Chapter 19 Audrey
Chapter nineteen
Audrey
As the moon illuminates our path and gravel crunches beneath our feet, Rhett walks me to his truck at the end of the night, the air thick with unspoken words between us.
I steal tiny glances of him as we get closer, slowing my pace, willing this night not to end. He didn’t try to kiss me tonight. He was respectful, listened more than he talked, and I found myself wondering when I’d see him again.
Rhett stands with me at the passenger side, neither of us reaching for the door handle.
“I—”
“Can I—” We speak at the same time, and both release tiny laughs. I trace his lips to his eyes, unsure where to look, unsure my ribcage can hold my hammering heart much longer.
“What were you going to say? You first.” My voice is low, breathy.
His palm brushes the side of my jaw until he’s cupping my face gently. I nearly forget the basic functions of my body as he boxes me in against his truck.
“Can I kiss you?” he asks, his parted lips already so close to mine, I can almost feel them, taste them.
I nod softly in his grip, my eyes shuttering closed as his blue eyes settle on my lips.
Rhett’s other hand slides up the small of my back, pulling me into him.
I melt in his warm grip, breathe in his woodsy scent, and let out a tiny gasp as his lips brush gently against mine.
They are full and soft, and all I can focus on is how I need more.
Rhett snakes his other hand up, my face cupped between his calloused strong hands, and I grip the front of his shirt, releasing the built-up tension through my parted lips.
The warmth of his tongue caresses my lips and I shudder under his grip.
His touch makes me forget where I am. And who I am. A single kiss from this man sends a ripple of electricity through me, but when he pulls away, breathless, all I can do is smile like a fool, lost in the intensity of the moment.
“Thank you,” I breathe out, and he cocks his head back slightly.
“You’re thanking me…for what?”
“For stalking me.”
This gets him to laugh, and the sound reaches places of my cold heart I’m not sure have ever been touched.
“I never thought I'd get you to say yes to a date.” He cheeses hard, his eyes crinkling as he looks down at me.
Through hazy eyes, I slide my hand down his arm, feeling his corded muscles, and grab his hand. I squeeze it before dropping it, even though I feel unsteady in my footing.
Because as I turn towards the trunk and murmur, “I should be getting back,” the only thing running through my head is that I’ve never been kissed like that.
Rhett starts up the engine, and I sit closer to him this time on the bench seat of his old pickup truck. We make small talk as we drive through the night, and his hand finds mine in the dark, holding it gently.
I answer his questions while struggling to silence the thoughts swirling in my mind about what this meant.
Because that kiss felt like the first one that made time stop, like they talk about in books and movies.
It was the kind that made me forget everything except the other person connected to me.
Everything I thought I knew about love, about relationships, I’m beginning to question.
I’m beginning to wonder if I know anything at all.
Other than the fact that I’ll never forget about tonight. Rhett rescued me again.
That’s more than any other man ever has. Even the ones who claimed to love to.
If tonight was a onetime thing, I’m grateful, because for one night I got to be a different Audrey. I got to be carefree, away from the people and things that weigh me down.
And the man next to me is responsible for that.