“I had the best time,” I say as I lean into his hold. “This was the kind of day you always dream of, but it never really comes to life.”
“Well, it’s real. All of this is real,” he says.
“Hard to believe.”
People scavenge for spots in front of the castle, strollers bumping into sidewalks, crying children tired from the events of the day, and a lot of tired people vying for a spot to sit down. Weirdly, it adds to the magic.
I turn toward him and rest my hand on his thigh as I say, “Thank you for today.”
“You’re welcome, Lia. You know I’d do anything for you, right?”
“Yes, I know.”
“So you just name it, and it’s yours.”
“I think . . .” I move my hand up to his chest. “I know I want something, but I’m nervous to say it.”
He turns toward me more and asks, “What is it?”
Just then, the show begins, and the crowd hushes as music plays through the speakers placed throughout the park.
“It can wait,” I say.
“Uh, no, it can’t,” he says. “Just ask me.”
I move my hands to the hem of his shirt, and I twist it through my hands as I say, “It’s going to sound really stupid, but I don’t know. I guess I just want to make sure this is real.”
“What is it?” Breaker asks.
When I glance up at him, the first firework shoots up to the sky, lighting up the dark night. “I want to make sure that we’re, you know . . . actually dating. That we’re exclusive, that . . . I don’t know, that I’m your girlfriend or something.”
The smile that crosses his face is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. “You asking me to be your boyfriend, Lia?”
“I mean, if you want to put a label on it. I just don’t want this to be a flashin-the-pan kind of thing. You know? Like . . . just sex and fun. I don’t want that.”
His face grows serious, and he slips his hand behind my neck as he says, “You would never be a fling to me, Lia. Ever. What we have, it’s serious, and I won’t treat it any other way.”
“Okay,” I say as I glance away, gaining the courage to say what I want to say next. When my eyes fall back on his, I say, “Then if that’s the case, kiss me.”
His hand grows tight at the nape of my neck, pulling me toward him. I have never seen such a determined yet adoring look on his face before. I feel so . . . loved.
My breath catches in my chest. I wet my lips right before he brings me in the last few inches, and his mouth lands on mine.
I can feel my eyes roll in the back of my head as his soft lips capture mine.
Soft.
Demanding.
Absolute perfection.
It’s the most intense, satisfying, and thrilling moment of my life—kissing Breaker, kissing my best friend, feeling the electricity bounce between us as our mouths collide. With fireworks exploding above us, his lips mold around mine, his other hand tilting my face ever so slightly, controlling the moment.
And I let him, because I can’t do anything else other than fall into this man’s grasp as his open mouth works over mine.
Pressing.
Taking.
Tense.
When his mouth parts, I part mine. When he turns to the right, I turn to the left. When his grip grows tighter, so does mine.
And when his tongue presses against mine, I moan and swipe my tongue against his.
He’s so delicious.
I tangle my tongue with his, my hand growing tight around his shirt, needing him closer, needing more, and when I slip my hand under his shirt, he pulls away, stunning me.
I blink a few times just as huge fireworks burst above us.
Catching his breath, he stares at me for a few moments and then says, “I, uh . . . I don’t want to give the kids a different show.”
And I’m brought back to reality.
We’re still in Disneyland.
Surrounded by children.
“Oh God.” I press my hand to my chest. “I’m sorry, I just . . . I guess I got carried away.”
“That’s okay, so did I.” A boyish grin spreads across his face. “You’re a really good fucking kisser.”
My cheeks heat as I say, “I was going to say the same about you.”
He pulls on the small strands of his hair as he says, “Just another regret of mine. We could have started doing that a long time ago.”
“Looks like we have some time to make up for.”
“We do,” he says as he grips my chin and places one more kiss on my lips. Even though it’s a light, featherlike kiss, it packs a powerful punch because it was willing and a way to express his desire for me.
It makes my stomach flutter. It’s confirmation that we are doing this . . . we are becoming an us. And I shiver as I hear my mom’s sweet voice saying, “About time, sweet cheeks. About time.”
Chapter Twenty-One
BREAKER
Hands gripping the bathroom counter, I stare into the mirror and take a few deep breaths.
I love her.
I’m in love with her.
I want nothing but her.
That fucking kiss nearly knocked my socks off.
I’ve never experienced anything like it. Like the moment our lips met, an electrical charge shot through me, rebooting me to be a different man.
I feel the need to always have her at my side.
I feel the need to compulsively touch her.
I feel the need to strip her down and make love to her.
I want her to know that I’m hers, forever. That I don’t want anyone else but her.
But I also need to take this one stride at a time.
I don’t want to scare her away.
One goddamn step at a time, man.
I push off the counter and grab my toothbrush and line it with toothpaste.
After the fireworks, we walked back to the car hand in hand. On the drive home, I rested my hand on her thigh, and she placed her hand on top of mine. We talked about a new board game coming out that we wanted to play while reminiscing about the time we went to Disney when we were in college. It was a total disaster since we went during a peak time and were able to ride three rides total. Brutal.
When we got back home, I walked her to her apartment and lightly kissed her goodnight, reveling in the way her lips felt on mine and how I desperately wanted to invite her back to my place. But I said my goodnight and came back here to take a shower.
Hair still damp, with a towel wrapped around my waist, I brush my teeth just as I hear my front door shut.
“Lia?” I call out, my mouth foamy.
“Yeah, it’s me,” she says as I hear her approach.
I finish up brushing quickly, rinse my mouth, and head out to my bedroom where I find her standing in the middle of the room, wearing a silk robe, her hair damp as well.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
Her eyes fall to my chest and then to my towel before climbing back up to my eyes. She shakes her head just as she undoes her robe and lets it fall to the ground, revealing her purple lingerie set. A silky-looking tank top with matching lace underwear.
“I don’t want to be alone, Breaker.” She walks up to me and lightly brings her hands to my abs, where she travels them down to my towel. “I don’t want to sleep alone, and I don’t want our night to end with a goodnight kiss at my door.”