Chapter 1071 - First kiss (on the lips) (1/2)

~ California, Beach house ~

Tuesday, March 10

6:36 AM

Haru and Nala headed for their morning run.

They are used to running together every morning, for about one hour, and then they exercise on the training ground. The two of them hold each other's legs when they do abdominal exercises, and they do squats and pullups side-by-side. The morning routine ends with a sparring session before they part their ways briefly in order to shower and change into fresh clothes. They meet again at breakfast.

This morning, they decided to have their sparring session on the beach. It is a change from a usual rink because they don't have such a narrow limit in terms of space, and also moving on the sand is different than on the hard surface.

Both Haru and Nala removed running shoes and stepped on the silky and cold sand.

Standing five steps apart, they assumed fighting stance and smiled with their gazes locked at each other for a second before they started their violent dance.

It is challenging to balance on the soft sand while delivering punches and kicks and dodging or blocking them, but both Haru and Nala are at the same disadvantage.

There used to be time when Haru could effortlessly defeat Nala, so he would mostly defend with ease, but now she improved. He is still stronger and has techniques which drive her nuts, but she is fast and precise, and motivated to wipe that smirk off his face.

”Ha!”, Nala exclaimed when she saw that for one second Haru got serious. Well, his expression did at least.

She swung her leg toward his chest, and he leaned backward Matrix-style to avoid it. Nala lost her balance when her foot slipped inside the sand below it deeper than expected. Haru extended his arm to grab her, pulling Nala up, but she was unable to regain her balance and with ongoing momentum from her unsuccessful kick, she bumped into him full strength.

”Ow!”, Nala exclaimed while propping herself up.

”Are you OK?”

Haru's concerned voice made Nala open her eyes wider than expected when she realized that she is straddling him. Her palms pressed against his firm chest.

Both of them were sweaty and breathing heavily.

Their gazes were locked on each other and the air between them became warm and electrifying.

Nala felt his hands on the sides of her thighs and wished that they move to her back so that he pulls her down on him. She looked away shyly, embarrassed by the impossible possibility of him being able to read her mind.

Nala's eyes moved to his lips, and she wondered for a millionth time: how would it fell like, his lips on hers?

She looked up into his eyes again, and she held her breath when she realized that his expression is showing her that he is thinking the same thing.

It is silly to think that after all this time, they still didn't kiss on the lips, but it's almost impossible to get any privacy in the house and when they go out, it is only for missions and they need to stay focused in order not to get hurt. But now... it's just the two of them on the beach and other than waves swooshing gently against the beach and their hearts thumping loudly, there are no other sounds.

Haru looked at Nala sitting on top of him and he heard his heart beating so wildly in his ears that it overpowered the sounds of waves.

She is wonderful, perfect and looking at him shyly and… is this the right time? The one he was waiting for?

'Maybe there is no perfect time' , he thought, '...but you need to make it so.'