Kiss to Savor

Photo by AndriyKo Podilnyk on Unsplash

She groaned as her alarm blared at 5:30 am on a Saturday. She rolled over and hit the snooze button, again. She was dreaming about a report for work that she was presenting. It was odd because the people in the room started banging their fists on the table. "Kelly!" she heard. Oh no she thought as the table full of people disappeared and she saw her bed surrounding her. She pushed herself out of bed. She took a quick look in the bathroom mirror. Her coppery curls were falling in all directions. She threw on her worn black robe and went to the front door. 

     Through the peephole, she saw David. He was dressed for the hike and he looked cozy. He was wearing a plaid shirt under his fluffy jacket. He hadn't shaved and his dark hair was still damp, so he wasn't exactly a morning person either. He had on a backpack and was holding what appeared to be coffee. She swung the door open and grabbed one of the cups in the holder. As she slurped the coffee he smiled and said "Good morning Kelly, ready to go?" glancing at her shabby robe. "I will be" she countered. David sat down on the couch and smiled as she went to get ready. This was their Saturday routine.

     She wasn't sure that she liked hiking, but she definitely liked David. They met at an evening cooking class. They were learning how to make fresh pasta and they had started chatting. They instantly connected. He had deep chestnut eyes and a beautiful smile, which she tried to elicit from him as often as she could. They had been going on weekly hikes for the last few months. They were just friends, and that was fine with her. She was tired of the disappointing dates she had been on the few times she had broken down and tried the dating sites. They weren't bad guys, but they weren't David.

     She emerged in jeans and a warm sweater and they set off. She thought she saw a gleam of approval in his eyes, but she could be mistaken. She was pretty clueless when it came to understanding signals. The drive was beautiful. Autumn had arrived and the leaves on the trees were amber, red, and gold. David was a little quiet as they headed to their favorite spot. They drove in the car in and listened to music. She didn't mind. She felt comfortable in David's silence. 

     They parked and headed up the trail that she had become much more proficient at navigating. The air was crisp and cool and she felt her cheeks turn pink from the cool air. They had been hiking for over an hour when they came to a clearing. She could hear bird calls around them, but no people. It was quiet for a Saturday and there were no other hikers nearby. "Let's stop for a bit," he said, taking a drink from his water bottle. He offered her water and after she drank, he pulled her to him. Her heart was beating quickly as he took her into his arms. It always did, but she always hoped that he didn't notice that.

     They had experienced some hugs over the last few months, so this was not a big deal. In his arms, she felt warm and peaceful. It kind of felt like being at home, as if she belonged there. The leaves were golden around the clearing and a breeze blew around them making her hold him just a little closer to avoid the chill. They usually pulled away from each other, but this time they remained in the embrace. They embraced long enough for her to notice that he smelled clean and a bit like the woods surrounding them. She could hear him breathing and could feel his heart beating against hers. She enjoyed this closeness. This hug seemed to be turning into more of a cuddle. "Shall we?" she asked as she tried to pull away from him.      

     He did not let go of her. Instead, he turned to her and looked into her eyes with his intense gaze. He shifted his eyes to her lips. He was so close that she couldn't stop thinking about how his lips would feel on hers. Her heart pounded even faster when she knew that this was really happening. Instead of a deep kiss, he lightly brushed her lips. She gasped as his gentle kiss sent electricity through her. "Kelly, I love you" he whispered so quietly that it was almost lost in the breeze. 

     She felt herself melt as his kiss deepened. Every brush of his lips sent shivers of desire through her entire body. She had experienced many kisses before, but not like this. There were no secrets from David, he knew her heart and mind and she knew his. When they kissed it reminded her that there would only be truth between them.     

     Even in this beautiful autumn place, he made her forget where they were. All she could see and feel was David. It had always been David from the moment she had met him. She held on to him as she passionately returned his kisses. She wanted this moment to last forever, and in her heart and mind, it would. She realized that she loved him too and that her life would never be the same.