Page 43 of Something New

"Do you remember that night when I first watched E? That night when you did that interview and I fell asleep next to him?"

"Yes, I do remember that." He stared at her, wanting her.

"I dreamed I kissed you," she said.

"You did."

"Yes. And it was vivid. I feel like I already have done it."

"You did do it."

"What?"

"I wasn't asking if you did, I was saying that you, in fact, did kiss me that night. With your mouth."

"No, I did not," she said with a wide-eyed expression.

"I knew you were dreaming. Your eyes were closed the whole time. I don't even know how you knew I was there. You just reached out and it happened. I thought you didn't know you had done it, so I never mentioned it."

"I knew it," she said, staring at him thoughtfully, looking like she was thinking back to that moment. "I feel like it was good."

He cleared his throat. "It was very good," he agreed.

"Why did you never mention it to me since it happened?"

He shrugged and stared out of the front windshield. It was dark and he couldn’t see much. She brought his hand up to her mouth, and his torso was on fire. He wanted to toss her over his shoulder and cart her to the nearest wedding chapel. The warm soft, feel of her lips on the back of his hand—it was too much for him to handle. He breathed a sigh, watching her.

"Sadie, you do something to me. You make me… just the sight of you makes my heart… I would really love to get closer to you, but I don't even know where to start. " He sighed and shook his head.

"Do you want to kiss me? I was thinking that might happen."

He blinked at her. He wanted so much more than to kiss her. He wished he could make her promise that she would be with him forever and that she wouldn't break his heart. He didn't say any of that. He stared at the place where her mouth was gently touching the back side of his hand.

"You drive me crazy, Sadie, I hope you know that. I can barely look at you without… feeling like I just want to have you with me all the time."

"I want to be with you all the time."

She moved his hand, touching her mouth in gentle sweeping strokes to the back of it. Music was playing on the radio, and John-Michael could hardly breathe as he watched her.

"I think we might be overthinking this a little bit," she said. "It's been a little while, and we're finding ourselves alone. So, do you mind if I use this opportunity to maybe just, uh, come over there for a second?"

"No, Sadie, I don't mind that."

She leaned toward him, and he did the same thing, leaning in, getting closer to her. She was still holding his hand, and he brought it up to touch her face. They were close enough to kiss, and he felt like he was in danger of exploding into smithereens. He was wound tight, like a spring. He expected her to close the gap between them, but she hesitated for a second.

The tension was like nothing he had ever felt. He wondered if there might be a spark when their lips met. He moved and closed the space between them. She leaned into him with the perfect amount of resistance, and he let his lips soften next to hers. They stayed that way for a few seconds, letting their lips connect softly and slowly, barely moving. It was a long, lingering, sticky kiss where they made contact several long times. He pulled back slightly, and she let out a light whimper. She wanted him, and that was all the waiting he could take.

He kissed her. John-Michael leaned in and kissed her like he had been wanting to do for the last month. He opened his mouth to her, and she invited his kiss, responding to him, moving in response to him.

They connected passionately in the front seat of his truck. Music played and they kissed each other like it had happened a thousand times. They kissed for an entire song—at least. They were comfortable and perfect as partners, but there was an undeniable sort of firework chemistry newness that filled their kiss.

That passion and newness had them both struggling to breathe once he finally pulled away. It was a difficult task to break that kiss. He was full of need.

"John-Michael, thank you, I've been dying for that to happen, waiting and wanting it so much."

She said the words in a sincere pleading tone that had his heart breaking. He wished he had done this sooner. He held her hands and stared at her face from only inches away, thinking that he never ever wanted to let her go.

"I'm sorry it didn't happen sooner," he said, causing her to smile.