A sharp, nearly silent gasp rose in her throat at how close he was, heart pounding hard in her rib cage. She could feel his heat, feel his breath against her skin and she found herself leaning in close. It was like a strong tug that moved her.
Yet she stopped herself and squeezed her lips together for a few seconds before speaking. “Together..?” To live happily the way the people who had perished weren’t allowed? Would that really make up for it? No, helping people – that was the real way. To always do good and help anyone who needed it. She could. She would.
Her hands rested upon his chest, tentatively grabbing the material of his shirt.
“Together,” Jack insisted. And, cautiously, still terrified that she would pull away from him again, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.
It had been much too long, Katelynn’s eyelids fluttering closed upon the warm contact, giving a sigh of happiness. Responding to his kiss as she leaned in gently, one hand moved up his torso to gently cup the backside of his neck so she could hold on for dear life. She felt faint, like she could float away and gave no indication she wanted to stop.
Even if a part of her screamed that she didn’t deserve this love, another part craved it, relished it as her lips glided along his. How she had missed his affection, her misty eyes producing a tear as she snuggled closer against him.
Although his eyes were closed, Jack could feel her tears on his skin. As he cradled Katelynn close, his own tears began to roll down his cheeks. He knew it was stupid, and messy, to cry when he was finally kissing his love again, but he couldn’t help it – it was as if something tight inside him had finally relaxed.
Her lips were just as warm and sweet as he remembered. Her body was warm in his arms, and he could smell just a hint of her familiar scent, under the smoke and grime from wherever she’d been earlier. He’d missed holding her so much over the past weeks; having her back again was so wonderful that it almost ached.
He hated to break the kiss, but he needed to ask. “So … will you stay with me?"
Jack Maple 