Page 80 of Olivia's Only Pretending
“Let’s get you home, then?” Victor offered.
Twenty-Three
Victor walked me up the front porch steps with his hand on my lower back, warm and steady. The pull between us was weighty, heavy, like it could drag us under any second.
I toyed with the house keys in my hands, but neither of us seemed ready to end the night just yet.
“Thank you for letting me take you on a real date,” Victor said, his voice quiet. His eyes searched mine. He tucked a strand of my auburn hair behind my ear. His fingers grazed my skin and sent goose bumps down my neck.
I took a breath. “Thank you for tonight.” I curled my hands around his forearms. I still wore his leather jacket, the creak of it breaking the silence as I moved. “For sharing your spot by the creek with me.”
“It’s even better with you there,” he murmured, with his hands finding my waist.
I tugged him closer, the distance between us shrinking, our chests grazing.
I licked my lips. His eyes dropped to them, darkening in a way that made my heart flutter.
I was having trouble breathing, in a really fun way. He leaned in, resting his forehead on mine, letting out a low grumble—half desire, half restraint.
“You’re a pretty good date,” I said, pushing my forehead against his. This version of the two of us felt so easy, so sweet. I wanted to stand here on my front porch with him under the moonlight for as long as I could.
I rose on my tiptoes, snaking my arms around his neck.
“Am I allowed to hold you?” he asked roughly. “What do the rules say about that?”
“That’s very welcomed,” I whispered.
He slid his big hands around my waist, pressing my body into his, so close my feet lifted off the ground. With me up in his arms, he buried his face into my neck. My skin tingled against his hot breath.
I dragged my fingers through his jet-black hair, and he leaned into my touch. His eyes fluttered shut for a beat before opening again.
Both of us were breathless, nose to nose.
“We’re no good at not kissing,” I whispered, my lips a breath from his. My body and my heart begged for the space between us to disappear. To not miss this moment.
“Maybe that means we should be kissing?”
“I’m trying to be careful. To keep my heart out of the driver’s seat,” I said. Because that had been my rule of thumb since I was just a kid.
“I get that,” Victor said, his voice not pushy, but vulnerable. “But maybe our hearts know better than us?”
Our eyes locked.
And for a moment, I let go of the rules. I let go of the fear. And I trusted my heart.
I crashed into him, lips against lips, hands twisted in the fabric of his shirt. His hands slid beneath the jacket, pressing me against him closer.
A kiss I’d find again in my dreams tonight.
Our breath was hot and uneven as we slowly pulled apart. My feet landed gently on the porch again, barely steady.
We stood there, eyes searching each other, searching for answers.
What do we do now?hung between us in the blinking porch light.
“Do I get another date?” His voice was a low rumble I could almost feel.
I looked down at my boots, biting my lip. “Can I think on it?” My heart was pounding in my ears. As much as I was a planner, I hadn’t planned on our date. I’d let impulse take over. And I definitely hadn’t planned for post-date.
