Page 65 of Fourth Wall

We pulled into the parking lot, and I went to grab the door when Christian stopped me.

“Let me do it.” He walked around the car to my side and opened it, reaching his hand out for me.

“Thanks.” I felt like a high schooler on some forbidden romance type of date. He was so wrong for me even though it felt so incredibly right. We both came into this with baggage, but somehow, it felt…okay to hold it together.

After dominating every carnival game we encountered, thanks to Christian's seemingly superhuman strength, we triumphantly gathered our winnings—a pair of stuffed unicorns for the girls and an absurdly large polar bear that Christian insisted I keep because he found it endearing.

Hand in hand, we continued our expedition through the amusement park, immersed in a whirlwind of laughter and excitement. The radiant lights of the rides cast a dazzling spectacle against the now evening sky, creating an atmosphere of enchantment. The air buzzed with the sounds of delighted screams and catchy tunes, adding to the vibrant energy surrounding us.

Christian's firm grasp offered a sense of security as we ventured forward, grounding me amid the whirl of thrilling chaos. A detour to a cotton candy stand allowed us to savor the sugary confection, playfully stealing bites from each other amid lively conversations that sparked laughter. We plopped ourselves and the stuffed animals we had collected on a picnic bench a ways from the stand, and I grabbed two lemonades.

I slid onto the table next to Christian. Normally, at a restaurant, I would judge couples who sat next to each other because it looked so much more natural to sit across, but being this close and this carefree with him tonight made me realize how much I wanted to be near him. I was desperate to touch him, and sitting across from him felt far too distant.

“Hey,” I murmured through the chaos of the park goers around us.

Christian all but smiled, and I reached up to pull a little piece that fell out of his bun and tuck it back in.

“Hey back,” he responded by grabbing my waist and pulling me in tight against him.

“I have had the absolute best time tonight.” The statement was genuine. I felt more carefree than I had in years.

"Me too, firecracker," he murmured against my ear, his voice laced with a hint of husky desire. The anticipation of this kiss had built up all evening, and now, as I looked into his eyes, it felt like the perfect culmination of our undeniable connection. I couldn't deny the strong feelings stirring within me—the way his smile lit up my world and the warmth of his presence made me feel at ease and safe.

I couldn't help but wrap my hands around his neck, drawing him closer to me, our bodies inching nearer as if pulled by an invisible force. The air around us crackled with an electric energy, a shared understanding of our forged connection. It was as if this kiss held the power to solidify our bond, to affirm the depth of our emotions.

“Kiss me, Christian,” I somewhat demanded in a breathy rasp. Within seconds, he pressed his mouth against mine. His cool lips, a reprieve from the warm summer evening. My hands ran through his hair, and I opened my mouth to let him in. I didn’t care that we were in public. I was consumed with him.

Time seemed to stand still in that suspended moment as our lips finally met. It was a collision of passion and longing, a dance of intertwining souls. The world around us faded into insignificance as the intensity of the kiss consumed us both. Every touch, every breath exchanged between us spoke volumes, expressing a profound yearning that had been building between us for far too long.

“Christian?” I whimpered, pulling away from him.

“Hmm?” His eyes are full of a lovesick haze.

“Can you take me home?” I batted my lashes, and with our stuffed animals and cotton candy in tow, he lifted me and practically sprinted to the car.

“Put me down,” I jokingly taunted as he ran faster, and I playfully slapped his arm.

“Gotta get you home, firecracker. The quicker I get home, the faster I can finally come inside that pretty pink pussy of yours.”

I scanned the parking lot, which thankfully was empty, but still looked over at Christian.

“You cannot say those things in public,” I told him when he finally dropped me on my toes in front of the car.

As he opened the door for me, he whispered, “Tell me you don’t like it, and I’ll stop.”

I stuck my tongue out at him in jeer, and he laughed before slamming the door and making his way to the driver’s side.

“I like being your passenger princess.”

“You are a queen, firecracker. Don’t ever diminish yourself to princess status.” He leaned over and gave me a quick peck before heading back home.

“Take me to our house, Christian.”

“Happily.”

We pulled up to the house, and I started to feel the guilt creep in. We had this amazing night on an actual date, but I felt like we sort of just glossed over all the hard stuff.

As if he could sense something was wrong, Christian pulled me aside just as we walked up to the front door.

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