His Secret Kiss

Chapter Nine – The Taste of Forever

The night fell slow and heavy like honey sliding down glass the sky bruised with soft purple clouds and the hush of the city beneath it We were still tangled in the warmth of morning memories his scent clinging to my skin the echo of his voice whispering through my mind Every time he touched me the world went quiet every fear I had melted until only him remained

Austin moved like sin wrapped in calm his fingers brushing my shoulder as if he couldn’t stop reminding himself I was real “You keep looking at me like I’m a dream" he murmured his breath warm against my ear

"Maybe you are" I whispered back smiling a little “and I’m scared I’ll wake up soon"

He turned me to face him his hand sliding down my arm until it reached my waist “Then don’t wake up not tonight"

His lips found mine and the kiss wasn’t hurried or hungry it was deep soft steady like he was trying to memorize me Each breath we shared felt like a promise like something too fragile to name

When we finally broke apart he rested his forehead against mine “You’re trouble you know that"

“Maybe" I said with a grin “but I’m your trouble now"

He laughed low in his throat the kind of laugh that made my chest tighten “God help me you really are"

We stayed like that for a long time the only light in the room coming from the window the moon tracing silver lines across his jaw He looked like something carved out of shadow and flame beautiful and dangerous and entirely mine

Then his phone buzzed on the table breaking the moment He didn’t move right away just sighed the weight of reality sliding back into his eyes “Don’t answer it" I whispered “not yet"

He hesitated then nodded switching the phone off completely "For you I won’t"

I smiled and leaned closer letting my fingers trace the scar near his collarbone "You never told me how you got this"

He caught my hand kissed my wrist "That’s a story for another night one where I don’t risk you hating me afterward"

"I could never hate you Austin” I said softly “Even if I tried"

He looked at me then really looked and for the first time I saw it—fear not of the world but of losing me “Don’t promise that" he whispered “I’ve learned promises break too easily"

I touched his face and said " Then I won’t promise I’ll just stay"

He kissed me again this time rougher as if he was fighting a battle only he could feel and I was his surrender When he finally pulled back he whispered against my skin “If I ever hurt you it won’t be because I want to it’ll be because I don’t know another way to protect you"

“Then teach me" I said “teach me how to stay without getting lost"

He looked at me with something that felt like forever in his eyes and for a heartbeat I believed him that whatever storm waited outside we’d survive it together

The night stretched on long soft endless and somewhere between his heartbeat and mine I stopped wondering where this would end

Because for now this was enough

This was everything

The world outside faded into a blur of quiet rain and silver light the sound of droplets tapping against the window like a heartbeat slow steady constant I could feel his warmth beside me the air between us heavy with things we hadn’t said words that hovered on the edge of truth and desire

Rain whispered against the window his warmth close his fingers brushed my cheek “Don’t look at me like that” he murmured “Like what" I breathed " Like I’m all you see"

“Then forget your reasons” I whispered and his lips found mine wild desperate tasting like a promise we both knew couldn’t last.

When we broke apart his forehead rested against mine his voice shaking “You have no idea what you’re doing to me"

I smiled against his lips “Then maybe you should show me"

He laughed quietly a sound that felt like warmth spreading through my chest “You’re going to ruin me"

“Maybe you already are" I whispered

We fell into silence again the kind that didn’t need to be filled He sat down beside me pulling me gently onto his lap his arms wrapping around me protectively like he was shielding me from something unseen Outside the storm grew louder thunder rolling across the sky but inside it was just us our own small world built out of stolen moments and fragile hope

For a long while he said nothing just traced small circles on my back his touch slow steady grounding Then finally he whispered “When I was seventeen I watched everything I loved disappear in one night I swore I’d never let that happen again But then you came along and suddenly every wall I built started to fall"

I looked up at him the sadness in his eyes cutting through me “Austin” I said quietly “you don’t have to protect me by breaking yourself"

He smiled faintly brushing a strand of hair from my face "It’s not you I’m afraid of losing it’s what you’ll think when you finally know who I am"

"Then tell me” I said "whatever it is I can handle it"

But he only shook his head "Not tonight not when it finally feels like I can breathe again"

So I didn’t push I just leaned into him letting the sound of his heart and the rhythm of the rain blend together The room was dim and soft the air smelling faintly of him cedar smoke and something dark and sweet

"I used to think love was a weakness” he said after a while "That caring made you vulnerable But then I met you and now I’m not sure if it’s the weakness or the only thing keeping me alive"

I tilted my head so our eyes met " Then maybe that’s what love is” I whispered "Something that hurts and heals at the same time"

He smiled that small sad smile again and kissed the top of my head"You’re too good for the world I live in"

"Then bring me into it” I said quietly "Let me see what you’re trying to hide"

He looked at me for a long time and for a moment I thought he would tell me everything but then he just pulled me closer his lips brushing my ear "One day you’ll hate me for this"

"Never" I said without hesitation

"Don’t promise that” he whispered "because I might believe you"

The thunder cracked again shaking the glass but all I felt was him his warmth his breath the soft whisper of my name against my skin Every part of me was aware of him of the way he held me like I was both his salvation and his sin

When I finally drifted off to sleep I felt his hand still holding mine tight like he was afraid I’d slip away

I woke to dawn’s soft light Austin by the window shirtless bathed in gold I wrapped the sheet around me "You didn’t sleep" I whispered

He smiled faintly "Didn’t want to miss you"

"You’re impossible" I teased

He pulled me close “Sweet isn’t something people call me"

"Then they never saw this side of you” I said tracing his chest “the one that still believes in love"

He looked down at me eyes dark and unreadable "You’re the only one who makes me believe in anything anymore"

Before I could answer his phone buzzed again sharp insistent He cursed under his breath picking it up glancing at the screen "It’s starting" he said quietly

"What’s starting” I asked but he didn’t answer He just turned to me his hand cupping my face his thumb brushing my bottom lip “Whatever happens today remember this I’d choose you again even if it destroys me"

My heart clenched Austin you’re scaring me what’s going on”

But before he could explain there was a knock at the door sharp urgent His entire body tensed and in that instant I knew whatever he’d been hiding was finally catching up to us

He kissed me once hard fast like goodbye "Stay here no matter what" he said

"Austin—"

But he was already gone

And I stood there trembling clutching the sheet around me as the sound of the door opening echoed down the hallway and voices I didn’t recognize filled the air

Outside the storm had stopped but somehow it felt like the real one had just begun