It Begins With Us

43.

I open the door to our room at Kimy's place to find it dimly lit with candles and fairy lights. The windows are wide open and the tan, translucent curtains are flowing in the evening breeze. 

Nervously, I press my lips together and carefully step in. Suddenly, the closet door jerks and then creaks open, making me freeze. I watch, wide eyed as Alba carefully backs out of the closet in a flattering dress. The black material stretches perfectly over the very low of her back, and the thin straps hold delicately to her shoulders. 

She turns and catches sight of me, freezing on the spot. I stare at her, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. Her dark curls are tight against the left side of her head, tucked behind her ear. On the other side her hair loosely frames her face. I exhale noisily and she flushes a deep red to making her glossy cherry lips pop. 

"You're killing me here." I whisper rubbing a hand over my face.

"Then I did it right." She grins mischievously.

"This," I pause and motion to all of her, "has got to be for me." I state confidently and she laughs.

'Definitely got to give her this ring.' I think playfully. 'The sooner the better.'

"I thought you were coming back alittle later?" She says carefully and I appreciate the flash of her teeth against her dark lips.

"I was, but now I'm here." I grin swooping in.

I wrap my arms around her lower hips and my tongue flicks over my teeth at the sensation of her skin against my fingers.

"That's low," I whisper in her ear, "is it for me?" I ask inquisitively for the heck of it, just to hear her say it.

"No one else I could think of." She says with a gentle laugh.

"I think I want some lipstick too." I bump our noses, my eyes on her lips.

"Oh yeah?" She giggles and I nod lowering my head.

I lock her lips with mine and she pushes closer. That's when I realize she's got nothing on underneath, just the dress. I groan and deepen the kiss, my fingers slide from the nape of her neck, and all the way down her spine to the very end of the exposed skin, stopping right at the hem of the dress.

"Ryle." She shivers and pulls away.

"That's my name." I reply, my voice low and raw.

"Hmm." She hums and pulls away from me. I lean against the wall and appreciate the view as she strides over to the mirror in her heels.

"What about you?" I ask pushing off of the wall and digging my hand into my pocket. "You weren't supposed to be home this early."

"Yeah, I took an early leave today for something important." She says, her voice full of anxious excitement.

"Oh really? Like what?" I ask as I pull the ring out of my pocket and walk over to her.

"Well," she stops and I wonder what she's so anxious about, "I have to do something very important."

I get myself ready, standing right behind her as she finishes cleaning up her lipstick. I take a deep breath as she caps the tube with a resonating click.