She didn’t want an explanation. She didn’t need one.
"I’m not sure why I kissed you," he continued, and she suppressed the urge to put her fingers in her ears. "I acted on impulse. I didn’t think. I’m sorry,” he said, before looking down to study the polished floorboards.
Jo fidgeted with her jumper. She knew she had to say something, she really wanted to keep their friendship and couldn’t listen to James apologise any longer.
“I … um ... It was just unexpected,” she muttered, clenching her hands, while her knuckles grew whiter by the second. “I haven’t had much experience with that kind of thing. Most friendships test the boundaries. Maybe we can just forget about it and move on.”
James head shot up. “I can’t believe you’re letting me off so easily. I’m the one that crossed the line…besides … I don’t think I can ... move on ."
"You can't?” she whispered, not sure she’d heard him correctly.
"No.” He shuffled closer, so they were only a few inches apart. “I don’t think it’s possible for me to be near you without wanting to kiss you again.”
Kiss me again?
She looked at him with a furrowed brow and swallowed.
James reached out and stroked her cheek, making Jo swallow again. The lump in her throat now at epic proportions, as his touch left a trail of warmth, which spread like wildfire through her entire body.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked with a hint of nervousness.
Jo gave a small nod and slowly turned to face him. James shuffled closer still, until there was no space between them. He put his hand behind her neck and brought her face to his. He kissed her softly at first, then pressed his lips harder and caressed her neck. All Jo could think about was his lips and his hands pulling her closer, making her feel so good, banishing everything else….
“LUKE BOY, bring out my laptop, I need to charge her up. I’m just getting’ some firewood,” Tobias voice came from somewhere, and James quickly pulled away from her.
A wave of disappointment washed over her, but she didn’t have time to ask James what was happening, as Spencer walked out of the bedroom and looked at them both sitting on the couch. She tried to hide her surprise, but had to look away, hoping James would come up with something. She was so close to him, only a few seconds ago, she’d almost been sitting in his lap.
“Luke’s still asleep. I don’t know where Tobias’s laptop is. What are you two up to?” Spencer asked. “You look like two deer caught in headlights?”
“We … um … we’re checking for bits of foil that might have fallen down the back of the sofa. We didn’t hear you come in,” James said quickly.
“Good idea, they might attract the mice.” Spencer turned to Jo, “Is Beth up yet? I said I’d wake her for a walk before breakfast?”
“I ... um ... I’m not sure. I’ll go and see.” Jo didn’t sound very convincing as she glanced at James. He gave her a quick smile and winked. Jo’s heart had never beaten so fast. The last thing she wanted to do was to leave James and that kiss, but she had no choice. She forced her shaky legs to stand and walk out of the room, regretting every single step.
Jo and James spent most of the day together but the others were always there. They shared the odd shy smile and exchanged long looks but didn’t try another kiss. Jo's head was in the clouds. She still couldn't believe James had kissed her and wanted to do it again. He was standing so close when they were washing the dishes after lunch, she could feel the heat from his body warming her. It made her so light headed she washed the same dish at least five times. Tobias stood right next to them, so they didn’t attempt a re-enactment of their earlier kitchen encounter.
That afternoon Beth and Jo were in their room listening to one of Jo's playlists. Jo decided to use the opportunity to vent her thoughts to Beth. It was making her crazy trying to analyse it all,
"I’m not sure why I kissed you," he continued, and she suppressed the urge to put her fingers in her ears. "I acted on impulse. I didn’t think. I’m sorry,” he said, before looking down to study the polished floorboards.
Jo fidgeted with her jumper. She knew she had to say something, she really wanted to keep their friendship and couldn’t listen to James apologise any longer.
“I … um ... It was just unexpected,” she muttered, clenching her hands, while her knuckles grew whiter by the second. “I haven’t had much experience with that kind of thing. Most friendships test the boundaries. Maybe we can just forget about it and move on.”
James head shot up. “I can’t believe you’re letting me off so easily. I’m the one that crossed the line…besides … I don’t think I can ... move on ."
"You can't?” she whispered, not sure she’d heard him correctly.
"No.” He shuffled closer, so they were only a few inches apart. “I don’t think it’s possible for me to be near you without wanting to kiss you again.”
Kiss me again?
She looked at him with a furrowed brow and swallowed.
James reached out and stroked her cheek, making Jo swallow again. The lump in her throat now at epic proportions, as his touch left a trail of warmth, which spread like wildfire through her entire body.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked with a hint of nervousness.
Jo gave a small nod and slowly turned to face him. James shuffled closer still, until there was no space between them. He put his hand behind her neck and brought her face to his. He kissed her softly at first, then pressed his lips harder and caressed her neck. All Jo could think about was his lips and his hands pulling her closer, making her feel so good, banishing everything else….
“LUKE BOY, bring out my laptop, I need to charge her up. I’m just getting’ some firewood,” Tobias voice came from somewhere, and James quickly pulled away from her.
A wave of disappointment washed over her, but she didn’t have time to ask James what was happening, as Spencer walked out of the bedroom and looked at them both sitting on the couch. She tried to hide her surprise, but had to look away, hoping James would come up with something. She was so close to him, only a few seconds ago, she’d almost been sitting in his lap.
“Luke’s still asleep. I don’t know where Tobias’s laptop is. What are you two up to?” Spencer asked. “You look like two deer caught in headlights?”
“We … um … we’re checking for bits of foil that might have fallen down the back of the sofa. We didn’t hear you come in,” James said quickly.
“Good idea, they might attract the mice.” Spencer turned to Jo, “Is Beth up yet? I said I’d wake her for a walk before breakfast?”
“I ... um ... I’m not sure. I’ll go and see.” Jo didn’t sound very convincing as she glanced at James. He gave her a quick smile and winked. Jo’s heart had never beaten so fast. The last thing she wanted to do was to leave James and that kiss, but she had no choice. She forced her shaky legs to stand and walk out of the room, regretting every single step.
Jo and James spent most of the day together but the others were always there. They shared the odd shy smile and exchanged long looks but didn’t try another kiss. Jo's head was in the clouds. She still couldn't believe James had kissed her and wanted to do it again. He was standing so close when they were washing the dishes after lunch, she could feel the heat from his body warming her. It made her so light headed she washed the same dish at least five times. Tobias stood right next to them, so they didn’t attempt a re-enactment of their earlier kitchen encounter.
That afternoon Beth and Jo were in their room listening to one of Jo's playlists. Jo decided to use the opportunity to vent her thoughts to Beth. It was making her crazy trying to analyse it all,
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