kissing. The tattoo wasn't
enough?"
"No, it wasn't like that. Just being there I felt
better. Her shop is just like she is. A crazy riot of color everywhere,
chaotic. It should make you dizzy but it doesn't. It's just comfortable. As
soon as the needle hit my skin I felt... great. We talked. She's amazingly
'unsarcastic' when she's working. Unlike the rest of the time. The quiet, the
sound of the gun, the easy chat. It was incredible. Then, when it was done, I
was checking the tat in the mirror, then I turned around and there she was. She
was watching me with this crazy look on her face. I'd never seen it before. I
felt like I had to kiss her if I was going to keep breathing."
Josh took a deep breath, realizing just how sappy and stupid
he sounded, even to his own ears. "So, I did. And she pushed me away. End
of story."
"And that's it. One measly kiss, one you mistakenly
thought she wanted, and now you stare at her anytime you think you can get away
with it?"
Josh nodded. "Yeah, that's about the size of it."
"I don't buy it Josh. Not unless it was a record
breaking, gut tearing, ball busting kiss. You've kissed lots of women, so have
I for that matter. There had to be more to it."
"Well, it was definitely a record breaking, gut
tearing, ball busting kiss. So damn much that I can't get her out of my mind.
She even makes a nightly appearance in my dreams." At Blake's shocked
expression, Josh laughed. "Guess you didn't expect that, did you?"
"Nightly appearance?"
"Yep, every fucking night. I haven't had Deb stay over
for fear of her hearing something, or worse."
"Damn. Okay... so what now?"
"What do you mean 'what now'?"
"What are you going to do about it?"
"I'm going to see a damn shrink and figure out a way to
get her out of my head. Or at least out of my dreams."
"Okay, that's one way. Here's another idea. Kiss her
again."
"What? I'm engaged as you so kindly reminded me. I'm
not kissing her again. What the hell are you talking about?"
"Hear me out. Look, I love Deb, you know I think the
world of her. She deserves better than this, better than you drooling after
another woman, let alone one of her friends. You said this was an amazing kiss,
better than any you've had. Well, that means one of two things. In my
experience, a great kiss, let alone a ball busting kiss, is felt by both
people. So, either you imagined this reaction and it wasn't really as good as
you think it was. Maybe heightened sensation from the adrenaline rush of the
tat or something. Or, it really was that good. Which means she felt it too.
Which also means, you have no business marrying Deborah."
Josh thought about what Blake said. It sounded insane, but
it actually made sense. In a twisted, ‘I'm dying for any excuse to kiss her
again’, kind of way. Had he imagined his response? Was it due to adrenaline? He
didn't think so. But, he also didn't think that Gia had felt the same thing.
She had pushed him away after all. Then promised to forget it, like it was no
big deal. Yet the other night at the beach, he knew she'd been aroused. Was it
just from talking about those tantalizing nipple rings or was it because she
knew he'd been staring? Was he nuts for even considering this? Undoubtedly. Yet
he was considering it.
"Do you honestly think I should kiss her again? Blake,
I don't want to hurt Deb. She really does deserve better."
"Yes, I really think you should. Better isn't always
safer, Josh. For once, don't play it safe. Break away from that damn life plan
you have and do something not on the agenda. You and Deb have always seemed
like a perfect couple. If you are, then you should have no feelings for Gia or
anyone else. So, kiss her. See if it was real or imagined."
Josh pondered this for another minute, though it was really
more for show. He had already decided. He'd probably decided the instant Blake
mentioned it, maybe before. Apparently he was just waiting for permission from
someone.
Pissed at his own weakness, his own need for