When his hand covered mine and our fingers entwined, my heart raced erratically in my chest. "Really, Dolly."

Shivering, I turned my face to look at him.

He was already watching me.

"Hi," I breathed.

A smile ghosted his lips. "Hey."

"So…" I let my words trail off and let out a nervous chuckle. "You're holding my hand."

"Yeah," he agreed, green eyes still glued to mine. "Do you want me to let go?"

"No." I shook my head slowly, never taking my eyes off his. "Don’t let go."

Daryl's eyes blazed with tender approval and his hand tightened around mine. The sensation caused a flood of heat to roll through me and I shivered, my breath hitching in my throat. "Wasn't planning on it."

What was happening here?

Did he…?

I could hear Hollywood Anderson's My Best Friend playing in the background, but only barely above the sound of my heart that was beating like a war drum against my chest bone.

I was feeling too freaking much in this moment. Common sense wasn't sticking around, not with the alcohol rushing through my veins.

Daryl shifted closer until our brows were touching, and then he gently nuzzled my nose with his. "It wasn't a favor."

"Huh?"

"Last night," he confirmed, voice thick and husky. "Wasn't me doing you a favor."

"It wasn’t?"

He shook his head slowly, gaze trained on my lips. "No."

"I'm not casual," I decided to blurt out in my drunken stupor. "That's not me." I wasn’t sure why the words fell out of my mouth, but he was looking at me in a way no one ever had, touching me like no one ever had, and I was completely thrown.

"Agreed." His nose stroked mine. "Casual is overrated."

"And intimacy is a big deal for me," I continued to ramble. "Taking off my clothes is personal." I blew out a shaky breath. "Letting you in is more."

"More?"

"More," I confirmed with a nod, heart racing wildly as his green eyes burned holes right through my soul. "Deeper… Further… Permanent."

Daryl seemed to consider my answer for a long time before saying, "What about kissing you again?"

I felt faint.

Like I was about to pass out.

"That's a bad idea," I managed to whisper, breathing hard and fast.

"A bad idea." Releasing my hand, Daryl rolled onto his side and gave me his full attention. His hand moved to rest on my hip and the sensation caused my breath to come in short, frantic puffs. "Why is kissing me again a bad idea?"

"Because I might catch feelings," I offered weakly, body shaking now.

"Well then..." His hand moved from my hip to my arm before tenderly cradling the side of my face. His eyes burned with heat when he said, "You better hurry your ass up and catch them," before crushing his mouth to mine.

31 Molly

Everything inside of me shook and shuddered when Daryl's lips closed over mine. Sucking in a sharp breath, I lay on my bed, drowning in the sensation, as his lips gently glided over mine.