James leaned in closer, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair gently from her face. The touch was soft, hesitant, as though he too waited for her to pull away.
But Kendra didn't. Instead, she leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering shut just for a moment as she let herself feel.
He finally sat on the edge of the bed, one hand curled near her face, his eyes searching hers. "Kendra," he began, before his voice trailed off, as though words simply weren't enough.
Before her thinking brain could catch up with the cautioning part of her mind, Kendra angled in, closing the space between them.
The kiss was soft at first, tentative, cautious as if feeling out the water. But then the kiss deepened, charged with all that had been withheld between them.
James's hands found her wai
