Waterfall Kisses (The Kisses 9)

“Thank you, I'll let him know,” I replied, rising from my spot and smoothing my dress. I hoped she didn't think we were peeping toms. I just wanted to make sure that my brother and my friend got the happy ever after they deserved.

The woman nodded and hurried back toward the sounds of the party. With a sigh, I looked over at Leo. “Were you going to say something?”

“It can wait.” He shook his head with a sad smile that made me curious. He probably just had some droll comment about me being a hopeless romantic. “Go get him for his speech. He worked hard for it.”

I grinned at him and went to the door.

“I'm sorry to interrupt,” I announced stepping outside. I grinned at the two of them, even though I was obviously interrupting their kiss. “But it's time for your speech, Bastian.”

Bastian grinned at the beautiful woman in his arms. “Come with me.”

She willingly took his arm as he escorted her inside. I held up my hand and gave them both high-fives as they passed. The two of them walked with a happy glow surrounding them that I couldn't help but envy as I held the door open. I'd never seen my brother look so happy, and that filled my heart with joy.

Once they were off the porch, I came inside to follow them. I got two steps down the hall before Leo grabbed my hand.

“Come with me.” It wasn't a question or a demand.

“But the speech...” I stammered, feeling a new heat in his gaze as he looked at me. Something had changed in his eyes, but I wasn't sure what.

“You know what he's going to say,” Leo said, giving me a gentle tug back toward the moonlit porch. “Do you really need to hear it?”

I paused for a moment, looking after the happy couple and then back to Leo. His hand was still on mine and I didn't want him to let go. Ever.

“Okay,” I whispered, just happy to have him with me.

Chapter Six

Leo still had my hand wrapped up in his and it was doing strange things to my heart. He'd never touched me for this long, at least not on purpose. With every moment, I knew I was falling just a little more in love with him and that I would crave his touch for days after this. It was almost cruel to know I wouldn't get it.

Outside on the porch, the night was calm and beautiful. A cooling wind came in from the ocean, bringing the scent of salt and sand with it. The waning moon's small crescent shape was a silver glitter against the dark water of the Caribbean sea.

Just before Leo closed the door, I heard the soft rumble of applause as Bastian began his speech inside. The door sealed with a soft thud, separating Leo and me from the rest of the world. It was warm and dark out here, and still thrumming with the magic of Bastian and Ava's reunion. I wanted to be in a world with just Leo, even if it was only for a moment. Even if I couldn't really have him, I wanted this moment.

“Charlotte?”

I loved the way my name sounded on his lips. I smiled, slowly turning to face him in the dark. My pulse fluttered along the pulse points of wrists and along my neck the way it always did whenever Leo was close. He smiled, reaching for my face with his hand. Everything slowed and moved in slow-motion as he reached for me and then pulled me into a kiss. It was every dream I'd ever had come true.

His hands cradled my face as he pressed his lips against mine, our mouths searching and seeking for more. In his hands and pressed against his lips, I was his. He was claiming me as his own and making my heart soar for it. My fantasies had never done this first kiss justice.

I was breathing hard when he pulled back, his hands still on my face as his eyes searched my face. I knew I must have fallen and bumped my head and was dreaming, or that I was possibly dead- because this was heaven. Even though I had written our love story a thousand times in my head, I never once thought it would happen.

Leo kissed me.

“I've wanted to do that for years now,” he whispered with a grin as his eyes found mine. I had to be dreaming. There was no way for a human being to feel this happy after just one kiss. I didn't know why he was suddenly kissing me after all these years, but I didn't care. I just wanted to kiss him again and again and again.

“You wanted to kiss me?” I gasped, having trouble forming words after such an amazing kiss. “Really?”

Leo leaned in closer, tipping his forehead to mine. “It was even better than I thought possible.”

I couldn't stop myself from reaching up and pulling him in for another kiss before he could barely finish his sentence. If this was a dream, I was going to kiss him until I woke up. I prayed that I would never wake up from this. Kissing him felt so right.

“I've wanted to kiss you for years,” I finally said, needing to say the words. “I even asked!” I looked up at him, seeing the blue in his eyes even in the moonlight. He was so damn good looking I could barely stand it. I fit in his arms like a puzzle piece.

I didn't want to ask, but I knew I needed to. I was afraid that if I asked, I would break the spell and Leo would realize who he was kissing and would leave. But I had to know. “Why now?”

“Because Bastian has someone,” he said as if it were the most logical thing in the world.

“What? That makes no sense,” I replied, shaking my head. “Whether or not my brother has someone shouldn't determine if you're kissing me.”