Moonlight

RAINEY

His lips are as soft as I’d imagined. He smells like clean laundry, and his minty breath brushes against my face, making my stomach twist.

It feels like I’ve finally satisfied a hunger. I’ve been dreaming about kissing him since the day he hugged me in his kitchen. But I never thought his lips would be this sweet.

I’ve never been this bold before. As the tingles spread through my body, I can feel a wave of embarrassment washing over me.

~Am I really kissing Ansel? Did I just kiss him?~

~Shit, what am I doing?~

I pull back quickly, and his eyes flutter open. He looks amazed as he stares at me. I blink rapidly, my lips parting as I try to gather my thoughts.

~I can’t believe I just did that. I can’t believe I just kissed him. What was I thinking? What have I done?~

Ansel looks down, his cheeks turning bright red. I cover my face with my hand.

“Rain…”

“Don’t. Don’t say it,” I interrupt, closing my eyes in embarrassment. “Please don’t say it. I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be sorry.”

“I didn’t mean to do that. I just got carried away, and—”

“Rain—”

“I think I need some fresh air.”

I jump up and rush toward the balcony door. But as soon as I reach for the handle and slide it open, I feel him behind me.

A gust of wind hits my face, and I freeze as his hand covers mine. His chest is almost touching my back, making my knees go weak.

He gently takes my hand off the knob and replaces it with his, slowly closing the door.

My breathing becomes uneven as I remember the day he hugged me in his kitchen. He’s standing behind me in the same way, and my cheeks burn at the memory.

Even though the door is now closed, his hand is still on the handle. His other hand is on the wall above me, trapping me between his strong arms.

I can smell his deodorant, given that I’m standing right under his arm. He towers over me effortlessly.

“Rain…” His voice is low, and his breath on the back of my neck sends a shiver down my spine.

His warm body contrasts with the cold air seeping in through the cracks in the door. I struggle to breathe because of how close he is.

“Turn around.”

His command makes me swallow hard. I slowly turn around, my back now against the glass door.

I look up at him. The city lights below us light up his face, and I notice how much darker his eyes are, his pupils wide.

He looks at the necklace he gave me, hanging down my chest, and reaches up to hold the pendant between his fingers.

His touch makes my cheeks flush.

He rolls the eagle pendant between his fingers, and I watch the movement. It adds to the tension that’s already thick in the air.

“This looks really nice on you,” he says, his lips barely curving into a smile. But his dimples show. “It’s beautiful…just like its owner.”

I stare at him. The intensity in his face almost takes my breath away. He moves closer, and I hold my breath as he rests his forehead against mine.

There’s hardly any space left between us. He lifts his hand and runs his thumb along my lower lip. My legs turn to jelly, and I grab his arm to keep from falling.

~What is he doing? Is this a dream?~

“Why’d you apologize?” he whispers, so quietly I can barely hear him.

I look up at him, our eyes meeting. I take a moment to figure out if he’s asking a rhetorical question.

But when his expression changes to one of curiosity, I realize he’s waiting for an answer.

“Uh, because…I didn’t mean to do that.”

I really didn’t. His eyes were so soft and sincere that my body just reacted.

I’ve never been the type to make the first move, and I would never have kissed him like that if he hadn’t looked at me the way he did.

“Why?”

I open my mouth, surprised, as he watches me. His eyes have a look I’ve never seen before. They’re incredibly captivating.

“Because I—I just got carried away for a second, and I didn’t—I wasn’t thinking—”

He kisses me suddenly, cutting off my words. His hand cups my jaw.

I’m so shocked that my knees buckle, but Ansel catches me by the waist.

~Is he kissing me? Or am I just imagining this?~

My eyes close as his lips move against mine. His soft lips match mine perfectly.

I’m a little unsure and insecure because I’ve never kissed anyone before—well, not until earlier. What if I’m doing it wrong?

My heart skips a beat as he deepens the kiss, parting my lips slightly. His tongue enters my mouth. It’s a new sensation, but I like it.

I clutch his shirt, and he tilts my head to deepen the kiss.

I can’t believe Ansel can kiss like this.

The more I get to know him, the more I see different sides of him. I realize he can do anything.

~Anything.~

Our kisses become more passionate, and heat spreads through me. I press my thighs together as a wet sensation builds between them.

I never knew I could feel like this. And the feelings are even stronger because it’s Ansel who’s making me feel this way.

My nipples harden against my bra, and I grip his arm tighter. He groans softly into my mouth.

Ansel pulls me close, and I can feel his arousal pressing against my thigh. It’s clear that I’m not the only one caught up in the heat of the moment.

Even though I’m lost in the sensation, I can’t help but blush at the feel of him against my bare skin.

His hand, resting on my waist, slips under my tank top and glides up to the middle of my back.

A shiver runs through me as our tongues dance together, our bodies moving against each other as if they have a mind of their own.

He pushes me back against the glass door, his lips trailing down my neck.

A gasp escapes my lips as I feel his arousal pressing against me again, harder and more insistent than before.

If we don’t stop soon, things might go further than we planned.

He kisses my neck, and I gasp, tilting my head back and closing my eyes, lost in the sensation.

“Why are you so beautiful, Rain?” he whispers in my ear, his lips brushing against my earlobe and sending a shiver down my spine. “You’re so perfect.”

I moan softly in response, feeling the heat of his hand as it slips under my skirt.

He grips my thigh, his hand strong and firm, and the desire between my legs intensifies.

If we don’t stop soon, we might—

“A-Ansel…” I manage to say before his lips find mine again, kissing me so passionately that I lose my train of thought.

The only sounds in the room are our heavy breathing and the wind whistling against the glass door as we kiss.

I close my eyes as he gently bites my lower lip, his hand wandering until I feel his finger brush against the waistband of my panties.

“Guys, guess what?!” The door bursts open, and we pull apart as Alex walks in, a smirk on his face as he takes in the scene.

Embarrassment floods my face as Ansel licks his lips. Alex grins and jerks a thumb over his shoulder.

“Sorry… I should have knocked. Should I leave and come back later?”

I glance at Ansel, who shakes his head, his face as red as mine. “No, Al. What’s up?”

Alex’s grin widens, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Riley’s awake!”

“What? Oh my God. Who told you, Alex?” I stare at him in disbelief.

“Her mom called my cell to get a hold of you, but I was at the bar down the street. So she just passed on the message. But we can’t see her until tomorrow morning.”

I smile, relief washing over me as Ansel grins at me. “See, I told you she’d be okay.”

I nod, overwhelmed with joy. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost my best friend.

I’m so grateful she’s okay, and I can’t wait to see her tomorrow morning.

“We’ll go to the hospital first thing tomorrow,” I tell them, and they nod in agreement.

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure nothing like this happens to her again, even if it means dealing with Kendra and her uncle myself.

“Well, one of Alaric’s friends asked me to have a drink with him. I think I’m gonna take him up on his offer. So you two can get back to what you were doing.”

Alex winks at us, reminding me of the intense moment that just happened between Ansel and me. He leaves the room, shooting us a knowing smile before closing the door behind him.

An awkward silence fills the room now that we’re alone again. I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if Alex hadn’t walked in.

The desire between us was so strong, we couldn’t control our bodies or our feelings. Part of me wishes Alex hadn’t left. He would have made this less awkward. ~For both of us.~

I play with the hem of my skirt, trying to break the silence. “Uh…I’m going to take a shower.”

“Okay, yeah. Me too.”

I look at him, surprised by his response, and he quickly clarifies. “After you, I mean.”

~This is so awkward.~

He runs a hand through his hair, looking just as uncomfortable as I feel. “Uh, yeah. I know.”

Ansel sits on the bed, and I can feel his eyes on me as I hurry to the bathroom. I close the door behind me, taking a deep breath as I look in the mirror.

I stare at my reflection, my mind replaying what just happened. The desire between my legs flares up again, and I press my thighs together.

I need to stop thinking about this. I shake my head, trying to clear my mind as I undress.

A cold shower is exactly what I need right now.