn't tell him that night that it had been your first kiss. You weren't hiding it—you just wanted to keep the magic untouched, for a little while longer. Besides, something about him made it feel like he already knew. Like he understood without you having to say it out loud.

⸻

Weeks passed, and summer stretched on like it never wanted to end. Days with Rafe were sun-soaked, full of impromptu drives down winding back roads, ice cream runs at midnight, and quiet afternoons with your legs tangled on his couch. He was different with you—softer, more patient. It was like he had taken all the sharp edges he was known for and smoothed them just for you.