by Leslie
Both hearts beating dangerously fast. Two heaving chests propelled by short, rapid breaths revealing the emotions that each would rather mask.
Body to body, and for that moment it seemed, soul to soul, as if they were each completely transparent to the other.
"I've never enjoyed a retaliation more!" Jax divulged in a whisper.
"I can tell!" Kendall goaded.
Jax couldn't take his eyes off her lips. The desires within him were surmounting the physical discomfort he was in. He took one arm from around Kendall's waist and brought his hand to her face, looked at her -- her eyes, her hair, her nose, and again at her lips -- and he leaned down and brushed his lips gently against hers, almost hesitating to kiss her, not wanting to push the line.
His removing his arm had given her's freedom, and, sensing his hesitation, she reached up and softly touched the back of his neck and ran her fingers up through his hair. Then she pulled him closer to her, reassuring him that she was as interested in this kiss as he was.
To Kendall, it felt like things were moving in slow motion as Jax prolonged their wet, explorative kiss.
If she isn't going to push me away, I'm not going to leave, Jax thought.
But Kendall did push him away -- eventually -- but gently. "Jax wait," she said breathlessly, as she cleaned up the remnants of his kiss.
Jax's forehead leaned against hers, and he so desparately wanted to go back for more.
"Do you think this is a good idea?" Kendall continued. "I mean . . . we barely know each other, and we're both still . . . . "
"Recovering?" Jax completed her sentence, at last removing his forehead from hers.
"Not the word I would've chosen --- but, OK. We both just got out of relationships that caused us alot of pain. I just don't think it's wise to jump into something so blindly. Do you?"
"No. But you picked a helluva time to bring that up!!"
Kendall and Jax were still standing -- almost leaning -- against each other.
"I didn't mean to mislead you," Kendall said apologetically, pulling back a little bit more from him. When she did, she realized they were somewhat stuck together by the sticky pink calamine, which hadn't quite yet dried! This was the tension breaker they'd both wished would come.
As Kendall peeled away from Jax's skin, he flinched with over-exaggerated pain. "You're killing me here!" he said, talking about more than her shirt leaving his skin.
Jax had reigned in his desires during their kiss, afraid that if the full force of them were unleashed, Kendall would run scared.
Kendall had exerted all the self-control she could, fearing that her own yearnings would appear more like desparation, and woud deter any interest Jax had in her.
"I'm sorry," Kendall said, hanging her head, realizing full well what Jax had meant by his statement.
"You're not going to tell me that this was a mistake are you? Because I can tell you, from where I was standing -- it was no mistake!" Jax felt like he had just disclosed insider information, realizing he had let Kendall know just how much he had enjoyed that kiss. He had left himself exposed. But after what he went through with Brenda, and even Miranda, he had no intentions of being anything less than honest with Kendall. No secrets. No games. Just speak the truth, and bear the consequences.
Kendall liked knowing how he felt. It was unfamiliar to her. For a change, she knew where she stood without asking or speculating. She knew kissing Jax had been right. It had felt more "right" than anything she had experienced in a long time. "Not a mistake, just a little . . . "
"Soon?"
"Would you stop finishing my sentences?!?"
"Well, isn't that what you were going to say?"
She just nodded, looking down at the floor. She sat down on Jax's bed, and he came and sat down beside her. He breathed a deep sigh.
"Kendall, I know you're scared. I am too." At this, Kendall looked up at him, amazed and caught off guard by what he said.
"Surprised?" he asked. "You shouldn't be. I told you last night what happened between Brenda and I. Just because we've been able to maintain a friendship doesn't mean I'm past the pain and that it doesn't still hurt every time I see her. I had no plans to be interested in any woman again anytime soon." He reached over and enveloped one of her hands in both of his.
"Kendall," he continued, "I wasn't ready to feel what you're causing me to feel. You peak my interest! You make me laugh. You make me for the first time in a long time forget about the pain. You show me a part of life I know nothing about. And, if I'm not mistaken, you are as interested in me as I am you. Am I way off base here?"
Kendall turned towards him and just stared at him, his blue-green eyes beckoning her to disclose her own feelings. She was at a loss for words. Jax had bared his soul to her. Maybe she could find the courage to do the same.
"You're right. And I appreciate your honesty. I just don't think I'm ready . . . . "
"To take a chance again? I know, I know, stop finishing your sentences!" Jax scolded himself.
Kendall smiled that beautiful smile that Jax had come to treasure. "It's not easy Jax."
"At least you've got someone here who understands how you feel."
"I do have that."
At that moment, the monitor announced Jensen's awakening.
"Your daughter's timing is as off as her mother's!"
"I've got to go. I'll come back in a little while to check on you, OK?"
"Promise?" Jax looked irresistable, still covered in pink calamine.
"Promise." Kendall, still covered herself, turned to walk out the door.
"Hey!" Jax called out. Kendall stopped and turned to look at him. "When I'm out from under this cruel quarantine, can I take you to dinner?" Looking down at himself and then back up, he reassured her, "I clean up pretty good!"
"I just bet you do!" She couldn't help but flirt back with him. "I'd like
that . . See ya, Pinky!" she joked, ducking as she left the room to avoid
the barrage of pillows Jax hurled at her.
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