A Rose to Change a Life

Chapter 19

Don't you dare

Outside the sun was shining, making us sweat in a few minutes flat, which is how we ended up leaning back on a tree a few roads down. Both close to the supermarket and a park, we walked the way in silence, either because nobody wanted to strike up the conversation relating to yesterday or because we were ashamed to. For me, it was definitely both. I, myself was overwhelmed by my sudden ability to oversee my flinching when I made out with him – plus, it was my first kiss ever, but "A kiss that is never tasted is forever and ever wasted." Billy Holiday once said. I had not heard of one of my previous friends telling me that theirs were equally... hot. Further, I did not really believe I was in any state to kiss 'correctly', but he did not seem to mind, perhaps he was equally inexperienced? I turned to look at his profile, visible stubble decorated his chin by now, black hair short of needing a hair cut in a guy's eyes, and his green eyes glinting with admiration. No, he could not be inexperienced, not with those features! But then again, looks could be deceiving. Perhaps some girls found his strong features too masculine, incongruous or what else, but not in my eyes.

He simply looked like a man who knew what he wanted and cared for those around him. Sure, some might say it was not possible to see those things simply by taking in his looks, but I begged to differ.

Devin was aware of my studying him, his lips quirked up at the corners, but he did not say a thing, giving me the time I needed. Rather his hand linked with mine and we sat there, enjoying the feeling of shadow the tree gave us. Yesterday, was a big day, as was today – a day of revealing and non-concealing, for everybody else it would have been too early to share those details. True enough, we knew each other for three days now and had shared our life stories by that time. Was it morbid? Yes. Was it unusual? Yes. Gave it a position of trust? Hell, yes, it did. Was it rushed? Time would tell. What did that make us? For one, it made us lighten our burden, it strung us together, cheesy as it might sound, but I would not have changed it, despite all the bad words we would or would not receive in the future. Simply because I did not care, I enjoyed his company – his good and his bad moments, so yes, think what you want of us, I simply could care less.

For emphasis, I squeezed Devin's fingers tighter and leaned in to give him a small peck on the cheek. He turned. "What was that for?"

A sheepish smile dominated my face, "For one: You gave me the feeling of being somebody, of seeing behind the facade. Thank you."

"My pleasure, Elva. Always my pleasure," his soft reply was. Another moment of silence passed, until he cleared his throat, and addressed yesterday's situation, "Soooo.... about yesterday. Do we have to talk about it?" My cheeks took on a rosy tint, biting my lip, remembering the feeling of his lips on mine, soft and predatory.

Devin laughed, a carefree laugh, he took my reaction as answer enough, "We do not have to then. Good. Should we just label it "desperate and needy" or would you rather want a more cheesy labeling like 'best make-out session you ever had after a guy spilled his beans'?"

I could not help but snicker, classy he was for sure. "I am picking both." I answered to his surprise, getting a smile out of him, snuggling closer. He snapped his fingers, 

"Before I forget, you know...I honestly do not want to apologize, but I feel the need to do so as it is—" I cut him off with pressing my mouth to his, letting the last unimportant words vanish with it. This time, it was a slow kiss, full of emotion and the try of taking it slow. He responded with care, teasing and treating my lips like they were a precious thing, I loved every second of it. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

We parted, our foreheads still touching, "Don't you dare finish that sentence. Ever." I whispered. His eyes sparkling with intensity and comprehending, settling me at his side and tugging me to him.