Love ~A Series of Short Stories~

Can I Kiss You?

EMÉLIE

"I'm coming!" I called out, closing the oven door so that the turkey could bake.

It was three pm, which meant that Taro was in front of my apartment door. Plus, he always knocked seven times.

I stopped in front of the door and took in a deep breath. We'd almost kissed the night before, and I'd been replaying the moment in my mind over and over.

Will he kiss me today?

I reached out and opened the door, a smiling Taro on the other side of it.

"Hey!" He exclaimed, his arms outstretched as he came in for a hug.

I relished in the body contact, taking in his familiar smell of cologne. My cheeks tingled as his muscles contracted slightly.

"What's this?" I asked, pulling away from him, gesturing towards a pink polka dotted bag. I closed the door as he walked into my apartment. He took off his shoes and his jacket, then handed me the gift bag.

"Your favourite, sparkling grape juice and coconut water."

"How thoughtful," I smiled, "thank you."

"Make yourself at home. I'm just making the stuffing," I told him, heading back to the kitchen.

I heard him change the channel from Slice to Food Network as I started chopping the onions.

"Ugh," I said, laughing to myself as my eyes started to tear up.

Frickin onions.

I could hear Taro get up from the couch, then he was next to me.

"Hey," I smiled at him, wiping away some of my tears.

Concern was in his eyes, until he noticed the onions. He started laughing, "I'm gonna cry now, too. You want some help?"

"Sure. You can chop those carrots," I nodded towards a bowl that was near him. He grabbed a cutting board and a knife, then started chopping.

A warm feeling encased my chest. This felt like what I'd always dreamed a relationship would be; sharing the simple things in life, like Thanksgiving dinner prep.

Crying together.

"Oh my God," I laughed, as tears fell from my eyes like a waterfall. "At least I'm done with these."

I dumped the onions into a bowl that already had some gold raisins and chopped celery in it.

Taro put the carrots into the bowl as well once he was done. We came to the sink at the same time, our hands touching slightly as we washed them.

"Calm down!" I though to myself. My heart kept skipping every time we came close to each other.

"Gosh" I sniffed, looking up at him as I dried my hands, "onions."

He smiled, looking into my eyes. His smile fell slightly as we stared at each other. My heart pounded, hard. His gaze was intense, a little too intense for me.

I turned around, walking into my dining room, searching for words, "I'm, uh-"

I felt his arms wrap around my waist from behind me, then his chin rest on my left shoulder. Our cheeks touched, and my whole body felt hot.

He trailed the side of my neck with kisses. My breath got shaky and my heart fluttered.

He turned me around ever so slowly, placing kisses on my exposed collar bone. I titled my head back in response, my hands behind his neck.

He finally came to my face, stopping as our noses touched.

"Emélie?" He whispered. I opened my eyes, looking into his.

"Hm?" I didn't bother trying to speak, I was so overcome with... I don't know...

He tilted his head slightly, brushing his lips over mine, causing me to let out a moan, "can I kiss you?"

I sucked in a breath and closed my eyes, willing myself to savour this moment. The lust in between us was so thick, you'd need a chef's knife to slice through it.

"Yes-" his lips were on mine as soon as the word escaped my mouth. He moulded my body to his, pulling me close to him with my waist.

Our lips separated for a second, so we could catch our breath. But, they were back together as though there'd been no space between them.

"I've always wanted you," Taro said in between kisses. I opened my eyes and shook my head with disbelief.

"No you haven't," I told him, breaking apart from the kiss, our faces still centimetres apart.

He grabbed one of my hands and placed it on his chest, his gaze unwavering.

His heart was beating as fast as mine, if not faster.

"You make me feel..." His eyes searched mine, and then his lips collided with mine again.

He kissed me hungrily, grabbing my thighs and bringing my legs around his waist so that he was carrying me.

I wasn't short or as light as a feather, but T was so strong... I might as well have been.

"I have... To make... The food-" I said in between passionate kisses.

"Okay," Taro whispered against my lips, kissing me over and over again before removing his lips from mine and staring into my eyes.

"You're beautiful, Em. I feel... Alive when I'm with you. Even before today," he kissed me again, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"So do I," I whispered, giving him another kiss.

I pulled away from him, willing myself to fight the passion between us. We'd go hungry today if dinner wasn't finished.

He put me down and followed me to the kitchen, helping me put the gravy on the stove and cut the cranberry sauce, as I finished up the pie and put it in the oven.

I looked at my phone, checking the time.

5:15 PM

I put my left hand to my cheek, my face heating up.

We made out for like an hour!

"I can't get enough of you," Taro said, smiling as he pulled me toward him again. "Be mine?"

I laughed as he picked me up and kissed me, "yes."

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