And Then He Kisses Me

He puts his cup down and reaches for the milk. And as he does so, his hand brushes against mine – and stops still. At once I feel my whole body stiffen. I can’t even blink, in case I break the spell.

OK, I’ll admit it – I kind of put my hand in his way. Just to see what would happen. I mean, he could easily move his hand back if he wanted to, couldn’t he? Pour his milk, make a joke, say good-night.

But he doesn’t. Very slowly, he closes his hand over mine.

And now I really can’t move. His thumb starts to trace patterns on my wrist, and I can feel how warm and dry his skin is. I look up and meet his gaze, and feel a little jolt inside me. I can’t move my hand. I’m completely transfixed.

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My hands are twisted in a nervous knot. I don’t dare look at him.

“I’ll be off, then.” Says Luke at last. “I hope you have a – “

“Don’t go,” I hear myself say, and blush furiously. “Don’t go yet. We could just…” I swallow. “Talk, or something.”

I look up and meet his eyes, and something fearful starts to pound within me. Slowly he walks toward me, until he’s standing just in front of me. I can just smell the scent of his aftershave and hear the crisp cotton rustle of his shirt as he moves. My whole body’s prickling with anticipation.

“We could just talk, or something,” he echoes, and slowly lifts his hands until they cup my face.

And then he kisses me.

Note: These are excerpts from Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella