Muda

Kisses (28.)

[A.Ham]

The kiss only lasted a few seconds, with her being the first to lean away at the sound of me clearing my throat. She made no move to hold it any longer, though the blush did creep into her cheeks.

"Um... Lafayette?" I started, drawing his saddened gaze from her.

"Can I not say goodbye to long missed friend?" He defended, pulling her into his arms. "I never expected to see her after she was shut away, and now I'm off to fight, and may never see her again."

"Of course you can say goodbye to her, but kissing her-"

"Did you want a kiss too, mon amie?" He chuckled, "I never expected you to be this jealous."

"I think John would roll over in his grave if you kissed him, Laf-ow!" I ended Mulligan's muttering with an elbow in his side. "Just sayin'."

"Heh... no harm done. I believe we shall take our leave now, before I upset le petit lion anymore." Laf let go of Muda and gave her one more kiss to her head. "Be safe and be good."

"See ya around, Hamilton." Mulligan patted my shoulder before the pair departed.

To say things weren't awkward would have been a lie.

As much as I could understand what Lafayette meant, I couldn't stand that his lips would be the first she's felt on hers in a long time... or ever. What if he was her first kiss? What if they've been so comfortable with each other, that's why she looked so calm when he kissed her. What if she wanted him to kiss her... Does she want to kiss me? I thought she fell for me, what if-

I must have been zoning out, as Muda's touch on my arm brought me back to reality. She looked concerned, but still so radiant in the low light of the fire. The glow was warm on her skin, it sparkled in her eyes...

Ah fuck it.

I took the curve of her waist in my hands and pulled her close, laying my lips on hers firmly. I felt the hum of a startled gasp, her hands rested on my shoulders as I pulled her flush to me, but she didn't push me away.

Should I have done this? No. Would I regret it? No clue. Was I drunk? Reasonably yes. But the thought of Laf's lips potentially being the first made my blood simmer.

As my lips moved against hers, the soft whisper of a moan passed between us. Her fingers twisted into my hair when she started to kiss me back. I wrapped my arm around her waist, leading her to follow my steps until I fell back to sit on the sofa, my girl falling astride my lap. The kiss broke for a moment, both of us panting as if we had run across the city. Still, she leaned down to meet my lips again, the kiss less shy than the first. God, this woman was going to be the death of me. She felt like sin and heaven combined. She tasted like honey and spiced tea. My hands wandered down her hips, lazily dragging along her thighs, her skin soft like fine silk.

Don't get me wrong... I've held her before, indulged myself in her shoulder and neck when I slept beside her, I've felt the warmth of her body against mine. But this. This heat. This barrier broken. I thought being beside her could have been enough for me. I have adored her for so long. I've loved her for so long...

I wondered if she knew I thought she was the most beautiful person in my life. If she knew I would do anything for her. If she knew that despite her scars and shortened hair, her silent and demure nature, she held my heart.

We broke apart, a soft whimper leaving her. Her hands held my cheeks, her chest pressed to mine, my arms pinned her to me. Her forehead rested against mine as we shared a moment to breathe.

"I love you." I whispered in the space between you. "I don't know why... I don't know how. But I can't help but love you, my precious girl." I smoothed my hand over her back, brushing over the bandage across her shoulders. The smile grew on her lips, her shimmering eyes reflecting the joy in her heart. She leaned in again, her lips brushed against mine, and if my heart's beat was any louder I would have missed it.

"I love you too, Master."

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10/14/17