Press was one thing, when this was pretend, but things have changed. Now all I want to do is protect Noli—from all of it.
“You’re welcome to stay for the ceremony,” I offer. “We’ve got to do a couple quick things before we begin.”
“We do?” Noli says.
“Yeah.” I loop her hand into the crook of my arm and guide her away from Ashlyn. “See you in a few minutes.”
I take off toward the bank of elevators at the end of the hallway.
“Where are we going?” Noli whispers.
“I need a minute with you.”
We make it to the elevators, and I press the button.
An elevator dings, and the door opens.
“For what?” Noli asks as I tug her inside.
“To do this.”
29
The Elevator Kiss
Noli
Collin presses me toward the back wall of the elevator and cages my body with his. He’s got one palm resting against the wall behind me, and the other he runs up the side of my body.
“I’m going to kiss you, Noli. I’m going to kiss you right now, and I want you to know I’m doing it because I want to. Not for show. Not for anyone else. For me. And for you. Is that okay?”
I’m stunned speechless, and the feel of Collin’s strong, wide palm working its way up my side is making me dizzy.
All I can do is nod.
As the elevator doors close behind us, he closes the distance between us, and then his lips are on mine. We mold perfectly together. He kisses me slowly. Like he’s savoring it. Like he doesn’t want to break me or push too hard.
Well.
I bring my hand up and run it along his hairline at the back of his neck. I squeeze the sensitive skin there and slip my other hand under his suit coat, pressing my palm against the folds of his dress shirt and drawing him closer to me, letting him know that I am okay with all of this. Very much okay with it.
And more, please.
He responds immediately, and our kiss turns desperate. Urgent. Necessary. It’s like, for both of us, this kiss is our oxygen source. The very thing we need to thrive and grow. Just like exposure to air helps to heal flesh wounds, Collin’s kiss is healing me from the inside out—reminding me of my worth. My value.My dignity. He’s caring for my battered heart with each caress. I’m so grateful I could cry.
His mouth explores every millimeter of mine as his hands move from my neck, up and down my sides, into my hair, and then he’s got me wrapped in his strong, secure embrace.
I think my feet have left the floor, but I can’t be sure, because this entire kiss has me feeling like I’m flying. I am totally caught up in him, and I want to stay in his arms forever.
“Collin,” I breathe his name out on an exhale as he breaks his lips from mine and starts kissing a line up my neck. He pauses behind my earlobe and inhales a shuddering breath.
And then his lips are back on mine, and all coherent thought flees.
That is, until the elevator dings.
The doors open, and there’s a loud intake of breath.
It takes me a second to get my bearings. I blink, and from where Collin is still holding me off the ground, I glance over his shoulder. Standing at the entrance to the elevator, waiting to get on, are Collin’s parents, his sister and her husband, and my sisters and Mack.
