CONVICTION (INTERFERENCE) by Kimberly Schwartzmiller Page B

my arms and turned back toward the window. The tears started again, silent tears trailing down my cheeks.
    “Oh God…I did it again. I’m sorry.” 
    He reached out to me, but this time I pulled away. 
    “I thought you wanted…”
    “I don’t want you to hold me just because I want you to. I want you to hold me because it’s what you want, too.”
    “You think I don’t want to hold you?” He turned me around and looked into my tear-stained eyes and said, “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
    “Then why is it so easy for you to pull away from me?”
    “You think it’s easy? Rebecca, you have no idea how much I want…You’re all I think about. You’re all I want.”
    “I want you, too.”
    “You have to understand that I can’t…be with you, until you’re older…and legal. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t want you. I always want you. But, I know some things shouldn’t be rushed.”
    “Okay,” I said, feeling a little bit better.
    “But,” he continued, “you’re right about the fact that’s there’s nothing wrong with showing some affection. I guess I was just so sure I was doing the right thing, that I didn’t stop and see the bigger picture. I just don’t want to get carried away.”
    “So, you’re saying we can…?”
    “I’m willing to compromise. I’ll try to be more affectionate from now on.”
    “Are you just doing this for me?”
    “No, I’m doing it for us.  There’s nothing wrong with holding hands or putting my arm around you…once in a while,” he grinned and pulled me toward him.
    “That’s it?  That’s all I get?” I said, pulling away.
    “That’s a lot for me, Rebecca. You’re under the impression that it’s easy for me to keep my hands off of you. Believe me, it’s not.”
    “Then, how about a counter offer?”
    He looked at me with suspicious eyes, “I’m listening.”
    “Hand holding, hugging…and…kissing,” I said, afraid to hear his answer.
    He started to argue, but he stopped when he saw the longing look in my eyes.  “You um, you strike a hard bargain…” he said, looking at me strangely.
    “Deal…or no deal?” I asked with pleading eyes.
    He didn’t answer me with words. He brushed the hair from my eyes and slowly leaned down and kissed me. I melted into him, praying he wouldn’t stop. When he pulled away, I noticed he was as breathless as I was.
    “My mom was right…” I said, absentmindedly, still lost in my first kiss.
    “About what?” he said, his voice raw.
    “She told me it would be worth the wait. She was right. Kiss me again, please.”
    “That’s going to have to last us…a while. You um, you talked to your mom…about us?”
    “Yeah.  I hope you don’t mind.”
    “No. She’s your mom. What did you tell her?”
    “I told her what happened…” I said, looking down.
    “You told her about me? What I did?”
    I nodded, hoping he wasn’t going to be angry or hurt.
    “It’s okay. I was going to tell them the first night I had dinner here, but…”
    “But, I stopped you. My mom understood, but I’m not so sure my dad would…  I’m sorry.”
    “When did you talk to her?” he asked, looking worried.
    “I don’t know, three or four days ago, why?”
    He sighed in relief. “I guess I just wanted to know if she hated me now.”
    I touched his cheek and said, “She sees you just like I do…the real you, a wonderful man who wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
    I could see the relief wash over him. “Okay. So, are you feeling better, now?”
    “Yes. But, I’d feel even better if you’d kiss me again,” I asked, pleading with my eyes.
    “We um, we still have to set some ground rules.”
    I sighed, not liking the sound of that.
    He smiled, “I just don’t want to offend your parents, or over-step my bounds.”
    “Shane, if you don’t kiss me right now, then I’m going to be offended…and you really don’t want that,” I grinned up at him.
    He smiled and pulled me close. As our lips met,