He shakes his head and lounges next to me. My breathing stalls at us being so close in a bed while the touch of his lips still lingers on mine. He allows me to choose the movie, and this go-around, I choose a romantic comedy. We make ourselves comfortable, selecting our movie snacks, and watch the movie.

As I do, thoughts of our kiss return.

Thoughts of how broken his face was when he confessed what he’d been thinking about while sitting on the lake dock, his feet dangling where his father’s ashes had been spread. As we stood, as he warmed me up in his arms, there was a spark—a spark that had been heating me from the moment our eyes met—and I saw desire flicker through like a flame.

There was a connection unlike anything I’d shared with someone before.

Not much time passes before my eyes are heavy and I’m fighting to keep them open. We haven’t even hit midway through the movie before I cave in to sleep.

I talk a lot of shit for a girl who can’t stay awake for an entire movie.

I wake up in an unfamiliar bed with a familiar scent.

A scent I wish I could bottle up and keep forever.

Moaning as my body slides along the expensive, chilly sheets, I rise to find the room Lincoln-free.

No Lincoln, but plenty of memories of our kiss last night. My spine tingles at the recollection. I cast a glance at the pullout bed, wondering if he slept there or in bed with me. We could’ve slept together. Granted, there was no intimacy happening, but it was kind of a date, right?

Lincoln could have pulled a move on me last night. He could’ve kept kissing me, laid me down on the dock, and I would’ve been down for whatever he wanted. He could’ve brought me into his bedroom and put the moves on me. I would’ve gone down on him, ridden his cock, done anything he wanted. Coming from a sorority girl whose men consisted of frat guys, it’s what I’d expect from a sleepover with a guy.

But Lincoln isn’t just any guy.

He isn’t a stupid kid or a guy who only wants one thing from me.

He’s so much more.

And I’m terrified he’ll never want those things … because I do.

And it’s not just sex I want from him. I want his friendship … his heart … so that way, I can give him mine in return. I can trust Lincoln with my heart, just as he can trust me with his.