Standing on my tiptoes, desperately aware of what I was
doing, and yet unable to stop myself, I kissed him. And the world
around me crumbled. We responded immediately to each other. Like he
had said so long ago, fire meeting fire that only created a bigger one. It
was an explosion. My book clattered to the ground. We reached into
one another, my arms convulsively around his body and his around
mine, kissing until we lacked the air to survive. His mouth was gentle
and sweet, his tongue stroking my mouth with practiced precision. My
body felt like it would explode with pent-up pressure. I opened to him
immediately, quickly running out of air, but genuinely unwilling to
give up the pleasure of his touch. I had never loved a man more than I
had in that moment, and I knew I never could again. No one but Darien,
after this moment, would ever satisfy me. I was vaguely aware of the
catcalls and hoots in the background, but we were in our own world,
and nothing could intrude. Reluctantly, his lips left mind, gently, and
he placed me back on the ground. I was not even aware of having been
lifted.