That First Kiss

By: Michelle T

“SURPRISE!”

“HAPPY 1ST ANNIVERSARY!”

My eyes locked with his as we stood frozen in amazement and pure shock. The joyful cries from a hundred of our friends and families overwhelmed us and we inched closer together. His hand gripped mine tighter for a brief second as we were ushered into the room, surrounded by our well wishers, then drawing us apart for heartfelt hugs and kisses. I searched the smiling faces for his and found him staring at me. I smiled at his beautiful brown eyes glowing with love.

“Speech, speech.” He was dragged further away from me and led onto a small stage. My hand reached out automatically as if to bring him back. Soon I was ushered gently onto the small stage as well.

Taking a microphone in hand and turning towards me, he said, “A cherry Popsicle that’s how it all began.” My smile widened at the memory.

August, 2000

I heard the light patter of footsteps approaching from down the hall, however, I was so engrossed in my tirade of cuss words, that I didn’t bother to look up.

“You know, for someone so talented, you’d think you’d know how to aim properly. When I took on this job, I certainly didn’t expect to be wiping up your misfires, Mr. McLean. And another thing, ever heard of the words ‘clothes hamper?’ That’s the big white thing in the corner of your room and you are supposed to throw your dirty stinking clothes in there, not all over the rug or furniture. My god, it’s no wonder you aren’t married, who the hell would put up with you? Bloody hell, who’d have thought I’d be bitching and moaning about a Backstreet Boy? Now, why you can’t be as neat and tidy as your roommate, I’ll never know.” I continued sponging around the base of the toilet, on my hands and knees, grumbling and getting myself worked up all the more.

I heard chuckling behind me and felt my anger rising. “That’s it, AJ! From now on you can clean up your own piss. I quit!” I threw down my sponge and quickly stood up and turned toward him with fire blazing from my eyes.

“Jesus, you scared the crap out of me. I thought you were AJ. Well, it’s a good thing you aren’t because I’d probably unzip him right here and now and teach him to aim properly.” I felt my cheeks warming in embarrassment, however his sweet smile and laughing eyes caused me to lose all anger. “I’m sorry, Howie, I didn’t mean that.”

He uncrossed his arms, pushed himself away from the doorjamb and smiled even more. “I know you didn’t. I’m sorry you just quit. I was really looking forward to hearing the results of AJ’s lesson.” He advanced towards me and pushed the escaping locks of my hair back behind my ear. “Come on, sounds like you need a well deserved break.”

I quickly peeled off the rubber gloves and allowed him to take hold of my hand and lead me from the bathroom. He brought me down into the sunny kitchen and held a chair out for me.

“Thank you.” I mumbled and sat down with a groan. “Howie, I’m really sorry. I don’t usually bitch and moan like that, however, I’m not having the best of days today.”

He wordlessly opened the freezer, perused its contents and then with a flourish, pulled a box from its depths. “Here you go, just the thing to cool that temper of yours.”

He handed me an object on a stick covered in white paper. “A Popsicle?” I asked incredulously, “I haven’t had one of these in years.” I tore the paper down and the bright red hue of the treat brought a quick smile to my face. “Thanks, Howie.”

He took a seat adjacent to me and sipped from a glass of water. “So, why aren’t you your usual happy self today? What happened?”

His beautiful brown eyes hypnotized me, they were so kind and full of concern. I’d grown used to being able to look into those eyes over the last few months.

“I got a call this morning. . . Wilson & Blaine Enterprises inYork has offered me the job I applied for three months ago. I can start September 1st. . . “

His eyes clouded over for a brief moment, then he gave a barely noticeable shake of his head and their brilliance returned. “Well, congratulations. That’s the job you’ve been hoping for all summer. That’s wonderful news, isn’t it? You’re dripping.” He indicated the popsicle in my hand and I looked down to see the thin red lines of the sticky liquid slowly ooze across my fingers. Automatically, I lifted my hand to my mouth and licked the sweetness off, before running my tongue across the bottom of the Popsicle and capturing the remaining melting fluid. I looked back up at him and his eyes were locked on my mouth. I blushed slightly and sucked on the top of the cold treat before answering him.

“It is the job I did want. . . but I’m not sure now.” I continued to lick and suck and watched the expressions flit across his face. “Howie? You okay?”

His eyes snapped up to mine and with a sheepish grin, his face colored slightly. “I’m fine. Why don’t you want the job anymore?” he asked in a husky voice.

How could I answer him without revealing my feelings? How pathetic would it be to shout out “I don’t want to leave you! I love you!” and just make him feel uncomfortable. Although we’d instantly cliqued and formed a true friendship with each other at the beginning of the summer, I was sure my growing feelings for him would never be returned.

I just shrugged and looked down at my hand holding the quickly melting object. I licked it absentmindedly and despite my tumultuous thoughts, I suddenly realized how delicious the cherry flavoring was. I looked back up at him and smiled widely. “This is so good!”

My next breath escaped me as his hand advanced towards me and his thumb passed across my chin. With an involuntary shiver, I watched as he licked the juice off his thumb while staring directly into my eyes. I swallowed heavily as his tongue flicked across his thumb and moaned inwardly at the wishful thoughts of that tongue flicking across me. Oh god, I’d better leave or else I’d make a complete fool of myself. I quickly stood and backed up towards the sink with the intention of throwing the remainder of my cool treat into it.

He jumped from his seat and within two quick strides he was directly before me and caught my wrist in his hand. “You weren’t going to throw that away, were you?” he asked in a silky soft voice. I couldn’t respond, I couldn’t breathe. He lifted my wrist towards his mouth and allowed his tongue to run along my popsicle. I drew in a deep breath and quivered at his touch, at the nearness of his mouth to my body. He pulled the popsicle from my fingers and threw it into the sink.

“Howie?” I finally found my voice and was not surprised at the breathless tone it carried.

He continued to hold onto my wrist as he raised my hand towards his mouth once again and slowly commenced licking the remaining juices off my fingers. “Oh god!” I moaned involuntarily. I watched his full red lips engulf my finger and felt my legs starting to shake. He pulled my hand away from his mouth with a seductive smile and eyes full of desire.

“Don’t leave me, Michelle.” His head bent towards mine and my eyes were drawn to his full red cherry flavored lips. “I can’t let you go.” His kiss was soft, tentative, awaiting my reaction. I raised myself slightly against him, pushing my mouth against his ever so gently. He understood my response and brought his free hand to the back of my head and held me firm while his lips slowly began to move against mine. My body reeled with the sensations of his soft cool lips against mine. Within seconds the coolness disappeared to be replaced by an incredible warmth not only against my lips, but pervading throughout my body. I shivered once again and felt both his arms surround me and pull me closer. His lips enveloped mine, claiming them as his own. He moved them skillfully against mine, parting ever so slightly. He slowly drew the tip of his tongue across the line of my mouth, slowly licking off the remnants of the cherry popsicle. Mindlessly, I parted my lips and allowed my own tongue to shyly greet his. With a lusty groan he pulled me tighter still against him and sucked my tongue into the hot depths of his mouth. With my eyes closed, my heart beat wildly against his chest, I wrapped my own arms around his back and ran my hands frantically across the smooth cotton of his shirt. Our bodies pressed tightly together, our tongues desperately seeking to meld into one. He removed his tongue from my mouth and reclaimed my lips once again before moving and running along my jaw line and over to my right ear. “Say you’ll stay, stay with me forever.”

“Oh Howie . . .” I cried gently against the side of his neck.

“I love you, I’ve loved you all along, but didn’t realize it until today. Please, don’t leave.”

“Howie, my job . . . I love you . . . oh god, I’ve loved you all summer . . . “ I pulled away from him and caught his face between my hands and kissed his lips once again. “I only took this job with you and AJ to pass the summer. I can’t play housekeeper forever, it’s not what I planned.” He ceased my objections by covering my lips with his once again. I whimpered against his soft full lips and lost myself in his powerful embrace once again.

“You’ll work for me, not as a housekeeper, but my personal assistant . . . I’ll pay you double what they offered . . . I want you by my side every day, every night . . . I want you, I need you, I love you.” His eyes bore into mine and pleaded with me and I instantly knew I could never leave this man.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*

“ . . . and six months from that day we were married. No matter where we are in the world, every second Wednesday of the month we buy a box of cherry popsicles and relive that first kiss.” Howie ended his reminiscing by pulling me into his arms and treating me to another of his memorable kisses.

The End

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