My instincts were wildly screaming out upon me, telling me that this was wrong...! That this- this was something that Mama would not dare approve of.
"I can't! We're not supposed to!"
"Not supposed to what? Love? I don't know, is there such a thing?!!"
He cupped my face in his hands, the weathered calluses of so much knowledge shockingly gentle in their comfort as he began to trace small circles upon my scarlet flushing cheeks.
"I hear your heart. I feel you breathing, everywhere. The rain, the hay. Please…Please, Wendla…"
He kissed me once again, only this time—I allowed his lips to linger upon mine a ticking second longer. If only just to feel; just for a moment…! Reveling in the innate softness of his mouth, the press and the warmth… it felt-- surprisingly… nice.