She had spent all of her life running, running from her past, running from her future, running from things that would scare her so badly she felt like she could not breathe. One of those things she ran so desperately away from was love. She had seen what it could do in the past, what it did to her family, her friends and occasionally even to herself when she would stop running long enough. It was never a pretty picture. Just like almost everyone else in the world, Lynn had some pretty deep emotional scars. Unfortunately, she used them as an excuse not to let her guard down.
Over the years very few people managed to break down those defenses and see past the illusions she fabricated. She was so afraid of getting hurt again that as soon as someone got too close she would shut down. The fear was too real for her. After the years she spent trying to recover from the damage of the emotional terrorist she wasted a year and a half of her life on, her self-esteem remained shattered. It seemed as if nothing would ever put the pieces back together.
When Michael drifted into her life, she never suspected that things would change so quickly. There was just some inexplicable reason she felt so connected to him. She had never been as comfortable with anyone in her life as she had become around him. It was the first time she felt like she could be herself around anyone. When he started to break down those defenses she clung so dearly to, he would not let her run away. What surprised her most was that she did not even want to run from it. She was so lost in the excitement and fun that she forgot about what she had been trying to avoid for so long and just let herself go.
He had been hurt many times as well. Both of them had sworn off relationships because of the broken hearts in the past. Neither of them wanted to go through that pain again. Instead of just pushing people away like she often did, Michael hid behind an almost impenetrable shyness. With her that boundary around his heart seemed to melt away as easy as the morning sun melts the autumn frost.
Days turned into weeks, and the connection that was so strong between them, began to grow more intense. Neither of them would ever be able to pinpoint the exact moment it happened. All they knew was that it did happen and with such ease that they did not see it coming. They could talk about anything and it would still be all right. There was nothing Lynn could not share with him. Slowly, she began to show him her scars. All Michael could do was try to comfort her and assure her that she deserved better. He, too, began to open up, revealing things he had not told another living soul.
It was not until a cold Saturday afternoon that things suddenly began to change between them. She showed up at his apartment to spend the day with him. Michael gave her a hug like the ones he had given her many times before, but something felt different today. Lynn dismissed it as just having missed him more than she normally did lately. As they sat down on the sofa to talk, he sat closer than usual. Something like that typically would have made her uncomfortable very quickly. Today, it did not even register to her.
While they were talking about what they had been up to, it happened. It was the moment that would change everything. It was like a fairy tale. It all happened so quickly. Their eyes met and neither could say a word. In the silence, it was as if their hearts cried out for one another. Michael moved a little closer. As he leaned in, Lynn's eyes closed. The kiss was so soft and delicate but filled with such a passion that neither of them could deny it any longer. They both knew right then and there that this was meant to be.
He pulled her closer to him. His body felt so good against hers as his arms wrapped around her. She felt so safe. The kiss deepened, becoming more passionate by the second. Her hand gently rested against his shoulder, holding on to him tightly. Part of her was afraid that it was all just a dream and that she would wake up any moment. She pulled back slowly, breaking the kiss and looking up into his eyes. Her heart felt as if it would burst right out of her chest. The words would not come out. They could not. It was too soon. It would change everything and possibly destroy it.
He caressed her cheek as he looked into her eyes. It felt as if he was staring into her soul. It was the closest she had ever felt to another person in her life. A slight smile crossed his lips. That was the moment she knew that it was no longer just a friendship. Her lower lip quivered as she tried to force the words out. He did not need to hear them. He could see into her heart.
He leaned in, pressing his lips to hers once again. All of her defenses melted away, letting him not only touch her body but her soul as well. His hand slipped down the center of her back, resting gently against the small of her back as he pulled her harder to him. She offered no resistance to his advances. He broke the kiss, releasing her from his grasp for a moment. Lynn feared that something had changed in that moment, that now he did not find her desirable. Much to her surprise, Michael leaned down, scooping her up into his arms, and carried her to the bedroom. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she gazed into his eyes. That was when they both became completely certain that this was right.
Michael laid her down upon his bed, staring at the beautiful creature before him. Deep down he had longed for this moment for a very long time, but never before could he act upon the feelings. Lynn bit down lightly on her lower lip as she shyly looked up at him. He moved onto the bed, lying down next to her. He propped his head up on his hand as he looked at her. The overwhelming urge to kiss her once again surfaced. Michael kissed her softly once again, moving on top of her. Lynn's eyes fluttered shut as she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer to her.
His hand rested against the soft curve of her neck as he kissed her. Very slowly, he began to move it down along her collarbone and toward her breasts. He felt her chest rise and fall faster as the desire inside her grew stronger. Finally, his hand came to rest upon her right breast, massaging it softly as they continued to kiss. Lynn moaned softly into the kiss, urging him to continue. His hand slipped down, tracing along the soft cotton t-shirt before slipping under it.
Lynn drew in a deep breath as she felt his hand against her bare skin. The softness of his touch sent shivers through her as his hand moved back toward her lace-clad breast. The moment they shared was more beautiful than either of them could have imagined it would be. Each breath Michael drew filled him with the soft scent of her perfume. His lips left hers, trailing from her cheek to her jaw line and finally down to her neck. Her head moved to the side, giving him full access to her neck, something that many had been denied. He was delighted as he heard the soft whimper as he began to kiss her warm skin. Her body reacted incredibly to each touch of his lips against her. He continued to cover her neck in delicate kisses before reaching the edge of her shirt.