Parched
BLISS. TOTAL BLISS, like ?I’d known it would be. Kissing Haylee was everything, and after the first time, I took every chance I could to get my lips on hers. In the elevator on Monday evening, on her couch on Tuesday before Glen interrupted us, with her perched on my kitchen counter on Wednesday. Best. Meal. Ever.
Thursday came and went in a blur, and Friday had us sitting on my couch, listening to the rain tapping on the living room windows. She shuddered and burrowed deeper into the pillows, letting the steam of her hot chocolate whiff into her face and bring a grin to her lips. She’d stopped denying herself things that made her happy.
“The rain is such a nuisance,” Haylee sighed, giving the window a side-eye. “Some days, I wish I was born in the desert.”
“Really?” I hummed. “Did you forget your umbrella again today?”
“I didn’t forget—” Her lips formed an adorable pout, but I wasn’t allowed to say she was cute, so I kept it to myself.
“It’s okay, you can tell me. I won’t judge.” I had my own steaming cup between my palms, which was the only reason I didn’t reach out and poke her playfully.
“It has become a more decorative part of my room rather than something I use,” Haylee mumbled.
I laughed.
“No judging!” A blush colored her cheeks a stunning hue. She hid it behind her cup.
“I’m not, I swear.” I raised one of my hands in surrender, while the other kept my cup from spilling its contents all over my lap. That’d be one way to get out of those jeans. Moving on. “Just wondering if there’s anything I can do to change your mind.”
“About the rain?” Haylee scrunched up her face adorably. “Why?”
“There’s a certain charm to rainy days.”
Haylee snorted. “Charm? Maybe when it doesn’t rain every other day. Or maybe when you’re staying inside, sitting next to a fireplace, reading a book. When you look at it from afar and don’t have to trudge through it daily.”
“I suppose I see it a bit differently, but then again, I don’t forget my umbrella when it rains.” I winked to make sure she understood I was teasing. Her face reddened further when I called her out on it. Time to stop making her uncomfortable. “My appreciation for the rain comes from the family farm. You can’t grow corn in a desert, now can you? Let alone grapes.”
“I doubt it rains as much in Colorado than it does here. Makes it easier to appreciate.”
“Sure.”
Haylee stared out the window, eying the gray sky and the never-ending droplets misting the glass. “Well, I don’t have a family farm, and here the rain is only good for romantic kisses.”
“Romantic kisses, huh?” A jolt of jealousy surged through me and settled in my stomach. I arched my eyebrow to hide my forming scowl. “How often exactly have you done that?”
The eyebrow didn’t work. I still sounded like a jealous prick. Haylee’s thinning lips were a clear sign that I should’ve likely left it alone, but I was now thinking about her, dripping wet in the elevator the first time I saw her, and how the rain had highlighted all her delicious curves.
“Have you ever kissed someone in the rain?” I asked when she stayed quiet.
Haylee shook her head, and the curls framing her face bounced around more joyfully than her detached expression afforded. “No,” she said quietly.
My eyes flicked between the window and her lovely face, making up my mind. That wouldn’t do. If romantic kisses were what rainy days were made for, then we should make use of this opportunity. I placed my drink on the coffee table and pried Haylee’s away from her fingers, too. Then I pulled her off the couch and towards the door.
“What are you doing?” she gasped, resisting me a little.
I stopped pulling her, to look her in the eyes. “Amending the situation.”
Haylee’s eyes widened. “What?” she gasped.
“I will be your first.”And only. But I wasn’t going to say that out loud. “If romantic kisses in the rain is what you want, of course.”
Her hand in mine squeezed tightly. I wasn’t sure she was aware of the reaction. Caressing the back of it with my thumb, I hoped to reassure her as she worried at her lower lip nervously. “But it’s very wet outside.”
“All part of the experience, Red Cheeks. Don’t worry, I'll protect your dignity. If this shirt turns transparent, I'll be the only one seeing it.”
