wrapping almost completely around her arms.
She let her head fall against his chest, and took in a few breaths, inhaling his deep, clean, manly musk. If anything, it made her even more dizzy.
She looked back up at him, opening dewy-wet eyes.
It was at this moment that Bryan really registered that he was completely naked, holding a beautiful, young woman in his arms.
He felt the panic rise in him again.
“Lizbeth, I–”
“Just kiss me already, you stupid man.”
And with that, she stood as high as her 5 feet 4 inches would let her go on her tippy-toes, reached her hands up around his neck, and pulled him down to meet her.
He let himself go down, and felt softness blossom on his lips.
It was so unexpected, on both their parts, that it was a little awkward at first, but Lizbeth's heart was too full of the rush of first fulfillment that she barely even noticed.
Her calves started to ache from the position after a few moments, though, she let herself drop, breaking the kiss.
She reflexively looked down, saw Bryan's thick member stirring between his legs, and hastily looked off to the side.
“Sorry Bryan, I–”
But she didn't get any farther than that. No sooner were the words out of her mouth than she felt a hand wrap gently around her chin, tilting her face upwards and to one side, while another hand grabbed the small of her back, and pushed her up and into Bryan's leaning kiss.
This time, their lips met perfectly, and any doubts or embarrassment dissolved in the pure transport of physical love.
His lips pressed against hers firmly, then softly, then he nibbled gently at her lower lip, bringing a gasp from her. His stubble rubbed against her cheek, the wonderful rasp of it sending shivers running down her neck and radiating all over her back.
Then she opened her mouth for him, and he took her invitation, sliding his tongue smoothly and insistently into her, swirling it along to her lead in wet, swooshing motions.
He took his tongue out, and she following it back, tasting the inside of his mouth – a faint, fresh trace of pine, with a barely detectable hint of fresh meat...
They broke apart for a second, enough to take in a breath, then kissed again, and again, to feel the pleasure of their lips meeting.
After what felt like hours, but must have been minutes, Bryan broke the lock of their lips, and stood up.
He gazed intently into her eyes, which were clouded over with the glowing embers of growing lust.
“Lizbeth... are you sure you're OK with this?”
It took her a while to register what he was saying, so lost was she in this wondrous new world of his body.
“OK... what... this... oh! Yeah, yes, um, I'm OK!”
He seemed to have taken her hesitation for something else, though, because he started to look troubled. After a second or two, he looked away.
“Bryan, what's wrong? Please, no, I want this...”
“But...this isn't right...”
“Why? Why wouldn't it be right?!”
“I... Lizbeth, you were a child the last time I met you...”
“Maybe I was, but I was old enough to fall in love. And I'm damned well not a child anymore, that's for sure...”
“I... I suppose you aren't... but–”
“Bryan Knudsen. If you don't pick me up and carry me to your bedroom right now, I swear to you I'll... I'll... I'll set your house on fire.”
He seemed taken aback, and for a moment Lizbeth was scared that she'd said something weird, or way too forward. But the next second, she heard his low, hearty laugh – the first time she'd heard it in so many years – and knew everything was going to be just fine.
“Well, if you put it that way, I guess I don't have much of a choice then, do I?”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and stooped to slide the other one along the back of her legs.
An unpleasant doubt flew through her mind for a second.
“I,
Emily Minton, Dawn Martens