Frozen

Chapter 14)

Brianna

"So," I started, using all my strength to maintain eye contact with Barney, "it has been recently pointed out to me that I sorta might...be...in love. With you."

He blinked and his face remained frozen in the same expression for too long, then it closed off, but he didn't say anything, so I kept going.

"And, it was also pointed out to me that you, uh, kind of might be in love. With me. Also."

Barney looked away, and my hopes fell. Just fucking fell and tears filled my eyes.

Then, he looked back at me and I swallowed and felt my heart start beating faster, because his eyes were filled with a teasing light and more than a little warmth.

"Was anything else pointed out to you?" he asked, everything on his face blank except for his eyes.

"Just that I might have been kind of fooling myself when I thought we could just be friends," I said almost shyly, biting my lip.

At that, his lips twitched up.

"So, let me get this straight, the guy you're currently dating told you that you loved me, I loved you, and that we shouldn't just be friends?" he asked, his voice holding that same teasing warmth as his eyes.

"Well, sort of," I stalled.

Barney sensed I was holding something back so he narrowed his eyes then raised one eyebrow, prompting me to continue.

"Jesse...okay, well he basically said that either I stay with him, and end any relations with you, or he walks away forever," I said.

Barney froze and slowly turned his head towards the window then looked back at me, his eyes cold and hard as ice.

"Then why the fuck," he growled, "is Jesse still waiting outside my fucking house?"

My eyebrows creased in confusion, but Barney obviously didn't process this because he was taking large strides until he was right in front of me, his palms planted against the wall on either side of my head, his face inches from mine.

"If you think that you're walking out of my life," he said in deadly soft voice, "you can think again. No fucking douche bag from your high school can walk in and take you away from me. Hell. Fucking. No."

"Barney, I told him-"

"And by the way," he continued as if I'd never spoken, "I know I told you I was okay with just being friends and you dating other guys and all that bullshit, but I'm done with that, Bri. I want all of you, and you're damn well gunna give it to me."

I blinked, all thoughts of Jesse out the window.

"Barn," I mumbled, my hands going up to his chest, my eyes following, "that's what I've been trying to say. I don't want to be friends anymore."

He leaned in impossibly closer, until our lips brushed when we talked.

"If I kissed you right now," he whispered, "what would you do?"

"Kiss you back," I muttered without hesitation, and before the last syllable was out of my mouth, his lips crushed against mine and I kissed him for the first time in months.

Fucking months.

And all that pent up sexual tension, all the time we had to be careful not to cross any lines, all came out in that mind blowing, heart stopping, trashy movie worthy kiss.

He ripped his mouth away from mine and when I whimpered my protest, he grinned a devilish grin.

"Just to be completely clear," he panted, "I love you."