Each felt uncertainty but at the same time a certain rush of emotion. He leaned in slowly, all the while with his eyes locked on hers, and very gently...touched her lips with his. She responded by backing away slightly and then very gently putting her hand along his face and looking deeply into his eyes and then very gently but firmly kissing him and now with her eyes closed. They embraced for what seemed like hours in the midst of the lively bar. She abruptly paused, and pulled away from him.. If anything, Tiennie looked even less sure of the arrangement than I was. From time to time, her attention strayed from the conversation to me. When her eyes met mine the first time, she looked away, shyly. The second time, she blushed. The third time, she smiled, just a little.Freya shifted gears when the conversation lagged. "I told you how great it feels when Johnny holds me. Would you like to try it?"The blush deepened and turned Tiennie's skin from amber to orange. "Only if you two don't. You're a sweetheart, Emily. And emotionally vulnerable, it seems."She was a little angry at that. "I'm not vulnerable. I'm a Ph.D in physics. I'm 28 years old. I know what makes the world go round." That sounded so absurd that she laughed in spite of myself."Then enjoy what the world offers, sweetie, nothing is perfect." He sang the line from the Rolling Stones tune, "You can't always get what you want." She joined him on the next line, "but if you try you just might get what you need.” Jason. “Don’t bother; I will open the door,” I said and reluctantly withdrew my hand. “Thank you, Peter. Who could that be?” Her eyes flickered worriedly. A blond girl about Nicole’s age was standing outside. “Hi, I’m Hanna,” she said and winked mischievously at me. “Nicole, is this cutie your boyfriend?” she cried out and looked over my shoulder. I turned back, Nicole’s face had paled a little. “That’s my cousin Hanna,” she explained and smiled forcefully. Hanna nudged me playfully in the ribs, then.