I Choose You by Bethany Lopez Page B

table.
                  Kent sat next to her, careful to keep a bit of distance between them.
                  Nicole scooted closer and reached over to place her hand on his thigh.
                  Kent flinched slightly at her touch.
                  “What’s going on?” Nicole couldn’t keep the question to herself any longer. The mixed signals were driving her crazy.
                  Kent looked at her, a small frown on his face. “What do you mean?”
                  “You haven’t kissed me since I told you that I was a virgin. You’ve barely touched me at all. Have you changed your mind about wanting to see me?”
                  Kent placed one hand over hers and used the other to tilt her head up towards him, so he could look directly in her eyes.
                  “No, I haven’t changed my mind, Nic. I really like you.”
                  “Then what is it? Why won’t you kiss me?”
                  “This is going to sound crazy,” Kent began, running his hand through his hair as he tried to gather his words. “I’m afraid to touch you.”
                  “What?” Nicole asked bewildered. “Why?”
                  “I haven’t had to worry about controlling myself since I was fifteen, Nic. I want to touch you, and kiss you, God knows I do, but I’m afraid I’ll push you further than you want me to.”
                  Nicole turned her whole body towards him and placed a hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at her.
                  “I trust you, Kent.”
                  “I don’t know if I can trust myself.” He responded truthfully. “I want you, Nic. More than I’ve ever wanted anyone.”
                  Hot flames licked through her body at his words.
                  “I want you too, Kent,” Nicole said honestly. “We can still satisfy each other, even though we can’t have sex.”
                  His eyes darkened as they traveled over her face, then lower, then back up again. He shook his head, contradicting the expression on his face. “I can’t… I can’t touch you. I’m afraid I’ll lose control.”
                  Nicole felt empowered like never before. She stood up and put her hand out, willing him to take it. To put some faith in both of them and go with her.
                  Kent looked at her hand, then back at her face, pondering his decision before finally reaching out and allowing her to guide him off of the couch and towards his bedroom.
                  She led him to the bed and motioned for him to sit.
                  “You don’t have to touch me,” Nicole said huskily, her adrenaline fueling her with the confidence that she needed. “I’ll take care of everything.”
                  She pushed at him slightly, so he would sit further back on the bed. When he was settled up against the headboard, not saying anything, but following her with his stormy eyes, she put her hands at the hem of her shirt and lifted it slowly over her head.
                  She heard his intake of breath at the site of her pale pink bra, barely containing her breasts underneath.
                  Her confidence began to build with each passing second, so she placed her hands on the button of her jeans, watching Kent’s reaction as she slowly allowed them to slide down her legs.
                  She crawled up onto the bed next to him, careful not to touch him… Not yet. He warily watched her approach, and started to say something when she put a finger to his lips and said, “Shhh. Stop worrying.”
                  Then she placed her lips to his and allowed herself to do everything she had been dreaming about since she first laid eyes on