The hard look that had scared me with its intensity fell away abruptly and he reached out and caught my hand, "No, no it wasn't you. Memories, bad memories is all. What did you need?"
Those must've been quite some bad memories that he'd just been having to invoke such a haunted look of extreme angst.
I stepped closer to him out of my sense of need, "I'm cold."
His arms encircled me and pulled me forward against him and my face pressed into the black curly hairs of his exposed chest. I could've stayed off to myself shivering and survived, but I had wanted to feel this. Feel him. I wanted to know if it was different.
It was.
It wasn't sexual, well maybe a little, but primarily it was something else. Something deeper and more personal.
It was security and yet it was more. I was defenseless in his arms, but I didn't feel like a victim. I felt special. Cared for.
Suddenly everything coalesced into a shocking realization that resounded throughout me in a way that left no corner untouched. I wanted him.
I swallowed reflexively as I experienced this awareness for one of the opposite sex for the first time in my life. Instead of drawing away I felt myself pressing my face harder against his chest.
He had a musky almost sweet smell to him. I liked it.
How did he smell so good after days of sweating?
Suddenly I felt his one hand leave my back and drift upward. His fingers speared through my wet hair to grasp my skull at the nape of my neck.
This man's power was a tangible quality. His light grip on my head pulled my head back from his chest and my gaze met his. His eyes were passioned and curious. Why curious, I asked myself?
"Kim I'm going to kiss you."
I swallowed, but didn't move as he kept my head still and captive to receive his kiss. His approach was slow and cautious and I got the impression that all I had to do was speak up and he'd stop. I didn't though and I held still as his lips joined fully with mine.
I opened my eyes and met his gaze point blank. After a long moment our lips parted. I'd liked it.
Some part of me was shouting for joy, while some part of me was shivering in deep fear of the unknown.
His lips quirked slightly upward in a smile as he said, "You liked that didn't you?"
I was saved from an answer as his lips found mine once more in a kiss that he deepened and held for a long moment of intensity.