Leah shut her door, leaned her back against it and closed her eyes. She pressed her lips together and paused, remembering how his lips felt on hers.

She had seen that look before; hard, dark, wanting. She had thought she knew what it meant when she saw it in his eyes but he had kissed her softly one more time and regretfully put some physical space between them, begging for her understanding.

She brought trembling fingers to her lips, positive that they had been burned off by the heat in their kiss, but no, they were still there. He had asked permission to kiss her. Her mind was still blown about that.

There was so much to process. What was next for them? Did he love her? Did she love him? Was she overthinking? She probably was. How had this even come about?

Everyone had already left. The jellies were fading from sight and they had remained on the dock chatting about nothing the way best friends do. She had grabbed his hand to help him up like she had done so many times before but tonight they touched just a moment longer than usual. She had blushed and played it off, not seeing the thoughtful look in his eyes as he followed her off the dock.

He walked her home, like he always did. They walked in companionable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Nothing unusual there either.

When they finally reached her place they had stood together watching the full moon make her last summer trek across the night sky. Their hands brushed and their fingers had intertwined without a conscious thought.

Their eyes had met and held. She lost herself in his deep green eyes and he found his free hand tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes and pressed her cheek into his hand as he lowered his fingers and looked up at him shyly. She found that he was looking right back at her, an expression of gentle surprise on his face.

The only sounds were the sounds of a late summer night. Crickets singing, the occasional frog croaking, the whisper of the river as the water passed them by. There was a light breeze, warm with the last remains of the summer and carrying a hint of fall.

"Leah," he said softly, not looking away from her gaze. "Leah, my beloved," he paused, uncertainty passing over his face.

"Yes?" She asked.

"May I kiss you?"

Her breath hitched in her throat and she melted. No one had ever asked to kiss her before. It would be him though.

"Yes," she whispered. "Absolutely yes."

He smiled gently and brought his other hand up to cup the other side of her face. He gazed intently at her, wanting to embed the memory of her looking up at him, eyes wide, twin green pools of emotion. The moonlight shone off of her ginger hair giving it a light that was almost otherworldly. Her lightly tanned skin was creamy soft under his fingers and her full lips glistened with the lip balm that she was forever pulling out of her pocket and applying. This close he could smell the homemade body wash that he had spent hours watching her make batches of. He would forever associate this particular scent with her.

"You are beautiful," he said softly, hearing her breathing quicken and feeling his own heart beat faster as he slowly lowered his lips to hers. Her lips were soft; softer than he had thought possible. She tasted fruity; he had spent hours watching her make batches of lip balm too.

He was completely unprepared for the feeling that jolted through him when their lips touched. He stepped closer to her and her arms wound around his back, holding him tightly to her as he pressed his mouth against hers, Leah being just as enthusiastic as he. The kiss intensified and the feeling of having her lithe body molding itself to his was just too much.

He broke the kiss and took a half step back. Leah looked up him through her eyelashes with an almost triumphant smile that he had never seen before. He took a moment to get his breathing back under control and then kissed her again, softer and sweeter this time.

"You truly are a buffet for all of the senses my beloved, however, as much as I would like to stay and partake of you some more, I should go," he said regretfully, not wanting to leave.

"Do you have to?" She asked a little breathlessly, disappointed.

"Yes, Leah, I do. We both need to process this evening," he replied firmly. "That doesn't mean that I want to go, though," he added with a grin almost as an afterthought. Seeing her blush in the moonlight was a sight that he'd have to repeat sometime in the future.

"Okay," she pouted. She had never pouted at him before and he found it absolutely adorable. He also found himself wavering on his decision.

"Inside with you, my delight, before I change my mind!" He laughed. She perked up.

"Does that mean that you could change your mind?" She asked with a wicked little smile.

"Please Leah, humor me in this," he begged, knowing his resolve was faltering. She laughed, enjoying this new element to their relationship. There would be plenty of time to explore each other in new ways. She could be patient.

"I will humor you," she promised softly.

"Thank you," he sighed, relieved. He needed to think.

"But you do want to stay don't you?" She asked, a bit uncertain. So much had happened tonight.

"Desperately," he replied in a voice that sent interesting sensations throughout her body.

"Okay. I won't push you." She was rewarded with his beautiful smile and she touched his face gently and kissed him on the cheek.

"Good night my beloved," he said as she opened her door and stepped inside. She looked at him teasingly before she closed the door.

"Good night Elliott."