"Why are you fidgeting like that?"

Caroline's humored voice wafted up the stairs, and I paused on the top step. My hand gripped the old, ornately carved banister as I bounced on the tips of my toes in my heels. I stared down at my feet, reassessing my outfit for the fifth time as I waited to hear more.

Bren had been really vague about what we were doing on our date, and I hadn't been sure how to dress. I didn't have many clothes, but luckily there were a few things in my suitcase that I knew Bren liked. And so that's what I wore. Well, I had to add some tights and a slouchy sweater to the ensemble so that I didn't freeze, but I hoped he'd still like it.

Bren's low voice caught my attention, mumbling something that I couldn't make out.

"I don't know why you're nervous," Caroline laughed lightly. "That girl is gonna be happy no matter where you take her or what you do, Bren."

I smiled, pleased that Caroline could see the truth and that she was trying to convince Bren of it, too.

Bren muttered some more, and I still couldn't tell what he was saying. I shouldn't eavesdrop, but I was reluctant to interrupt their conversation. It sounded like Caroline had some things that Bren needed to hear.

"The first thing I noticed when you knocked on my door earlier this week was that you were the happiest I'd ever seen you, Bren. Now look at you. Stop pushing that happiness away because you think you don't deserve it."

I took two more steps down the stairs. And this time, I heard him.

"I'm trying, Car. Why do you think I wanted tonight with her? She is my happiness. I never meant to push her away." He sighed. "I'm trying."

There was a risk that I'd start crying if I waited any longer. So I quickly walked down the rest of the stairs, trying to be loud so they'd know I was coming. And then I strode into the kitchen where Caroline and Bren were sitting.

"I'm ready!" I announced cheerfully, hoping that my smile could make Bren smile.

It worked. Or something worked. Because Bren stood with a cocked grin on his face, brown eyes wandering over me and making me feel things. I couldn't help but do the same thing, taking in the all-black outfit that somehow made him stand out even though I knew that was the opposite of why he wore it.

"Have a good night, you two!" Caroline said, and with that, she snuck out of the room.

It was just me. And Bren.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and took slow, measured steps toward me. "I love that dress."

For some reason, my cheeks warmed. "I thought you maybe did."

His uneven smile grew. "What gave it away?" Bren closed the distance between us and reached out, grabbing me by the waist to tug my body close. Then he loosened his grip and trailed his fingers along the seam of my dress.

I looked up to see his bright gaze studying me.

"Well," I said, drawing out the word. I smiled before leaning into his chest and finding his ear with my lips. "Last time I wore it out, you couldn't stop touching me."

Bren flashed a teasing frown. "That doesn't sound like me," he laughed.

"Oh, really?" I hummed against his ear. "If I recall correctly, you fingered me in the corner of a club."

"Shit," Bren groaned. "I did. God, I can't believe I did that." He cleared his throat and pulled away. "We should probably...get going."

Bren stepped past me, striding to the front door, and I couldn't help a wave of...something come over me. Disappointment, maybe. How was I going to make it through the night like this? How was I going to make it if he kept bringing me in just to push away again?

He was trying, though. And so, I would too.

There was a chill in the air as we stepped outside. The night breeze was crisp but not biting, and the stars were blinking down at us through the bare-boned tree in Caroline's front yard. I followed Bren to his car, and soon we were on our way.

Not that I knew where we were going or anything.

After driving for about twenty minutes, Bren parked in a nearly empty lot behind a brick building. I stared around, trying to make sense of it. Were we even in Fresno anymore? Suddenly, the car door jerked open next to me, and I glanced up at Bren, who was holding his hand out with a smile.

I took it, wordlessly walking with him through a tight alleyway. The noise greeted me first—a song driven by a beat of sleigh bells, peels of children laughing, the boom of a man's rowdy voice after one too many beers.

And then we rounded the corner, and all I saw were the lights—strings and strings of twinkling lights that covered a bustling street like a canopy, hanging between two rows of brick buildings. Beneath the lights were little tents that decorated the block, vendors tending to a packed crowd of people. And above the people and the lights, music weaved in and out. It was a melody of holiday cheer in its purest form.

"Bren, this is so cute. Is it like some kind of Christmas festival?"

I finally tore my eyes away from the scene and looked over at him. His dark gaze was watching me closely.

"That's exactly what it is," he said with a small smile. His grin grew as he tugged on my hand. "Come with me."

He didn't have to ask me twice. I'd go anywhere with him.

Besides, he was so adorable, dragging me from one stand to another. I swear he bought me one of every kind of fried food imaginable, all of it delicious and messy as we tried to walk and eat at the same time. After about an hour of weaving through the crowds, I began to shiver, and soon a cup of hot chocolate was placed in my hands, warming them as I looked at the little gifts on display.

Most of the items for sale were handmade, gorgeous creations. I found this beautifully carved wooden frame and asked Bren if he thought Caroline would like it for her photography. Smiling broadly, he said yes. So we bought it, and Bren tucked it under his arm as we continued to stroll.

Finally, after my feet had grown sore, the hot chocolate had cooled, and our stomachs were full, Bren led me to a bench along the side of the street. A street lamp was lit above us, piney smelling garland wrapping around the pole, the scent wafting down. And I'd never felt so content, snuggling in next to him on the wooden seat, watching the people stream by.

Bren had been sweet all night, but there was still a reserved note to the way he was treating me. A bit of distance that he didn't seem to know how to cross. So I pressed closer to him, hoping to close the space myself.

He wrapped his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. "So," he said after a pause, "I came to live with Caroline like a month before Christmas."

I tilted my head so I could look up at him. His eyes were scanning the festival, glossy and glazed. But he kept talking.

"She brought me here after about two weeks of knowing me. And she's admitted to me before that she regretted it almost instantly. Her intentions were good, but it had been so bizarre for me, seeing all the happy faces. I just walked around and wondered what that was like. To have a family. To have friends. To have happiness."

Bren finally glanced down, and I swear I saw his entire soul in the way he looked at me. His hand came up to cup my face, and I was surprised at how warm it was. He smiled, and that was warm, too. "Tonight I got to walk around and actually feel it for myself," he added quietly. "Happiness."

I smiled back at him. "This place is magical, Bren."

Shaking his head, he said, "Nah, the festival is fun. But I wouldn't say it's magical." His thumb dropped down then, rubbing slowly over my lips. Bren's gaze fell to my mouth, watching. "You are, though," he breathed out.

My heart beat wildly in my chest as he flicked his eyes back to mine. I wasn't convinced that I was magical, but I was pretty sure that we were—spellbound to each other in the best of ways.

"Is there anything else you wanted to see, or can I take you home?" Bren asked quietly, momentarily breaking through the fog he'd put me in.

I couldn't help but deflate a bit. There wasn't anything else to see, but I didn't want the night to end, either. "Do we have to go just yet?"

"No, we don't." Bren chuckled, his hand falling from my face. The warmth of his touch didn't leave me, though, his eyes aflame as he kept them on me. "I guess you could just say I'm impatient."

"For what?"

But Bren smiled crookedly. "Dessert."

I raised a brow, and hope rose within me, too. "Date night isn't over?"

He shook his head.

Well, in that case...

I popped up from the bench, grabbing Bren's hand in mine and leading him through the crowds, finding my way back to his car. I could hear him laughing lightly behind me at my relentless pace.

By the time we made it back to Caroline's house, the wind was howling as it blew through the trees. Bren ushered me into the old Victorian, which was completely dark. Deserted.

Eager to rectify that, Bren was quick to turn on the Christmas tree lights, start a fire in the grate, and throw on a few lamps. I stood there, watching the mix of shadows and glowing fire dance over his face, suddenly feeling anxious. Nervous. All I wanted was for this guarded, sweet boy to lower his defenses and let me back in so I could love him like I knew he needed.

Bren threw a bunch of blankets on the ground next to the fire and then surprised me by plopping down onto them. He glanced up at me and patted the floor next to him.

I didn't need to be invited more than once, happy to let the warmth of Bren and the fire thaw my chilled skin. I probably shouldn't have worn the dress tonight.

"What's for dessert?" I asked after getting settled in his arms, which only resulted in Bren making a funny noise and shooting back up so he could run into the kitchen and grab something from the pantry. Then he jogged back over to me as if I worried I would disappear without being fed sweets.

"Just some chocolate truffles," he announced, sitting down across from me on the blankets. Popping the lid off the package he'd grabbed, Bren selected a caramel-colored chocolate from the assortment and held it up for me to taste.

My eyes found his as I leaned in, biting the truffle. The taste of soft and creamy milk chocolate filled my mouth, and I licked my lips to make sure nothing was left on them. Bren froze, instantly mesmerized. He watched the movement of my tongue as it darted out. I watched Bren.

Scooching closer to him, my eyes never left his face as I took the rest of the chocolate from between his fingers, licking and sucking them into my mouth in the process.

Bren groaned, studying my lips intently as his two fingers slipped from between them. I swallowed the sweet chocolate. Bren swallowed hard, too.

His hand dropped down, abandoned. Then Bren's hooded eyes watched as I reached over to him and placed a hand on his chest. Fiddling with buttons on his black shirt, I looked up at him beneath my lashes and asked, "Bren?"

He jerked out of the trance he'd been in and flicked his sultry, heavy stare to meet mine. Firelight stroked his sharp features, that jaw of his tensing in waves of restraint. "Yeah?"

"Where's Caroline?" I breathed, barely managing to ask the question. There have been so many moments when I've desired him, but none were as strong as this.

After the hospital visit and the Christmas talks and the cold cemetery morning, I needed him. I needed to feel something good and loving and warm. Hot. Fiery. I needed to feel us.

"She's gone," he replied in a daze.

"When will she be back?"

Bren slowly brought his hand up to my shoulder and slipped a finger beneath my sweater. He pushed it down, so it fell over my arms, baring them. Bren traced his fingers along the strap of my dress, toying with it like I was doing with his shirt buttons. And then Bren's husky voice said, "Not until morning. She's out with friends tonight. Staying at their place."

My whole body reacted to hearing that, and that jolt was all I needed to begin popping the buttons out of the holes on Bren's shirt.

But he stopped me, his hand leaving my shoulder to grab my fingers, clutching them tightly. He bent his head forward, and it met mine. Our wanting sighs collided as our mouths hovered just barely apart—only a breath away from a kiss. A kiss I'd never wanted more.

"Bren," I moaned, hoping he knew what I was trying to say. Because his name was all I could manage at the moment.

"I don't deserve to have you," he said, his breathing harsh as he rolled his forehead against mine. "Not like this. Not after how I've been treating you this week."

"It isn't about deserving, Bren. It's just...love." I sucked in a breath. A breath that was his breath. He was clouding my senses. "Do you love me?" I asked as Bren's hands released their grip on mine, instead moving to trail over my breasts. His fingers danced along the hem of my dress.

"Yes," he groaned.

"Do you want me?"

"Fuck, you know I do."

"Then show me." Enough of his buttons were undone that I could slip my hand beneath his shirt and feel his warm skin, his racing heart. "Forget everything else, Bren. Let yourself be with me. Let me be with you."

"I'm not thinking of anything right now but you, Madie," he murmured. Bren's head tilted so that his lips were even closer to mine. He brushed them lightly against my mouth, but it was a ghost of a touch, and I wanted more.

"Only you."

And then Bren gave me more.

🤍
Date night to be continued....
xoxo Amelie