Page 10 of Third Degree

His mouth hovered temptingly close, and the anticipation of our lips meeting hung tantalizingly in the air. It was as if time stood still, and I was paralyzed, unable to move, blink, speak, or even breathe. The intensity of the moment had rendered me completely at his mercy.

A low, husky voice finally broke the spell.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” he uttered, his words resonating with concern and an underlying current of desire. He reluctantly pulled away, creating a void between us that left me yearning for his touch.

A flicker of hesitation danced across his eyes as he turned to walk back in the direction I had just come from. His gaze met mine, locking in a silent exchange charged with unspoken tension. It was a moment that spoke volumes, leaving an unmistakable invitation lingering in the air as if daring me to follow and explore the untamed desires that simmered just beneath the surface.

“Are you coming then?” The words hung, paused with anticipation and unspoken promises.

My heart raced, its rhythm syncopated with the tremors coursing through my veins. I glanced down at my trembling hands, a stark reminder of my youthful naivety, of the innocence I carried like a fragile shield.

In that moment, the realization washed over me like a tidal wave: I was standing at the precipice of something unfamiliar that defied the boundaries I had known.

With a surge of courage, I met his gaze, my eyes tracing the contours of his face, etching his features into my memory. I had read countless romance novels, their pages filled with tales of instant connections and electric encounters.

Could this be the manifestation of that?

Drawing a deep breath, I stepped forward, my footsteps guided by an invisible thread that seemed to weave between us. The distance soon closed, and I stood beside him, our bodies now mere inches apart. The air crackled with anticipation.

His eyes held a flicker of recognition as if he, too, had glimpsed the profound connection that sparked between us.

The world around us faded into a blur. In that moment, everything became possible—a world where rules and obligations held no sway, where the whispers of our hearts guided our steps.

A soft smile curved his lips, a silent affirmation of the unspoken question that had hung between us. It was a shared understanding, a recognition that what unfolded between us defied logic, yet it felt so right.

With a mixture of trepidation and exhilaration, I nodded, my voice a mere whisper as I responded, “Yes, I’m coming.”

The words carried with them a weight of surrender, a willingness to embark on a journey that would forever alter the course of our lives. In that moment, I let go of my fears and insecurities, allowing the intoxicating allure of the unknown to guide me.

I tucked my hands into the front pocket of my hoodie, hoping that if I started walking forward with him, they would stop whatever weird, nervous thing they were doing. I half skipped over to where he was already walking toward my cousin’s house.

“Where are you in town from?” he asked, breaking the electrifying silence.

“Chicago.” I nodded in a quick response back to him.

His hands were also in the pockets of his jeans as his dog walked in front of us. “It’s a she,” he responded.

“What?” I stopped mid-step.

“The dog.” He pointed at the curly mop walking beside us. Elio had a leash in his hand, but since no one was on the path this late in the evening, he must have let the dog walk freely.

“Oh.” I laughed.

“What are you doing in Half Moon Bay?” he asked.

“My family has business out here, and I was forced to come along.” It was the standard response for someone who was born in our culture. Doing business usually meant fucking someone’s life up.

Elio nodded, and I looked over at him as he glanced toward the waves crashing next to us.

“What do you do?”

“How old are you?” he asked at the same time I did, and we both halted.

“I’m eighteen.” I nodded at him.

He only whistled while picking up the pace, so I was now dragging behind.

“Hey!” I was now walking frantically to keep up. “I am old enough to be having this conversation.” I finally stopped and dug my shoes into the cement. “God,” I screamed up into the night sky. I was about to have a mini—no, a major meltdown.

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