Part 6 : The Courage to Touch
There was something terribly unfair about the way he looked at me, wearing that familiar smile as though he knew exactly how much he was getting under my skin.
"Are you going to let me have my moment, beautiful, or are you going to steal the next one from me?"
I smiled.
"Who said you were the only one allowed to make a move?"
Before he could come up with another clever reply, I reached for his hand, slipping my fingers between his.
His teasing smile softened, just enough for me to realise that perhaps I had surprised him.
And I liked that. More than I cared to admit.
I stepped closer, lifting my free hand to his cheek. My fingertips brushed his skin, and for once, the man who always seemed to have something beautiful to say fell wonderfully silent.
"What's wrong, my stranger?" I whispered.
"Lost your words?"
He smiled, leaning ever so slightly into my touch.
"I'm beginning to think you enjoy doing this to me."
"Perhaps you should give me more opportunities."
My fingers drifted to his collar, straightening it unnecessarily, lingering a moment longer than they needed to.
I could feel his attention following every little movement, and suddenly, I was the one enjoying the power of a moment left unexplained.
"You've spent so long telling me what you'd do if I were standing here," I murmured, looking into his eyes. "I thought I'd show you what you've been missing."
I drew him a little closer by his hand.
His smile faded into something softer, more searching. I rested my palm against his cheek again, my thumb brushing it gently as I held his gaze.
For once, I didn't want to hide behind teasing words. I wanted him to understand that I hadn't simply been listening to his beautiful promises.
I'd been imagining this, too.
I leaned forward until my forehead rested against his, our hands still entwined. His closeness made me smile, and I whispered,
"Still have something clever to say?"
"Several things, actually."
"Then why aren't you saying them?"
His quiet laugh brushed the space between us.
"Because you're making it rather difficult to think."
I smiled, letting the silence linger before whispering, "Good. Now you know how I feel."
When I drew back just enough to see his face, his eyes held mine with a tenderness that made all my playful confidence momentarily disappear.
So I did the only thing that felt natural.
I pressed a gentle kiss against his cheek, lingering for a heartbeat before pulling away with a smile.
His expression was worth every second of courage it had taken.
"Well played, my not-so-stranger," he murmured.
I tightened my fingers around his.
"And what exactly have I won?"
He looked at me, his smile returning.
"Another moment with me."
"Only one?"
He laughed, and I leaned closer again, letting my hand settle against his shoulder.
"Then perhaps," I whispered, "you should stop counting and enjoy them."
For a moment, neither of us said anything. I simply stayed close, letting him hold my hand while I memorised the smile I had somehow managed to put there.
Then I looked up at him, my playful confidence returning.
"Tell me something, my stranger. All those beautiful words you've written about what you'd do if I were standing right here…"
I paused, brushing my fingers gently along his cheek.
"Were they only words, or have you been wanting to kiss me as much as I've been wanting you to?"
For the first time since I'd known him, he had nowhere to hide behind his clever replies.
His gaze met mine, then briefly fell to my lips before returning to my eyes.
And just like that, I found myself holding my breath, wondering whether I had finally asked a question whose answer would change everything.
I smiled, though my heart was beating a little faster.
"Well?" I whispered. "I'm waiting."
And this time, I wasn't asking him to write me another beautiful paragraph.
I was asking him to show me what those words had always meant.
So, my not-so-stranger… are you going to answer my question with another smile, with words I've already fallen for, or with the one moment we've both been imagining?
There was something terribly unfair about the way he looked at me, wearing that familiar smile as though he knew exactly how much he was getting under my skin.
"Are you going to let me have my moment, beautiful, or are you going to steal the next one from me?"
I smiled.
"Who said you were the only one allowed to make a move?"
Before he could come up with another clever reply, I reached for his hand, slipping my fingers between his.
His teasing smile softened, just enough for me to realise that perhaps I had surprised him.
And I liked that. More than I cared to admit.
I stepped closer, lifting my free hand to his cheek. My fingertips brushed his skin, and for once, the man who always seemed to have something beautiful to say fell wonderfully silent.
"What's wrong, my stranger?" I whispered.
"Lost your words?"
He smiled, leaning ever so slightly into my touch.
"I'm beginning to think you enjoy doing this to me."
"Perhaps you should give me more opportunities."
My fingers drifted to his collar, straightening it unnecessarily, lingering a moment longer than they needed to.
I could feel his attention following every little movement, and suddenly, I was the one enjoying the power of a moment left unexplained.
"You've spent so long telling me what you'd do if I were standing here," I murmured, looking into his eyes. "I thought I'd show you what you've been missing."
I drew him a little closer by his hand.
His smile faded into something softer, more searching. I rested my palm against his cheek again, my thumb brushing it gently as I held his gaze.
For once, I didn't want to hide behind teasing words. I wanted him to understand that I hadn't simply been listening to his beautiful promises.
I'd been imagining this, too.
I leaned forward until my forehead rested against his, our hands still entwined. His closeness made me smile, and I whispered,
"Still have something clever to say?"
"Several things, actually."
"Then why aren't you saying them?"
His quiet laugh brushed the space between us.
"Because you're making it rather difficult to think."
I smiled, letting the silence linger before whispering, "Good. Now you know how I feel."
When I drew back just enough to see his face, his eyes held mine with a tenderness that made all my playful confidence momentarily disappear.
So I did the only thing that felt natural.
I pressed a gentle kiss against his cheek, lingering for a heartbeat before pulling away with a smile.
His expression was worth every second of courage it had taken.
"Well played, my not-so-stranger," he murmured.
I tightened my fingers around his.
"And what exactly have I won?"
He looked at me, his smile returning.
"Another moment with me."
"Only one?"
He laughed, and I leaned closer again, letting my hand settle against his shoulder.
"Then perhaps," I whispered, "you should stop counting and enjoy them."
For a moment, neither of us said anything. I simply stayed close, letting him hold my hand while I memorised the smile I had somehow managed to put there.
Then I looked up at him, my playful confidence returning.
"Tell me something, my stranger. All those beautiful words you've written about what you'd do if I were standing right here…"
I paused, brushing my fingers gently along his cheek.
"Were they only words, or have you been wanting to kiss me as much as I've been wanting you to?"
For the first time since I'd known him, he had nowhere to hide behind his clever replies.
His gaze met mine, then briefly fell to my lips before returning to my eyes.
And just like that, I found myself holding my breath, wondering whether I had finally asked a question whose answer would change everything.
I smiled, though my heart was beating a little faster.
"Well?" I whispered. "I'm waiting."
And this time, I wasn't asking him to write me another beautiful paragraph.
I was asking him to show me what those words had always meant.
So, my not-so-stranger… are you going to answer my question with another smile, with words I've already fallen for, or with the one moment we've both been imagining?
