“Anyway, I’m here because she gave me permission to show you my room, pointing out that she’d stay right where we left her but that her hearing was excellent despite her age.”
Nate’s heart skipped a beat as his voice turned low and raspy. “Now, what could she possibly be insinuating, Mads?”
Madison’s cheeks turned rosy just as her smile promised trouble.
“I don’t know… Something about not leaving teenagers unattended.”
“Good thing we’re not teenagers then.”
“You read my mind, Nathaniel,” she said as she pulled him towards her room.
A quick glance around the room was enough to identify it as Madison’s personal space. It somehow showed details of her soft and quiet nature in its mild tones, but also of bursts of her particular personality and interests. The scent she carried everywhere she went was so much stronger here. He could tell she loved flowers both by the intoxicating aroma but also by the wallpaper that held tiny stems and blooms everywhere. Nate could also see books and comics covering almost every available surface, some anime figurines, and stars on her ceiling.
He couldn’t help the rush of affection he felt at the sight of all that.
He also couldn’t help teasing her a bit for that.
“So. Sailor Moon, huh?” he asked, secretly delighted in the way she shuffled her feet awkwardly.
“I was kinda hoping you wouldn’t notice that.”
“Why not?” he shrugged. “It’s cute.”
Madison looked at him with wide eyes. “Itiscute. It’s a great show with awesome characters.” She then threw him a sly look. “And of course, there’s Tuxedo Mask.”
“Huh, what does he do exactly?”
“Basically, he wears a mask, a tuxedo, a cape, a top hat and he produces an alarming number of red roses from somewhere on his person, which is also his calling card. Plus, he is hot.”
“Mm” was all Nate seemed to say as he watched Madison trying to avoid looking at him directly, suddenly looking a bit embarrassed again.
“Yes, he’s nice, and he always helps the heroine when she’s in trouble.” Her eyes widened when she saw Nate starting to prowl towards her. “And he’s tall, and has dark hair…” she trailed off, her breath a bit shallower, as she took a few steps backwards, her back brushing the wall next to her door.
Nate had no idea how he had found himself towering over her, bracketing her against the wall with his hands on either side of her head, almost hypnotized.
His next words were whispered against her lips.
“Is that so?” he said, nuzzling her cheek, his heart pounding in his ears. He had to ball his hands into fists where he held them against the wall to stop himself from touching her.
“Mhm.” Her sweet, silky murmur seemed to curl almost languidly around his limbs.
She tipped up her head, closing the short distance. Her lips brushed his in a caress that snapped his restraint, his hand moving to tangle in her thick strands.
This was nothing like their previous kisses. Their soft pecks and tentative touch of lips. This kiss bled desperation and a want that threatened to devour him whole. His body screamed at him to get closer, and he sagged against the wall, caging her completely, only a whisper of space between them.
He felt her arch against him like a flower seeking the sun, the contact setting him on fire.
All he could hear was the rush of blood in his ears, their frantic breaths and even more frantic heartbeats as the kiss turned deep, deep, deeper, and his sweet Madison’s hands grasping his sweater to keep him rooted where he was.
As if he could ever part from her willingly.
The lack of air forced them to separate reluctantly. Nate’s eyes were still closed in an attempt to get himself under control, the powerful need still holding him in its clutches.
He couldn’t resist opening his eyes to drink in the image of her, still flushed, breathless, beautiful. Her eyelids fluttered open and there she was. His girl.
He must have said that last part out loud, because Madison looked at him with eyes that burned him from the inside out.
“Is that what I am?” she asked, her lips tipping in a side smile. “Your girl?”
