Best of Women

Pippa

The following Friday, Lin and I were laying around on the couches with the twins and Rio. Sebastian was in his room being antisocial, but what 16 year old boy wasn't? We watched Coco and laughed and laughed. And also, I cried because come on.

Bedtime wasn't really enforced on the weekends, so the kids were up well into the evening. Around 12:00 we had three sleeping kids sprawled around us. Rio was on the floor with a blanket and a mountain of pillows, completely out. As the credits to last film rolled, Lin sighed and stood up. He walked over to Rio and scooped him up. The kid didn't even stir. Lin gently poked his daughters, urging them to transfer themselves to the bedroom. I told them goodnight as they sleepily made their way to their shared room.

Lin came out a few moments later as I was scrolling through Netflix. I didn't feel like going home yet. There was only an empty apartment waiting for me. I'd found myself hanging out at the Mirandas' more and more lately. It felt like home.

Lin plopped down next to me as I looked through our options. We finally settled on something and I grabbed a blanket, curling up next to Lin. I was tired and wasn't sure I'd actually make it through the whole movie, so I rested my head against Lin's shoulder. He smelled so good. Lin rested his head on mine.

As the movie started, I readjusted myself a little, moving my hand. It came to lay palm up on the couch in front of me. I felt a tingle surge through my body as Lin's fingers gently stroked my open palm, up and down. Such an intimate gesture. He looked down at my hand as his fingers went over my opened hand.

I felt my breathing hitch and my heart rate heighten. What was he doing? Was he just being friendly, or was he trying to be affectionate with me. Finally, I looked up at him and we made eye contact. His eyes glanced down to my lips, then back up to my eyes. Before I knew it, he was closing his eyes and ducking his mouth towards mine.

Our lips connected in a sweet, slow kiss. Just one. We pulled back an inch or so and Lin looked at me, gauging my reaction. I certainly wasn't going to stop him. I saw a slight grin on his face before he ducked in again and kissed me more. The pressure was a little more this time. His lips were so soft. Our mouths made tiny smacks as they worked against one another. He deepened the kiss, putting his hand to the back of my neck. I felt his tongue inside my mouth and I sighed.

A minute or so later, we both pulled apart at the same time, gasping. We looked at each other like we'd finally gotten to do what we'd both wanted to do for a long time. As we regained our breath, Lin rested his forehead against mine and swallowed.

"Sorry, I had to try," he chuckled a little. I laughed back.

"I'm glad you did," I whispered. His thumb gently ran over my bottom lip, his eyes following. Then he leaned in and captured my lips again, this time kissing me more passionately. He let his hand wander to my hip and found bare skin under my top. I felt my body responded as his hand touched and stroked, working its way around my back.

Then a door opened in the hallway and we pulled apart quickly. I self-consciously fixed my hair and rubbed my lips together. We turned our eyes back to the movie as whoever it was went to the bathroom. I laid my head on Lin's shoulder again as we watched together. I'd completely missed the first part of the plot.

A few minutes later, I must have fallen asleep. I woke up as Lin was carrying me to his bed. He tugged off my jeans after he'd set me down and pulled the covers over me. I groaned as I turned onto my side and inhaled his scent. Lin kissed me one last time before he went out to the couch.

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I woke up the next morning to the sounds of a household already awake. I pulled on my jeans and then went to the bathroom to wash my face a bit. I'd long kept a toothbrush here, so I brushed my teeth as well.