A Kiss Is Not Always Just a Kiss

By Emly Forrest

There’re kisses, and then there’re kisses. First kisses, though, tend to stick with us. Who can’t recall their very first kiss? I know I can and it’s been a long, long time.

In fiction, writing about first kisses is great fun. For instance, in my novella Irish Ice, Jessica Grandville experiences a first kiss that sets her back a bit. It’s an older woman/younger man situation and she’s not only not looking for romance, she’s totally unprepared for it when it slaps her in the face. She’s made the acquaintance of a yummy young man who’s infatuated with her. When they kiss, well... here’s how it goes:

“Tell me more. What are the Irish people like?”

“Fierce. Proud. Passionate.”

“Like you?”

“Like me.” Colin stood suddenly, leaned over the small table, put a hand behind Jess’s head and pulled her face close for a kiss. Except kiss was inadequate to name what happened. His warm lips embraced hers with a soul-wrenching caress, leaving her nearly breathless. Time slipped away.

The room became foggy, soft with muted light, hushed sounds. Jess’s body seemed to float and melt at the same time, leaving her mildly in fear she might slip to the floor. But she didn’t. She returned the power of the kiss with an enthusiasm she barely remembered she could muster.

When Colin broke off the kiss, Jess stayed completely still several seconds, eyes closed, still savoring the electric connection and the flavor of Colin’s lips. She opened her eyes to find him staring at her across the dining table.

“Well. What do you know?” He seemed as surprised by the force of the kiss as she was.

“Colin, I--”

“Don’t.” He reached across the space between them and put a finger to her lips to quiet her.

“Let’s don’t analyze this to death. It was a kiss. Just a kiss. I didn’t plan for it to happen. I guess you didn’t either. I’m not sorry.”

Jess stood, turned away and walked toward the window. Strangely, she wasn’t sorry about the kiss either. She was stunned and completely caught off guard. But not sorry. In fact, she turned back around to Colin, walked to within a foot, knelt in front of him and lifted her face to his for more.

He seemed happy to oblige.

Emly Forrest is the author of The Last Resort (2010) and Irish Ice (Coming in March 2011), both available at www.lyricalpress.com. Please visit her website at www.emlyforrest.com or contact her at emlyforrest@gmail.com.