Love's Rapture

Kelly: Girl Talk

When Talon dropped me off after our lunch and study session, Sawyer was still at the house, alone. She'd explained that Parker left her in the living room since she wanted to hear all about my day. We made popcorn and sat on the couch when she said, "Okay, now, spill everything."

"Well," I started. "We made lunch together and ate, then we sat in the living room and studied Chemistry."

"Oh, how romantic!"

"Not that kind of chemistry!" I laughed. "He helped me study for the test I have tomorrow."

"So, there was no kissing or anything?"

I didn't respond, and her eyes grew to saucers. "Kelly!" She squealed.

"Don't make a big deal about this!" I begged.

"How can I not?" She asked. "He's the first guy you've kissed since, well, him, I guess. But it's been a long time! Did you remember how to do it?"

I could do nothing less than allow laughter to bubble out of me. "Of course I remembered how to kiss."

"Was it epic?" she asked, and I sobered. I felt the slightest hint of fear skitter through my heart and into my belly.

"Can we change the subject?" I asked.

"What is it, Kelly?"

I shook my head, wanting to bottle all these feelings inside, but I knew it wouldn't end well if I did. I looked into her pleading eyes and took a deep, reassuring breath. "When I was with Breton, he was my whole world. We loved each other, and we were peaceful. It was perfect and beautiful because it was soft and quiet. Talon is like a hurricane. Kissing him feels like taking on a tornado. It's always so fast and thunderous with him. But the thing that scares me more than that is," I paused, dropping my head in my hands. My heart was beating so fast I could feel my pulse throughout my entire body.

"But what?" she pressed barely above a whisper.

"I like it," I finally admitted out loud. "I like feeling like I'm in a storm with him. Even as kids, I was nervous about being around him most times because he was so unpredictable. And I don't mean that in a bad way. He wasn't dangerous, but he wears his emotions on his sleeve. I like that he's passionate about me, and that scares me."

I open my mouth to say something else, and it happened. I started crying. "Aw, Kelly! Why are you crying?" Sawyer immediately wrapped her arms around me.

"Because it's all just hitting me how true it is. I never had this kind of relationship with Breton. I've never felt like this with anyone."

"Well," she started. "As you said, Talon isn't dangerous. If I'm honest, I think he's in love with you. I know I don't know him well, but I don't think he'd ever hurt you."

"I know he would never hurt me," I said as I wiped the tears off my face. "But what if something happened to him or what if he decides one day that I wasn't worth the fight? He's supposedly wanted this for so long, what happens when the fight is officially over?"

"Do you want my honest opinion?" she asked. She was smiling, so I got nervous.

"Yes," I answered.

"I think if you fell in love and told him so, he'd whisk you off to Vegas, and you'd be married by the end of the day."

This time, I laughed until my sides hurt. "Sawyer, if you only knew."

"Knew what?" she asked, giggling along with me.

"My brother-in-law dragged my sister, Ivy, to Vegas, where Elvis did their wedding ceremony."

She narrowed her eyes, and I lifted my hand. "Scouts honor!"