Page 35 of Ten Kisses

"Did you lose your shirt?" I asked, hardly able to breathe. He grinned. Blues music played in the background, and Salem looked like the coolest man alive. I knew he had a bathroom in his shop, but I had never seen him take a shower there. I cleared my throat and looked away, and by the time I glanced at him again, he was putting his shirt on.

He must've been holding onto it the whole time. I hadn't even noticed. How could I? The abs. I felt like I could hardly remember to breathe.

"I guess I could've put my shirt on before I came out from behind that wall, but I was trying to get you to look at me."

"Don't worry, I look at you plenty already."

I turned to the side and used my shirt to fan myself, tugging on it and making him laugh.

"I'm all overheated because of that," I said.

He knew I was being funny, and he laughed. The thing was… I was telling the truth. I did need to fan myself. The sight of his body was a little too much temptation. I was already in a fragile state with my attraction towards him. I felt like I was teetering on some edge already.

"I made you something for graduation," he said.

"My counter?" I said.

"Yeah, well, just a little something to go with it." He pointed toward his left and my gaze shot in that direction.

"That little step… is it that little stepstool?" I asked, sounding excited.

"That is the cutest little piece of furniture I have ever seen! Is that mine?"

"Yes."

"I love stepstools! I don't have a good stepstool," I said, walking over to it.

Salem was such an artist, and I stared at the rounded edges and the perfect shape of this. It was a piece of art. It had three steps and the seat on top was large enough to sit on. I turned and sat on it without even asking if it was okay.

"Is this thing for me?" I said, turning to him with a gigantic smile from my new seat.

"I hope so, now that you've broken it in," he said, laughing.

"Is it really for me?"

"Yes, it's for you. I'm glad you like it."

"I love it so much, Salem. You didn't have to do this. The counter is enough, I can't believe you made me something else. You don't have time for this. Look how busy you are." I gestured around.

He grinned at me. "I wanted to," he said.

He was only a few feet away. I could smell him and feel his presence near me.

"It's deep," he said, gesturing casually to the stool as I was sitting on it.

"What's deep?" I asked.

"It's metaphorical, you know, for graduation. Stepping up, onward and upward, you know that sort of thing."

"Oh," I said, getting what he was saying and feeling suddenly ooey-gooey that he had put some thought into it.

He was being aloof with how he said it, but he thought about it and it was sweet.

I popped up and hugged him. I felt so warm and fuzzy inside that I had to do something with my body, lest I began to melt. I stood, reached out, and hugged Salem, letting myself fall into his arms.

"Thank you," I said. "I love it so much."

He could tell I meant it because it was the truth. I held him for a few long seconds before I let go of him, stooping to appreciate it some more.

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