When his lips finally meet mine, the kiss is slow.
Tender.
Intentional.
The kind of kiss that says I'm here.
The kind that says I want you and I'm not leaving.
Not yet.
He deepens the kiss, and a soft sound escapes me before I can stop it.
The man kisses with purpose.
Like he's trying to learn me.
Memorize me.
Like every second matters.
My fingers curl into the front of his shirt, holding on as the world tilts pleasantly beneath my feet.
And maybe that's dramatic.
Maybe it's ridiculous.
I don't even care.
Because Kai is looking at me like I'm something precious.
Something worth wanting.
Something worth waiting for.
The realization steals the breath right out of my lungs.
For so long, I've been the dependable one.
The practical one.
The woman men overlooked.
The woman who helped everybody else find their happily-ever-after while quietly wondering when it might be her turn.
Now his hands are resting at my waist.
His forehead brushing mine.
His breathing just as uneven as my own.
And for the first time in years, I don't feel invisible.
I feel seen.
Really seen.
His gaze searches my face, lingering there as though he's afraid he'll miss something important.