Page 40 of Ten Kisses

Salem was an excellent kisser, and I was achy and wanton as we stood there, talking. I begged inwardly for him to do it, and finally, he did.

He kissed me deeply. He kissed me sweetly. His mouth was the best in the whole world. His lips were the perfect size, shape, softness, wetness, everything. Salem's mouth was amazing, and his kiss was amazing. He knew how to kiss me in ways that made me feel things I had never felt before. I was transported by his touch. I closed my eyes, and I went somewhere else. I opened my eyes and we smiled at each other and pulled back. This happened several times.

We kissed for a significant amount of time. We would stop and stare, smiling and sometimes even saying a few words to each other. The two of us were attracted to each other, and that was obvious. Our relationship had been built on that attraction, but now there was something else. It was unbelievable to me that other aspects of it seemed to be coming together. I felt a type of elation I had never felt before. Those moments together were amazing. The physical attraction was definitely still there, but there was something else, too.

Affection? Love?

It was love.

It had to be love.

I felt it down to my bones. I loved Salem from the inside out. I wanted him for what was in his heart, and I definitely loved his face. I loved his eyes and his eyebrows. I loved his nose and his cheeks, and especially his mouth. Salem's mouth. We kissed over and over again. It was a good thing no one came into the shop that day.

***

The following day, I found myself in my apartment, expecting my brother, Sadie, and Ethan to come by. My whole family, including my aunt and grandmother, had stopped by at different times this afternoon to see the new kitchen and machines.

They were all so supportive and thankful to Darren and Michelle for all they had done. My parents knocked on their door to thank them again in person. I was excited but tired, too. I had stayed up late with Salem and had only gotten about four hours sleep, last night.

I went to church with my parents that morning and I had been busy giving tours of my apartment since then. My brother and Sadie were the last of my planned visitors, and then I would go over to Salem's.

John-Michael pulled up at 4pm on the dot. I usually had music playing in my apartment, but it was quiet and I heard him pull up and park.

"Come in!" I called when he knocked a minute later.

My brother opened my front door, and I peeked around the threshold, looking at him from the new kitchen.

"Whoa," he said.

"I know. Come in."

I wiped my hands and came around the corner, standing back to invite him into the new space.

"Where's Sadie and my nephew?"

"They're coming. E was all dirty from playing outside, so she stayed back to give him a quick bath. They're right behind me. They'll be here in a minute. I wanted to come early, anyway, and talk to you for a minute."

"About what?" I said.

"Let me see your kitchen first, Molls, this is amazing. How did you not know this was happening?"

"I mean, I knew there was construction happening on the other side of my apartment, but those guys always use the other entrance. I hardly even see their trucks. I could hear them working, but I just sort of tuned it out."

"How did Darren know what machines to get?" he asked, staring at my tempering machine.

"It's a set. It's a commercial set—I mean, not like Godiva, but, JJ, it's amazing. All this stuff is going to make my life so easy. Look how big!"

"Darren didn't say anything about raising your rent or anything?"

"No! I had to sign a new lease, adding the square-footage, but no. He mentioned the opposite, actually. He said it would be rude of him to build an addition and then ask for extra money."

"I can't believe he's being so generous. This is crazy." He sighed.

"I'm going to have you tell guys what all these machines do when Sadie and Ethan get here."

"He'll love that. I did want to talk to you about something else, though."

"Good. I'm glad we're getting to it. What do you have to say, brother?"

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