LOVE TRIALS

v

"Would you rather it was me?" Yara asked, sitting beside him on the couch in his office.

"Would you have done it differently?" He said as he looked at her, catching the meaning of her words.

He saw the swift change in her demeanour, a saccharine smile curved her lips when she said hi to him.

Amaan said, unsure, "Hello."

Yara leaned towards him only a little as not to spook him, "I am Yara Bellamy, Louise's daughter. My friends have dared me to kiss you. May I?"

"What?" Amaan's eyebrows shot up, he shifted away from her.

"May I kiss you?"

Amaan choked on the very air he had breathed as his heart began to thump hard against his chest.

Yara reached out for his hand when he remained quiet as the night.

"Here?"

She sandwiched his hand between hers, it was the most she dared touch him. His heart pounded right out of his chest when she brought their hands to her mouth and kissed the knuckles of her own hands- with reverence as if they were his.

A shiver of pleasure travelled the length of his spine, Amaan felt it deep within his bones, stirring his blood.

"Here, then?" She let go of his hands to cradle his face in the small palms of her hands, she bent towards him with exquisite slowness and Amaan held his breath, he couldn't- didn't breath. He didn't blink, fearful she might disappear. Afraid he might bolt as a consequence of her advances.

He swallowed, thickly. She kissed his burning cheeks over her hands.

Not quite right.

No part of her touched him except her hands yet he hadn't been more aware of her than in the moment, his hot flesh pebbled under her soft gaze. He felt her lips against his cheeks, felt the ghost of her visceral touch there.

He balled his hands before he could reach for her, his knuckles white with effort.

"What about here?" She spoke, quietly. He almost didn't hear her, his eyes flitted to her red lips as if they had a will of their own. His throat jumped, a hand slid to cover his mouth, hiding his lips from her bold gaze.

He stayed still as a statue listening to his heart beating in his ears. She leaned closer and his eyes fell close, she flattened her other hand on his cheek, stroking it, counting the number of eyelashes.

Their noses touched when she finally-finally pressed her lips to her hand.

Nothing had been more real, Amaan felt the sensation jarring him.

Amaan groaned deep in his throat as his hands rose to grasp her shoulders, he held her tight against his chest. Her hand moved beneath her lips, he had kissed the inside of her open palm.

Once, twice in one breath, overridden with emotions.

Their hearts wild, chests heaving.
He put his forehead against hers when her hand from his mouth dropped.

"I should go, now," Yara whispered, breathily.

"Stay," Amaan was out of his mind for suggesting it. Yara only smiled a little in return and shook his hands out off her shoulders.

"Washroom?"

Amaan wordlessly directed her to the washroom as he picked the small cushion.

"Fuck!"