A Thin Line Between Love & Hate (Love Conquers All series) ORIGINAL VERSION

Chapter 40: "Just a Kiss"

"When your lips touch mine
It's the kiss of life
I know
I know that it's a little bit frightening
We might as well be playing
With lightning."

- Lightning, The Wanted

For one blissful moment, Josh was lost in sweet, tender ecstasy as Brandon sank down on top of him, the weight of his body like a protective shield against everything dark and hateful in Josh's world. He gazed at Brandon from beneath heavy eyelids, his entire body tense and trembling as Brandon lightly stroked his face. His lips touched Josh on the brow and tenderly glided lower, laying a soft kiss on each eye, his nose, cheek. He swallowed and lightly gripped the blanket, his hands slowly squeezing into fists, bunching up the fabric. Josh's breath shuddered in his throat, quickening with each rapid beat of his heart. His lips trembled and parted as Brandon pressed a tentative kiss to the corner of his mouth then brushed it across his lips.

Brandon went still, the kiss floating against Josh's lips. Josh shivered and ever so lightly pushed into it. A tremor swept through Brandon and his hands shoved into Josh's hair again, the kiss deepening, pulling Josh under, drowning him in sweet, intoxicating sensations and emotions. He let go of the blanket and his fingers went into Brandon's soft strands, cupping the back of his head, drawing him deeper into their kiss.

Soft moans rose in both boys and Josh closed his eyes, letting himself fall into this beautiful boy who had appeared in his dark world like a beacon of light...of hope. Tears formed behind his eyelids and seeped out, draining down his temples. His nerve endings sparked and jacked up his heart rate when Brandon's mouth shifted and glided to his throat, his hands rubbing tenderly down his chest, his ribs. Josh clung to him, clutching Brandon's shoulders, his t-shirt balling up in Josh's fists.

"Josh...baby..." Brandon's trembling words whispered against Josh's throat through his kisses, his soft, warm lips gently sucking his skin. He rubbed his hands down to Josh's waist, fingertips brushing his hips, then tentatively slipped up under Josh's shirt, caressing his warm flesh.

Josh held on tighter, his pulse racing out of control. He gasped shakily beneath Brandon's passion and quiet hunger as the other boy delved deeper under his shirt. His mouth found Josh's lips once more and drowned him in another kiss. His hips pressed against Josh and both their bodies responded, swelling their arousals.

Josh gasped, startled and frightened by the sudden burst of sexual desire that exploded through him—the same need he felt surge through Brandon. His fear escalated to irrational proportions as a lifetime of warnings flooded his mind, igniting his panic. He pulled out of the kiss with a frightened – "Don't..."

The word was hardly out of his mouth before Brandon scrambled off him and away from him, sitting back on his heels, chest heaving. Tears filled the boy's eyes and he shoved his hands through his hair, gripping his head. "Oh God, Josh...I-I'm sorry...I didn't mean to..." his throat worked and chin trembled as he stared at Josh's anxious face and damp eyes. "I just...I just wanted to kiss you...I-I didn't..." He bit his trembling lip, tears slipping out. "After everything you hear at home about gay people...the things they say about me...how could I..." He swallowed hard. "I'm sorry. I would never hurt you, I swear...this isn't why I asked you out here again, it isn't...I swear it isn't...I-I just wanted to spend time with you..." He ducked his head and gripped the back of his neck, shaking. "I'm sorry."

Tears slid down Josh's face and he crawled forward, grasped Brandon's hand and tugged them loose from his neck. He hugged him and cried softly against his neck. Brandon shuddered and grabbed onto him, crushing him in his arms.