Max

I've never experienced prom like this before.

It's always just been an overly decorated room full of formal wear and dramatic laughs. It's always just been a dance.

I've never been excited to plant myself in front of a painted backdrop and smile at a photographer in order to capture such a coveted moment. One I don't want to actually forget. I've never taken the time to notice how perfectly each string of tiny shimmering lights illuminates the entire room, casting the perfect glow around her face.

I've never felt the warmth of one smile completely ignite my chest. I've never been here with Liv.

And seeing the excitement in her eyes as she takes in every detail radiates through me as I love it all alongside her. Every laugh, every smile, every fucking desirable look in her eye.

This is prom. This is what everyone is so goddamn hyped up about. For the first time, I actually get it.

My eyes haven't left her as she laughs by Ryder's side. The two of them floated away about five minutes ago as their favorite song echoed across the room. I've been planted at the nearest table, staring with admiration of the girl I somehow get to call mine. The way that fucking dress drips down her body, clinging to every single curve I've memorized has had me holding back certain urges all night.

And watching the way she moves, those hips of hers swaying and rocking along with the beat has me adjusting my position.

I don't know if there will ever come a day where I get over the fact that she's mine. The music shifts, the beat dropping as a slow song fills the room.

Her eyes inevitably find mine, two magnets drawn by a force far beyond our power. My gaze trails that damn dress of hers. She's perfect. And she's mine. I make my way across the floor, drawn to her.

Her body within reach, I take a step forward and slide my hand across the exposed skin of her back as she effortlessly falls against me. I pull her in, bringing her chest to mine.

"Hi," I whisper, smiling down at her as that twinkle in her eye rolls up to meet mine.

"Hi."

"You looked like you were having fun out here a minute ago."

"You looked like you were enjoying the show," she smiles back, knowing damn well I was checking her out the entire time.

"This dress," I begin, sliding my hand down her waist and cupping her ass before bringing it back into a more publicly appropriate place. "Is doing all sorts of things to me tonight."

"What kind of things is it doing to you?" She plays back, knowing exactly the effect she's having on me.

I lower my face to hers, pausing to swipe a small strand from her face before I tilt her head back, exposing the smooth skin of her neck. I take my time, letting the heat of my breath form goosebumps across her skin before I gently rest my lips there. A soft kiss followed by another until my lips part and I taste the sweet sensation of her skin, pulling a tiny amount between my teeth. Her breath catches, her fingers gripping tighter to the ends of my hair before I pull back.

I take in the heated halos of her eyes, the way they ignite against the green of her dress as they lustfully rest on mine.

"I was just talking to Ryder," she exhales, the hint of pleasure still dancing on her breath.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yep," she nods, her fingers playing with my hair, sending that tingling feeling across my body. "Told her I wasn't really all that hungry."

My eyes snap to hers, taking in exactly what it is she might be saying right now. Her eyes lock with mine as she nods slowly.

"I think I've experienced enough dancing for one night," her smile slowly builds across her lips. "Take me home?" She pulls my forehead to hers before gently pressing her lips to mine.

"You still have three hours before you need to be home," I whisper against her lips.

"I'm not talking about my home."

The fact that my home is clearly empty at the current moment has my dick twitching in my pants. She feels it too because she smiles, pressing herself against me.

What I should be doing is swooping her up and running out of this place as quickly as I can. But I don't. Instead, I press my lips to hers, sliding my hand behind her neck and pulling her even further into me. My tongue frantically searches for hers as she parts her lips for me.

I'm like a fucking needy ass freshman, unable to control the rate of my damn hormones as my tongue tangles with hers. She doesn't hesitate, her fingers pulling at my hair as her other hand drops to my chest.

I let my fingers wander across the smooth skin of her back, dipping slightly beneath the low hanging fabric. When her hips press against my throbbing cock, I pull myself back, searching her eyes and fucking melting at the halo glowing back at me.

"I think we should–"

"Yes," she pants, nodding her head against mine.

I spin her around, keeping her conveniently placed in front of the goddamn tent pitched in my pants as I let her lead us out of here.

Olivia

Tonight has been nothing short of a dream. Getting all dressed up has never really been my thing, but somehow, tonight it just was. From the absurd amount of pictures, to the amazing dinner, to an entire night of dancing and laughter, it's just been perfect.

The way Max's eyes haven't left me all night only adds to this buzzing feeling radiating my entire body. Like it's aching to be near him, to feel his hands along my body, to feel the warmth of his embrace. It's more than just a lustful pull, though the pressure between my legs definitely has a lot to say right now. It's the way he looks at me, like I'm his whole world. Like there's nothing else he'd rather see. And the way he touches me. Like he wouldn't want his hands to be anywhere else.

I spent the entire drive home thinking about how perfect everything feels. How perfect it actually is. I've been feeling this way for a long time, too scared to actually admit how happy I am. But shit, I'm so damn happy. And it's because of him.

Once we parked in his driveway, I was swiftly in his arms, my dress hiked to my waist as my legs clung to him. Our mouths somehow fused together the entire time, all the way up to his room. Which is exactly why I have no actual visual memory of getting here. I've been completely consumed with the boy who currently has me pressed up against the back of his door.

"Max," I breathe out as his mouth falls to my neck. "The bed," I pant as his hand cups my breast. "Can we..."

He pulls me from the door, spinning me as he takes a few strides behind him. I need to feel him. All of him. Something I've needed for far too long, that I've been too scared to admit. But I know what I want, without a shadow of a doubt, I want him.

"Max," I breathe out again, this time pulling his darkened eyes to mine. "I'm ready."

He smiles, slipping his hand down my lower back. "I know."

"No," I shake my head, making sure to keep his gaze locked with mine. Everything is so glaringly clear. "I mean, I want you. I want to have sex with you."

His movements stop, that playful smirk on his lips disappearing as he slowly drops me to my feet. There's a sense of shock filling his features, and I can't necessarily blame him. He's not expecting this. Not anticipating any realm of where this could be a reality. But it is. It so fucking is. I just wish he'd say something.

"It's prom night," he finally says. Yep, that's really what he responds with.

"So?" I question, peering up at him.

"So, do you really want this to be the moment?"

I think about what he's saying as the thought flits across my mind, a smile finding my lips. "You mean, do I want to fall into the category of epic clichés? Just another virgin, deflowered on prom night," I laugh, causing him to smile.

But as his smile fades, his hand falls to my cheek. "You're not 'just another' virgin, Liv. You're not just another anything. You're the one. The only one."

The butterflies that swarm my gut take flight, soaring across my heart. "And that Maxwell Hayes, is exactly why I want you to undress me, use those playful fingers of yours, and then show me exactly what it is I've been missing all of these years."

His lips are quickly on mine, slowly fusing to me as he takes his time. The passion a different type of desire than the frantic one he had earlier. My hands fall to the buttons of his shirt, working at the collar as his hands slide beneath the low cut of my dress. My fingers dip beneath his shirt, feeling the tensed muscles as I land on his heart. The beats are fast, strong as I linger there, feeling the pulse match my own.

When his lips pull from mine, my eyes reluctantly roll open, meeting his worried gaze. He's hesitating. Why is he hesitating?

"Liv," he breathes out. "This moment...I don't think we should...it's not what you have wanted."

My hand stays firmly against his heart as my free one reaches for his. Our fingers intertwine together as I lift them to my own beating chest. "What this moment means to me...the whole reason I made that promise to myself was to ensure that the person I gave myself to was someone I truly cared about. Someone who cared about me back. That's all I've ever wanted. Someone to want me, not just sex." His hand slides from the small of my back, raising slowly to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. He leaves it against my cheek, holding me here with him.

"After all I had witnessed," I continue, drawing strength from the sweet look in his eyes as he listens patiently to everything I have to say. "After seeing what this act could do to someone, I just needed to make sure it would always mean something in my life. And before you, I only knew of one way to make sure without a doubt that that was the case. If I waited for marriage, if any man was willing to wait, he would without a doubt love me. But Max, you've shown me that. Each and every time you've been there for me as a friend, as more, you've shown me just how much you see me. And that's all I've really ever wanted. This moment, this piece of me, it belongs to you. No matter what tomorrow brings, I want this moment to be yours. To be ours."

"I want that too, Liv. I want this moment with you. But we can have it as you've always pictured it. I can wait. I can give you the moment you've always promised yourself."

"Max, you already are. This is the moment I want it to be."

He watches me, a strain behind his eyes as our breaths dance together in the silence, the beat of our hearts the only surrounding chorus. His lips press softly to mine, his hand along my face pulls me closer. As his mouth releases mine, his eyes hold me still. "I love you, Liv."

I smile. "I love you, too."

"And I will love you tomorrow, and the next day, and the moment you walk down the aisle and become my wife. And then, only then, will I make this the most cherished and memorable moment for you."

"Max–"

"Liv," he stops me. "This moment's not going anywhere. Let me make it everything you deserve. Let me keep this promise. Let me marry you one day and give you the whole world. Let me show you it's okay to believe in hope."

One small tear rolls down my cheek, the wet streak of warmth catching me off guard. He wipes his thumb along my skin. "You promise?" I ask.

His forehead drops to mine. "I promise, Liv, that my heart is yours. Forever."

His lips meet mine, their soft and gentle touch filled with an immense amount of love. I've never opened myself to the thought of loving someone this much, to being loved by someone this much. But the way his hands hold me tight, the way his mouth glides along mine, I feel as though I'll never be loved by anyone the way Max loves me.

I've loved him unconditionally since before I even understood what that meant. I've trusted him with everything I've got even when I was scared to let him in. He's always been the boy I've run to, the boy I seek out when I'm crumbling, the one who I want to share all of my highest highs and lowest lows with.

But this right here. This is so much more. I'm completely his. This may sound insane, but I don't ever want to be anyone else's. He's my person. And I think he always will be.