The First Kiss

 

 

hey recalled being students, and studied each other that night, without books, only the deep introspection that close distance provided. She, noticing for the first time his Romanesque nose, set into his cheekbones like modeling clay, pushed and pulled into smooth shapes.  He, noticing how her long auburn hair sheltered the curve of her ears. Class was in that night, and even with the small conversations of the evening past, the eyes told far more. His arms enfolded her, fingertips pressed so lightly on the small of her back, she, still and loose in his supportive grip. It seemed far longer that they held each other, whispering only when the silence became noticeable. Time had no meaning, clocks had stopped, only the heartbeats of the two ran faster and faster. He pulled her closer still, with a gentle tug. She responded with her body, pulling her legs close to touch his. She felt his breath near her ear now, the pulse of his warm life moving her hair like a gentle breeze. Then, it was time, they both thought at once, she pushing slightly, he moving his arms up to her shoulders, then cupping her soft hair and holding her head, their eyes now locked into each others. Again, an eternity passed, she feeling his touch through her body, when in fact it came from only his fingers on the sides of her head and neck. He sensing the soul through her eyes, moved his head closer. She closed hers, and felt, ever so slightly, his lips touching hers, in a careful delicate way. Her eyes closed even more, his eyelashes brushing her forehead, their lips not moving, but barely touching. She felt the rush of electricity in the kiss, thinking how it was possible that so powerful the feeling was, with so light a touch. She parted her lips now, and felt his breath in her, with only a slight movement of the distance between them. He thought that this was heaven expressed, romantic and caressed. He felt her lips separate and his heart quickened. What seemed like long minutes, even hours, with eyes closed and lips met, the kiss was sweet, souls touching, ever lasting.

 

She still had her eyes closed when he pulled away, so slowly that she felt his breath for a long time in her mouth. He relaxed his hold on her head and slipped his hands back to her shoulders. She felt the touch again and again, throughout. He spoke for the first time in a long time, and said, “Good night.” She felt one more brush of his lips against hers, then he was gone, by the time she opened her eyes. She knew, he would return.