It was Tuesday afternoon and Deana had just gotten home from work, stopping to grab groceries on the way. 

Hey, wanna come over for dinner?  I’ll cook, I already bought everything. 

Sounds good. See you at 7. Want me to bring wine or something?

A white or rosé would pair well. 

Great, I’ll grab something then. 

Deana smiled to herself. Today was going to be perfect. Just a little bit more and she’d be completely finished with her paper, ready a full week before the due date. Dinner was to celebrate, and start off the night well. She already had 2 songs picked out for karaoke, and was looking forward to a perfect moment afterwards for their first kiss. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do to lead up to it, but she’d made up her mind, no chickening out. 

She put the finishing touches on her paper, saved it, backed it up in Google Docs, and printed it out. She sighed in relief that it was finished. 

She walked down the hall to get mostly dressed, she’d change her shirt between dinner and leaving for karaoke. She put on jeans, a black draped shirt, pinned part of her hair back, and started on her makeup. 

She went with a light silver shadow with a pop of lilac, with black eyeliner along the upper lid, waterproof mascara just in case. She put on a touch of blush and was satisfied for now. 

She started prepping dinner when Dani buzzed and came up. 

“Well aren’t YOU all dressed up?” she said. 

“I’m not even wearing this shirt later, just didn’t want the other one being dirty. Tonight’s the night, Dani. Tonight, I’m kissing him.”

“ABOUT DAMN TIME!!” she yelled. “I mean, that’s great, D.  J and I are really happy for you. He’s a great guy.”

“We had a moment last week, then got the call about Mom, so that ruined that. Not sure what I’m gonna do leading up to it, but I’ve made up my mind.”

Deana was finishing up dinner when Justin buzzed 3 times. Dani buzzed him in, and he knocked softly on the door before coming in. He had a bottle of rosé, and a bouquet of various flowers. 

“You didn’t have to do that,” Deana said, fighting back tears. 

“Beautiful,” he signed, before crossing the room to give her a hug and kiss on the cheek. Danielle helped him put the flowers in a vase and put them on the counter. Deana finished cooking and put everything on the kitchen table. 

They poured the wine, and started dishing up food. Deana made bow tie pasta with a homemade alfredo sauce with tomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms, and spinach mixed in. There was garlic bread and a basic spinach salad on the side. 

Justin felt rude having his phone out during dinner, but he had to tell her what he thought. This is AMAZING.  You made the sauce from scratch?

“Yup. Took a recipe and modified it, it’s really easy.”

I think you’re the better cook. I could never make something like this unless using the microwave counts. I’ll sure as hell eat it. I’m very impressed, but that shouldn’t be a surprise. 

They finished eating, and Danielle and Justin worked on dishes while Deana changed. 

Justin tapped Danielle’s shoulder.  I’m gonna kiss her tonight. I know I told her to make the first move, but she deserves to be swept off her feet. 

“About damn time…” she whispered, not wanting Deana to hear. “Do you have a plan yet?”  He shook his head. 

Just gonna find the perfect moment. 

Danielle smiled, knowing that either way, tonight would be their first real kiss. 

Deana came out wearing the cream colored boatneck sweater, a black jacket on her arm. 

“Beautiful,” he signed, giving her a peck on the cheek. 

They got to the bar and got their usual table. Deana got her song slips turned in and returned to the table. 

Can I pick a song for you to sing? he asked. She nodded. I’ll get it after your second song. 

It was soon her turn, the sound of a piano playing. “Have you ever fed a lover with just your hands? Close your eyes and trust it, just trust it.  Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air? Have you ever looked fear in the face and said I just don't care?”

Her low notes resonated in his chest. She looked right at him, like he was the only person in the room. He smiled during the last line of the song. “Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself will it ever get better than tonight?”  He was having that exact feeling, knowing what he intended to do, what it meant for both of them. 

She came down and sat in her spot between Justin and Danielle, leaving on Justin, her head on his shoulder. His hand around her waist, laying on her hip. He kissed the top of her head as she sat there. 

She finished her drink before her second turn, going up to the stage.  Again, she locked eyes with Justin. “Don't know how it is you looked at me. And saw the person that I could be. Awakening my heart, breaking through the dark, suddenly your grace… Like sunlight burning at midnight. Making my life something so beautiful, beautiful. Mercy reaching to save me, oh that I need you is so beautiful, beautiful”

Tears started to well up in both their eyes. She didn’t think she could feel like this again, he was feeling every bit of emotion she put into the song, feeling the same towards her. 

Once she finished, he got up to put in a song for her to sing. 

“Do you have a plan yet?” Danielle whispered. 

“We’ll get back to the apartment, and I’ll tell him I picked those songs because of how he makes me feel, and how lucky I am to have him in my life.”

“That’s a pretty good lead in to your first kiss.”

They straightened up as he came back, then she relaxed back into his arms. Before the full rotation was done, they called her up for her last song. She smiled at the title, knowing the song. 

“Made a wrong turn once or twice, dug my way out, blood and fire. Bad decisions, that’s alright. Welcome to my silly life.”

She sang it like a pro, not surprising him, he knew she could handle the range. Little did she know the reason he’d chosen the song. 

After she finished, they paid their tab and headed towards her apartment. J was on his way to meet Dani. As they walked, Justin held her hand, his fingers laced between hers. She leaned her head on his shoulder, excited for what she knew would come soon. 

Jonathan was there to meet Danielle at the building, heading off while Deana and Justin went upstairs. They were both nervously excited about what they both knew was going to happen. 

Deana unlocked her door, turned on the light, and took off her jacket. She took his hand, and led him to the couch. 

“So in case you didn’t notice, the songs I picked tonight were inspired by you. I never imagined I could feel this way about someone again, especially after everything that happened with Paul. I feel safe, protected, respected. I’m so glad I have you in my life.  I love the song you picked, it’s one of my favorites.”

The reason I picked that song was because it’s my song for you. With everything you’ve been through, how people have treated you, I just want you to know… you’re perfect to me.

He pulled her close to him, she looked into his eyes. As if destined by the fates, they both knew now was the moment. They both leaned in, closed their eyes, and kissed. It was soft, gentle, the perfect kiss in the perfect moment. Neither of them wanted it to end. Time has seemed to stop, and all there was was just the two of them in that moment. 

As they pulled away, Deana sighed happily. “I’m really glad we did that. I want to do it again.”  Justin put his hand at the base of her neck, running his fingers into her hair, pulling her in for another kiss. This one was more open, but still soft and gentle, no sense of urgency between either of them. Deana hummed in enjoyment against his lips, Justin’s face couldn’t help but smile. 

He pulled away slowly, looking deep into her eyes. His eyes seemed to say what his mouth couldn’t, that he loved her. She knew it was too soon to say it, but the feeling was mutual. 

In that moment, he wanted all secrets off the table, to tell her who he was. But he already has plans and knew that would be something she would remember forever. 

Is it bad that now that’s all I want to do? he asked with a slight smile. 

“Don’t read too much into this, but follow me.”  She took his hand and led him down the hall and into her bedroom. “At least here we can be comfortable, stretch out a bit.”  

He took her in his arms, kissing her as they stood next to her bed. He slowly pulled them down onto the bed, Deana sitting across his lap. His fingers were in her hair, her hands holding his shoulders. One of his hands cupped her face, one of hers went around the back of his neck. She hummed against him, almost a low moan, he quickly found himself turned on. She smiled against his lips, feeling his bulge against her legs. 

He broke the kiss, feeling guilty. Deana looked deeply into his eyes. “You have nothing to feel bad about,” she said, her voice calm and understanding. “We’ve already been through this, it’s a natural reaction. Still can’t believe I’m the reason for it, but here we are. It’s the natural progression of things. I’m not there yet, but we’ll get there. It may sound super old fashioned and weird, but after so many failed relationships, I’m curious. I wanna keep things slow.”

Justin nodded. 

“By that, I mean clothes stay on whenever we’re together, and when I’m ready to go all the way, we ‘round the bases’ as it were. I’m sure that’s gonna be the most difficult for you. I’m feeling admittedly guilty that it means I can’t lend a hand, pun intended, when you get turned on. I want it to be one full experience, not just the final part of things we already do. That being said, I think I’d be ok with your hands on me over my clothes. Can’t keep too much off limits…”

Whatever you feel comfortable with. I don’t want you to feel like I’m pushing you on anything. If you change your mind one way or another, just let me know. I’m actually ok with waiting, that first kiss was perfect, I want our first time together to be just as amazing, especially for you. 

“Well, aren’t I a lucky girl?” she chuckled, pulling him back into a kiss, slowly pulling him down to lay on the bed. 

Justin’s hand made its way to her breasts, playing a mental image of her naked body in his head. His hand cupped one, just resting there as he kissed her. Her hand cupped his face, tracing his ear before tracing down his neck to his collarbone. It sent a shiver down his spine, breaking the kiss to gasp for air. 

“Is that ok?” she asked. He nodded emphatically before kissing her again. She ran her fingers through his hair and the back of his neck. She broke the kiss to kiss his cheek and down his neck. 

She looked at him. “I know we just got started, but I have an early morning. I still feel bad I’ll likely be gone when you wake up…”

Set your alarm loud enough it could wake the dead. I want to properly kiss you good morning, then kiss you goodbye. 

“Will do. I’ll be right back, gonna go get ready for bed.”  She grabbed her pajamas and closed the bathroom door behind her. 

I knew we’d kiss tonight, but I wasn’t expecting other parts of tonight. As long as she’s ok with everything, that’s all that matters, he thought to himself. If tonight is any indication, our first time together is gonna be amazing. To feel that turned on just by kissing and a finger tracing my neck, I’m in deep trouble. I may not last long enough, it felt like I was at least halfway done. 

He got under the covers as she came out, plaid pajama pants and a heather gray shirt. She checked her alarm on her phone, then got into bed. She was facing him, giving him a soft kiss goodnight, her hand on his cheek. 

“Good night,” she said tenderly. 

“Good night,” he mouthed silently. She turned her back to him and snuggled against him. Sleep came easily for both of them, smiling faces as they dreamed.