Page 14 of How We Began

He fit around me like a jigsaw piece, his mouth close to my ear. For a split second I thought he was talking to me, but then I realised he was kissing along my jaw and ear lobe. My knees started to shake a little and I clutched onto his shirt, holding myself upright. Laughing against my ear, his voice cut through the music, “Will you come with me?” His arms tightened and without a word, he led me away and into a dark corner booth.

And the sad truth is. I would have followed him anywhere.

Ben slid into the booth, pulling me in beside him, his arm still tight around my waist.

A million questions chased around in my head, but I didn’t ask any of them. I stared at him, absorbing every plane of his face, the angles of shadows and light of reds and blues from the overhead lights dancing across his skin.

And he watched me.

Days and weeks of burning anticipation, wondering, hoping, grew into a single pinpointed moment of my destiny (okay, I might still be drunk). A moment so profound it became a part of my very existence.

His hand lifted, fitting around my neck, his thumb brushing along my throat to the small groove between my collarbone, where my pulse raced and thudded so hard the pad of his thumb must have vibrated. I shook from the inside out.

Leaning forward he held me tight as he spoke into my ear. “You’re driving me crazy.”

I’m driving him crazy? I’ve lost my mind, reverted to a teenager and failed to do any study at all.

“It’s one of my life skills.”

His dark gaze flashed to mine.

Kiss me. For God’s sake, show me this isn’t me losing my mind.

The first press of his lips fluttered my heart as they skimmed the surface of my mouth. Automatically I inhaled a breath, my lips parting, which he moved into, the warmth of his tongue sliding against mine.

He tasted of the tang of beer and a faint hint of mint, a taste I knew instantly I would crave once the moment was over.

This kiss would end. I grieved its loss before it had even started. I’d go back to obsessing and inept flirting, flushing and being an idiot. But right then his mouth was on mine, his hand pulling me closer.

An animalistic growl rumbled from his throat and I murmured back, a sigh caught with a moan.

The perfect kiss. Days of building and splintering anticipation, and it ended in something beyond expectation.

I think I might love you. I pecked across his mouth. I’ll never tell you.

The kiss broke and panting, our chests rising and falling against one another, we stared with bright eyes.

That was a life changing kiss. I don’t know if I can allow it to change me, this path, this journey I’ve set myself on.

“Let’s dance.” Laughing and free in the moment, I tugged him from the booth clutching his hand.

We melted on to the dancefloor and for the first time in a long time, I decided to try my hardest not to worry.

It was only when we are outside, after being ejected off the dancefloor by the bouncers, and buttoning our jackets, that I realised I couldn’t find Meredith.

Best Friend Award goes to me.

After about twenty minutes of frantically searching the crowds and the kebab shop for her, I remembered that I had a useful item called a phone in my coat pocket.

First try: No answer.

Second try: “Mmm, yes?”

“Meredith, where the hell are you? I’ve been looking everywhere!”

“At the flat.”

“Oh, okay then. We’ll see you in fifteen, we’re just getting in a cab.”