Again, sorry for not updating any of my story for such a long time, but I'm quite busy at the moment, as I have my first semester exam at the end of February and I have a lot of stuff to learn. I hope you understand and haven't given up, yet. I'm trying to finish this story asap, as we're already more than half way through this one. I know this chapter's a little shorter than most of my chapters before, but I hope you'll like this anyways. Enjoy!

Chapter 14: First Kiss

~ S ~ B ~

That moment here, dancing with Mac and now being close to him, moving to the slow music I actually felt like really being married to him and it just felt good to be here. In truth, I had been dancing when I was younger, but I never went ever since I met Frankie and that relationship went so totally wrong. I just hadn't met that one to try it and now that Mac suggested it and I agreed I actually found myself enjoying it again. I always loved dancing and I loved it even more now that I did that with Mac. And of course I loved this dress. It was just perfect for today.

"You seem quiet. You okay?" I heard Mac asking me after a few minutes.

"Just enjoying the moment. I'm more than fine." I said and then looked at him.

"Glad you enjoy it."

"Well, you're an amazing dancer, Mac."

"Well, you're pretty amazing yourself, Stella." He said in a light tone.

"Thanks. Honestly, I haven't been dancing in a while. Thanks for asking me out and find my old hobby back." I said with a loving smile.

"Same here. You're more than welcome."

"Maybe we can make that to some kind of ritual?"

"Like date-night ritual?" he dared to ask, catching me a little off guard, but honestly I was hoping he would ask that, so I gave him a shy smile.

"If you like to date your best friend."

"Actually…" he started and then locked eyes with me.

His eyes held much more than friendship and I dared to see love in them. I felt my heart racing as he let go of my hand and gently touched my cheek, moving down to my yaw and then sliding his fingers along it till they rested under my chin. I knew exactly what he was up to and I just hoped that he wouldn't pull back last minute. It seemed as if all that happened in slow motion. He leaned in and I felt his lips brushing mine as I closed my eyes, placing my free hand on his neck, keeping his lips captive against mine as I enjoyed the moment of the kiss. As we both pulled back in need of air, he rested his forehead on mine and locked eyes with me again.

"Yes." He finished his sentence from before. "And you?"

I used my chance and brushed his lips with mine again. "Absolutely."

"I'm glad to hear that. Besides you're much more than just my best friend."

"Same here." I said, just as the song changed slowly.

"Wanna take a break or try another dance?"

"Why not try this one and then go and have a break?" I suggested and he smiled lovingly and nodded.

The next dance was his favorite, the one from the Dirty Dancing movie and since I never learned that dance before he had to show me a few moves in the beginning, but I quickly got it and it was fun to do. Mambo, that dance everyone wanted to learn when the movie got successful, but I never got to learn it. Dancing that dance with Mac was even better. He was gentle, patient and just loving in the way he showed me the moves. In the end I noticed that most of the couples stood aside and just watched us dancing together, along with a few other who were capable of the moves. In the end, as the song was over we just stood there a few moments as they clapped their hands and smiled. For me it was a strange feeling and I felt my face blushing and I noticed the same on Mac's face. A few moments later he took my hand and lead me off the dance floor and over to the small bar.

"Choose." He said while we got a place at the bar.

xXxXxXxXx

We stayed a little bit longer and danced a few more times before we both were tired and knew that it was late, Mac and me having to get up early the other day. I really enjoyed the time I spent with him especially the yet rare times we shared a small kiss, both a little uncertain at times, but that quickly changed and we actually had a lot of fun. Honestly I was very happy that he took the first step and kissed me, even though it was in the middle of the dance floor, but the people around didn't know us anyways. Though I never imagined that this would happen when we accepted the offer to do this job together I now found myself being glad that we did that together. Looking up into Mac's warm blue eyes told me more than once that he was thinking the same thing. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I knew that I wanted to make this work and also knew we could and would succeed. But neither of us knew at this moment that very soon, we would officially be Mr. and Mrs. Taylor; that was a dream I pushed aside for a while, knowing that we needed some time and we just took the first step.

~ M ~ T ~

As we got home and I closed and locked the door behind us I somehow felt like being at home, though I thought New York and my apartment there was my new home, but I thought today that changed; from now on I'd be home where ever Stella would be. Though this thought was kinda scary at first, because we just took the first step I also had the feeling that it would be that way very soon. I shed my coat and hung it on the wardrobe and took my shoes off. I was glad that I took that step toward her and that it turned out as it did and so a smile was tugged on my lips. I watched her as she got out of her shoes and actually wondered how she got through this without having pain, as I knew it was exhausting to dance in high heels as you mostly stand on your balls while dancing.

"How're your feet?" I asked as she put the shoes away.

"Actually pretty fine." She smiled. "I'm used to those and they're comfortable so it's fine."

"Good."

"Thanks for tonight, Mac."

"I don't mind doing it again."

"Next week?" she asked in a light tone, actually not meaning this seriously.

"We'll see."

"You know… I just need to say it. I'm glad we took that step toward the 'us'"

"Me, too, Stella."

"Good. C'mon let go and get some sleep." Stella said and walked up the stairs, me following her.

xXxXxXxXx

As I opened my eyes the other morning, cruelly woken up by the alarm clock on the nightstand and Stella still in my arms I couldn't help but smile. It felt good and most importantly it felt right to have her snuggled close to me, carefully held in my arms, peacefully sleeping, if it was to be, but she was already awake, probably woken up just like me. I reached out and turned the alarm off while I greeted her with same warm smile she rewarded me with. I couldn't help the feeling of love that was now occupying my mind and heart. I wondered why this took us so long and why we hadn't noticed sooner, but then better late then never right?

"Good morning, handsome." She greeted me.

"Good morning beautiful." I replied and placed a kiss on top of her head. "How was your night?"

"Restful, thanks to you." She said as she moved a little, so that she was resting on her elbows, next to me. "And yours?"

"Pretty much the same."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"You know, I could get used to it." I said and gave her a loving smile.

"Please do, because it's pretty much the same with me, although… there are a lot more things that I could get used to."

"For example?"

"You making us breakfast." She smiled.

"That I can do."

"I hope you will, because you're very good at it." She said and leaned in to brush my lips with hers and I wrap my arms around her to keep her captive against me for just a few moments longer, enjoying the feeling of her being so close to me. And like that we lingered in bed a bit longer, till we really needed to get up, me going down and starting breakfast and Stella taking her shower first, as I had more time at hand to go later. I was just about to fill the coffee into two cups as I sensed her walking up to me and only a few moments later she wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her chin on my shoulder. I finished my task and then handed her a cup, which was easy with the position she had.

"Can I say you smell good?" I asked as I twisted myself out of her grasp so she could have her cup of coffee, but I turned to look at her.

"You can, and only you." She said and gave me a loving smile, before she took a sip from her coffee. "How about I finish with making breakfast and you go and have your shower."

"Sounds like a plan." I said and got moving.

"And you better hurry." She teased, as I left.

I went upstairs and got my things from the bedroom and then walked into the bathroom, quickly shedding my clothes and stepping under the hot water, enjoying the feeling of it streaming down my skin. As I let the water run down my body my mind wandered back to the events of our dinner and dancing yesterday and the kiss we shared. Though none of us said the magic three words, inside I knew I loved her. You loved her long before, just were too blind to see it. My mind told me and I couldn't help but smile a bit. Actually it was true: I was too blind to see it at time and when I saw I was too afraid to act on it. I did now and that kiss yesterday and her waking up in my arms just felt right to do.

I quickly finished my shower and then shaved and got dressed for the day, but unlike so many years in the past few years I had a smile tugging on my face, now as I walked down the stairs, the tempting smell of toast and bacon in my nose. My smiled widened when I walked up to Stella, who was hovering over something on the kitchen counter. My turn to walk up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, but I kissed her cheek instead of resting my head on her shoulder. As I felt her leaning back against me, I automatically tighten my grasp around her a little.

"My turn to say you smell good. Mmm…" she said and turned her head, returning the favor of placing a soft kiss on my cheek.

"Thank you. Anything I can help with?"

"Actually… yes: you can help me by sitting down at the table and let me follow you, because actually I was waiting for you."

"Sorry."

"For what?"

"Keeping you waiting."

"Was only a few minutes. But you better get moving, before I eat you for breakfast."

"Maybe I'd like it…" I said mischievously.

"Mac Taylor, you have one terrible one-track mind!" she replied playfully, as we walked up to the small dinette and sat down, sharing our modest, but delicious breakfast and then just talk a little more before she was picked up by Steve himself and I was left, doing the clean up from our breakfast as I had offered to her today. And as soon as that was done and everything was put away it was time for me to leave and go to work at the music school, looking forward to my last student of the day, a smart little boy and very talented.

Please don't forget to tell me what ya think, okay? Won't take much more than a minute to do; but it's most appreciated! :D

I hope you're still liking this story!

blackrose538

PS: I'm trying to update "Millie Taylor" on Friday, but I can't promise.