Love was a concept I didn't understand. I understood family love from my mom and a pets love from Loki: storge. I understood a friends love because of Morgan: philia. And in a way, I understood self love: philautia.

I just didn't understand eros or ludus love: sexual, passionate or playful love.

I had never been with anyone in a romantic way. I had never flirted. I had never been close to man. I had never wanted to become closer to someone.

Alex and I had been together three weeks and in those three weeks, we had spent our weekends together and he took two days off in the week to stay with me and the dogs. Sundays, we spent the day at his where his family would come round and we would eat a roast dinner.

It was the first time in fourteen years that I had a freshly cooked roast dinner, usually I bought microwavable meals so I didn't have to cook. Cooking wasn't really my strong suit.

I didn't talk a lot around his family, only to the twins but I was becoming more comfortable around them. They included me and when I was around them, I didn't feel like the outcast, I felt apart of the family.

Jada would talk to me about the twins and would tell me about them when they were little, as well as what Alex was like when he was growing up. Aiden and I would converse about our love of reading and he often suggested books I should read. He suggested I read Deaths door, unknowing that it was my own book. Alex and I shared a smile at that.

Michael was by far my favourite person in that family, apart from Alex. He was wise and selfless. He told me about his endeavours while building his company and I had to say, I was in awe of him when he spoke. He reminded me so much of Alex.

I was comfortable around Alex the most though.

I trusted him but when I thought about our relationship becoming more intimate, something I have never thought about before or delved in to with someone, I panicked.

He didn't seem bothered that in the three weeks we had been together we hadn't kissed or gone any further than a hug and hand holding. Part of me wanted to but I wasn't confident enough to take the plunge and he didn't push me.

I just liked being with him, both of us present and together.

We sat next to each other on the sofa, my legs crossed underneath me and his legs outstretched under the coffee table while we watched a movie.

It was moments like this in the three weeks that I had grown used to. The movie was much more exciting with Alex around.

"Wait is Journey to the Centre of the Earth a spin off of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs? Because they both have dinosaurs underneath the Earth. And that professor guy kind of sounds like Manny. Is this like the human version?"

"What?" He glances at me weirdly. "No they're two completely different films and actors."

"But the plot is so similar!" I exclaim, staring at him suspiciously.

"It's a coincidence that they both have dinosaurs in." He stared at me weirdly but I saw the tiny movement of his lips curving in to a small smile.

Stubbornly, I shake my head. "There is no such thing as a coincidence."

I don't miss the small smile on his lips as he looks from me to the TV screen. "Yes there is and this is one of them."

I hum, unconvinced. "I like my version better."

He ignores me. "I have a confession." Alex started slowly, pausing the movie and turning to me. "I read your books."

I meet his eyes, a stab of panic echoing through me. What if he didn't like them? "And?" I forced out, swallowing the lump of anxiety that tried to catch the word before it left.

"When I read them... I just kept imagining you sitting down and writing them. They contradict you so much. Your mind and your mouth are two different centerpieces and I only just figured out how sophisticated, thought out and smart your mind really is. Of course I knew you were smart but you often keep a part of yourself hidden away, and I knew that. But reading those books, it gave me an insight to your mind and I loved it." He said solemnly, his words registering in my ear like poetry.

His words brought me a high I never knew I could experience. My whole body lit up at his words, a raging flutter in my stomach feeling strange compared to the usual knot and turning I usually experienced. A smile bloomed on my lips.

"You liked them?" I tried to hide my smile and how much his words meant to me.

"I love them. Please tell me you've nearly finished the third book so I can read it before anyone else." He pleaded, a grin on his face and a glint of happiness and excitement swirling in the depths of his dark eyes.

I bit my lip. "You can't. I will allow you to read my copy when it has been published. Best offer I can do."

He narrowed his eyes playfully and my smile transformed in to a grin. "What is the point of having a writer girlfriend if I don't have the perks of having a writer girlfriend? I should be your guinea pig."

I shrugged. "I never really liked guinea pigs."

"Why you little-" I shrieked when his fingers dug in to my waist, tickling wildly. He threw me backwards on the sofa, half lay on top of me while his fingers continued their attack.

"I'm... sorry!" I yelled, laughing uncontrollably. I struggled to breathe, gasping for breath in-between my fits of laughter.

After an eternity, his fingers relaxed. I gasped for breath, small chuckles still leaving my lips as I stared at him. His fingers grabbed mine, entwining them at our sides while his chin rested on my stomach, the hairs tickling at the skin where my top had ridden up.

"Because you have been punished, I accept your offer." He playful glared. His smile gave him away.

I nodded with a laugh. "Thank you for understanding. However, I do not thank you for the assault."

"Assault?!" He gasped.

I nodded solemnly. "I may have to go to the police."

I tried to keep a serious and blank face but as soon as he stuck his tongue out, his nose and eyes screwing up adorably, my facade broke and I fell in to bubbles of laughter again.

"Would you visit me in the cells?" He raises an eyebrow playfully.

"If you want me to have a panic attack in the middle of a police station." I nodded with a smile.

He thought about it for a second before he nodded, shrugging his shoulders. "Sacrifices have to be made."

My lips parted in shock. My eyes latch on to his and silence fills the room. His dark brown eyes have swirls of honey in them. They reminded me of a tiger-eye gemstone, dark brown and golden yellow, helping to release all my fear and anxiety just like the stone would.

His tiger-eyes were clouded with emotion and inch by inch, so slowly like a tectonic plate, he inched his head closer to mine. I held my breath as he hovered over me, our chests brushing against each others sending warmth through my entire body.

"Oaklee." He whispered and I inhaled sharply at the sound of his smooth and low voice, a tone I had never heard before. His scent invaded my senses, his cologne making me dizzy. "Can I kiss you?"

I couldn't find it in me to respond with words, my mind was scrambled and my windpipe was contracting in my throat but I managed a stiff nod, at least I think it was a nod.

He leaned down, his eyes closing, his nose brushing against mine, his breath fanning against my lips until finally they touched. It was the lightest of touches, a feathers touch, but it sent a shock through my body like never before.

I had never kissed anyone before and I never thought I would kiss anyone, it never bothered me before but now that his lips moved against mine and mine were frozen, I wished I had pushed myself to practice, even if it was just on a watermelon.

I copied him, closing my eyes and moving my lips hesitantly and slowly against his just like he was doing. It felt wrong, strange and stupid and just as I was about to pull away, to escape the embarrassment that was descending upon me, the smallest noise escaped his throat, something between a groan and a moan.

I stilled, wandering what I did wrong to cause pain to him and he took that stillness as a stopping sign. He pulled away, resting his forehead against mine with light pants leaving his lips.

"Wow..." He breathed out, his warm breath against my nose and mouth.

I swallowed the anxiety. "Was... Was that alright?"

His forehead left mine and instead he cupped my cheek with his palm, smiling softly. "That was perfect."

"W-What was that noise then?" I asked hesitantly, looking anywhere but his eyes.

With an exhale, he pulled his hand away, leaning away from me so he sat back on the sofa. "That noise was a noise to show I liked it. You did nothing wrong, in fact what you did was perfect. I liked it."

"Oh." I sit up, staring down at my fumbling hands.

"What's wrong?" His hand touched mine, stopping their fumbling.

I glanced up at him, staring in to his eyes and just like the gemstones, my anxiety vanished. "Our kiss. I liked it."

A smile lit up his face and he leaned closer again. "That's good."

I rolled my lips in to my mouth, biting the inside of my cheek to push away the fear. "C-Can we do it... again?"

"We can do it as much as you like." He muttered, pressing his lips against mine again with a little more pressure than last time.

I was more confident in my movements but I didn't know what to do with my hands. It was like he could hear my doubts and questions because his hands found mine, winding them around his neck and securing them there while his found my waist, pushing me down on the sofa again and hovering on top of me.

"Better?" He mumbled after we separated.

I nodded. "Better." Then I pulled him back down for another kiss.