"Stop playing with me."
His eyes held mine as he rounded on me, until we were face to face. My playful touches on his hip made me giggle but his face was serious. A moment of sadness came over his features as he looked down at my lips, and I realised he was talking about what was really happening between us.
I didn't say anything, I couldn't. I knew we were getting close to crossing the line, but I thought we were okay. My chest swelled with emotion and my cheeks flushed when I felt his right hand slowly find my waist. His strong fingers wrapping around me, gently pulling me toward him.
Our eyes met again, our faces closer now.
"What's wrong?" he asked, "Nothing," I said, knowing full well I was lying.
I didn't think this would be happening. We'd become close in recent months, laughing and unlocking parts of each other with late night conversations over too many drinks. I had felt the feelings for him clawing at me, but I tried to ignore them because this friendship had helped me so much and was so genuine.
"Nothing," I said again, solely to reassure myself.
I wanted to kiss him.
The way he was holding me now felt right.
I looked at his lips and bit mine. He got the message. I placed my hands around his neck, crossing my forearms to force him closer.
His lips met mine and we kissed deeply. It wasn't a fireworks, buy the ring and put it on the front page news now kind of kiss. It was an intimate, strong kiss that cemented our desire for one another. We had crossed the line. In my mind I knew there was no going back after this kiss. It changed our worlds, killed our friendship and started god knows what.
The kiss continued and I felt him smile, which made me giggle again.
I was feeling everything, I didn't know which way was up.
I kept laughing as I broke our kiss and looked up to him. He lit up as he laughed too. I think the moment was overwhelming us both.
"Water?" I suggested with a cheeky smile.
He nodded and began to lead the way back to the bar, his arm trailing behind as he held my hand.
He poured me a glass at the counter and I turned to survey the club while I drank it. Our other friends had gone home and the place was starting to clear out a bit.
"Can I take you home?" he asked. I turned to face him and nodded, "Yes."
I could see in his eyes that he was feeling what I was, that while this was the start of something deeper between us, it was the end of our friendship. A little sorrow crossed my chest as I realised this but it was quickly overshadowed by excitement as we exited the club and hopped in a cab to my house.
Our friendly conversations in recent weeks had covered our sex lives and after a couple more drinks, what kind of sex we liked. As we rode in the cab I thought back to those chats and my excitement grew.
His hand was in mine now and I could only half manage to direct the driver to my place, wishing he would get there quickly.
"Busy night, mate?" he asked the driver, his eyes facing forward.
"Yeah not too bad yet, it'll get busy around 12, 1am. I'll head back to the city after this." the driver responded, clearly enjoying a bit of chat.
He and the driver kept talking and I wound down the window to get some fresh air. Looking out I could see the city lights flash by, everyone going about their own lives. Some in love, some lonely, all their stories intertwined in my mind.
The chatter in the cab continued but I felt his hand slowly touch my knee, making me close my eyes and smile with the wind blowing in my face. His hand moved up and down my inner thigh, stroking gently. The roughness of his palm brought to mind what the rest of his body would feel like.