The Space Between Us

I started to...

Feel different around eight months in. Around Christmas time.

My hair was thicker, my body fuller, my eyes brighter. You were chipping at me every day like I was a jaded slab of marble. You were ruthless, merciless, and unyielding to reason or persuasion. You made me feel more like myself, like a woman, than anyone or anything else ever had. I should thank you for that, Daniel. For making me feel safe enough to be a woman around you.

It was around this time that we went Christmas shopping together at the night market.

Do you remember, Daniel? Do you remember what happened that night?

I can't seem to forget it. The way you looked at me in the lights, the picture of your breath pluming from your lips like a cloud, and the smell of peppermint and sugar floating off the hot chocolate in your hand. I wondered what it would taste like from your mouth.

I wondered if you'd ever let me find out.

You held my hand as we walked through the crowd back to the car. You opened my door. You...were so lovely, something I had begun to notice the more time I spent around you. My heart felt uncontrollable that night, especially when it started to snow.

"It's snowing!" You laughed, plopping into the driver's seat and shucking off your gloves. "We timed it just right."

Then you smiled at me, and I felt like I was screaming at a concert, diving on a rollercoaster, and singing at the top of my lungs. My seatbelt was the only thing that kept me from flying into the air.

"What?" You dropped your smile to raise an eyebrow at me. "You've got a weird look on your face."

"Like what?"

You frowned in thought.

To tell you the truth, Daniel, as much as your smile dazzled me... it was always your frown that made me want to kiss you.

"Like you're five seconds from going on a killing spree or driving a car full speed into a wall."

I responded, intrigued, "You think I look reckless?"

"I think," You said carefully, "You might be considering doing something reckless. Which, I have to warn you, isn't allowed."

Turning my head to the window, I sighed, "I know that."

"But..."

The word surprised me so much that I gaped at you. You frowned again at my surprise. Then you said measuredly, "Out of curiosity... what we're you thinking of doing?"

To which I started to grin, "You really want to know?"

You nodded your head, shrugging as if my thoughts weren't about to harm anyone.

I waved you closer and said, "Begging you for seven minutes in heaven."

Oh, Danny. I will always cherish that stunned look on your face.

Just like you will cherish the look on mine when you took me by the back of the neck and kissed me right then and there.

I froze at first, too surprised to react. But then... then...I made it count. My hands reached for you, yours for me. You unbuckled my seatbelt. It was the only indulgence you truly allowed me. The only moment of recklessness I never regretted.

You don't look like the kind of kisser you are, Daniel. Not. One. Bit. 

Form, propriety, steps followed in order... all of it goes out the window. You skip steps, demand more, insist on having your way. Including when you're ready to stop.

You leaned back, dropping your hands from my face and retreating to your seat. 

I looked at you in disbelief, "Really?"

And you grinned at me with swollen lips. Glancing at the clock, "Times up."

Exactly seven minutes had gone by.

And I couldn't even be mad... because it was the best seven minutes of my life.