Chapter 9: First Kiss

*Zain*

Although he hated to say goodbye, Zain walked Jasmine back to her parents’ apartment, knowing she couldn’t spend much more time in the sun. As fair as she was, she would fry.
“I had a nice time with you today,” he said as they walked toward her door.
Jasmine nodded, obviously having had enough outdoor fun. “So did I.” But as they walked toward her door—literally right on the beach—she paused. “Would you like to come in for a while? We can pop some popcorn and watch a movie.”
Zain shook his head. “Maybe some other day. But I would like to meet your parents, if that’s okay.” He laughed. “I don’t know what’s customary in your culture, but in my culture, the boy has to meet the girl’s parents before they go on their first date. Then, usually they have to bring along a little sister as a chaperone.”
Jasmine’s eyebrows rose in disbelief. “Seriously? In today’s day and age?”
He nodded. “‘Fraid so.”
“Well, lucky for you, I don’t have a little sister. I’m an only child. But don’t give my mother any ideas.”
He laughed.
Jasmine tilted her head to the side, looking innocent and sexy at the same time. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
Zain nodded. “I have an older sister. She calls me her baby brother, but I’m six-three, and she’s five two.” He laughed, shaking his head. “But man, does she have a temper! A word of caution: Stay on her good side.”
“Wow!” Jasmine’s eyes grew wide. “I’ll have to remember that.” She glanced toward the door and then smiled at Zain. “Well, come on in.” Jasmine inclined her head toward the apartment and started walking. “I guess now’s as good a time as any for you to meet my parents.”
Zain stopped, not expecting to meet her parents now. He would have liked to dress up a bit first. But he would gladly meet them now if she was okay with it. “If you don’t want me to meet your parents right now, it’s okay.” Even though he didn’t show it, his heart sank, not wanting to put any pressure on her.
Jasmine looked at him as if he were crazy, and then her face fell. “I’d like for you to meet them, but if you don’t want to—”
“No, it’s okay. I want to meet them.” He didn’t want to scare her, but it was important to him. Zain didn’t want to see her without her parents knowing, and his intentions were honorable. “I’m sorry. I misunderstood.” She seemed to be keeping this casual. Maybe he was making way more out of this than she was. He knew that she could easily break his heart if she wanted to, even though they hadn’t known each other long.
Jasmine nodded, and her gorgeous smile returned. “No problem. Let’s go.” When they approached her parent’s apartment, she walked inside, but he stood at the door, waiting to be invited in. “Mom! Dad! There’s someone I’d like you to meet!”
Her mother came around the corner, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. She looked up and smiled. “Jasmine, why didn’t you tell me you were bringing a friend over? I would have cleaned up a bit.”
“It’s fine,” Zain replied. “I love your apartment.”
Jasmine looked over at him, a smile coloring her lips. “Mom, I’d like for you to meet Zain Perez. Zain, this is my mother, Hannah Hunt.”
Zain extended his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hunt.”
She extended her hand daintily. Zain gave her hand a gentle squeeze and then released it.
“The pleasure is mine.” Hannah gave him a warm smile. “I’m sorry but my husband stepped out for a bit. He’s not in at the moment.”
“It’s not a problem,” Zain replied, returning her smile. “I can meet him another time.”
Jasmine’s mother studied him, waiting, her smile fading as a crease formed between her eyes.
“Mrs. Hunt, I enjoy spending time with Jasmine, and, with your permission, I’d like to start dating her,” Zain said, clasping his hands in front of him.
Suddenly, Hannah’s face fell. “Well, she’ll only be here for the summer. So, anything serious is out of the question.”
“Mom!” Jasmine shouted. “I like him, and I’m going to spend time surfing with him.” Jasmine rolled her eyes. “We’re not getting married tomorrow.”
Her mother wore a plastered-on smile when she turned to her daughter. “Dear, this is something we need to discuss privately.” Then she bent her head slightly and lowered her voice. “You know how your father feels.”
Jasmine nodded. “Perfectly.”
Zain’s heart fell, knowing it was over between them before it had even begun. But at least it was better to find out now rather than later.
Then Jasmine surprised him by taking his hand. “Zain, I’ll see you out.”
Zain nodded, forcing a smile. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hunt.” He was ready to leave but then thought better of it. “Mrs. Hunt, I can assure you that my intentions toward Jasmine are honorable.”
“We shall see,” Mrs. Hunt replied, all the while still wearing her fake smile.
One thing was sure: Her daughter was nothing like her.
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “Come on, Zain. I’m so sorry you had to experience that.” When they were outside, she walked toward the beach with him, out of her mother’s earshot as Zain followed. When they were near the water, she turned and folded her arms across her chest. “Zain, I’m so sorry.”
He tried to sound happy, even though his heart was breaking. “It’s okay. I understand.” He turned to walk away, but then Jasmine grabbed his arm, stopping him.
A crease formed between her eyes as she looked up with trusting eyes. “What do you understand?”
Zain sighed. She was going to make him say it, even though he needed to leave... now. “That you’ll never see me again.”
She placed her hands on his upper arms and cocked her head to the side. “Is that what you think?”
He nodded, suddenly lost in her eyes, endless pools of crystal-clear blue… even though he tried not to.
She reached up, just inches from his face, her eyelids becoming heavy. “You don’t know anything,” she said, her voice merely a whisper.
Unable to resist, he bent toward her and gently brushed his lips across hers, sending chills all over his body. Then his breath quickened as he deepened the kiss and passion overtook them both. He pressed his lips to hers, lacing his fingers in her soft, dark-brown hair that smelled like Jasmine. His lips parted, but she kept hers closed, and he could tell that he was the first guy she had ever kissed… and he was in over his head. He backed away, forcing himself to release her, wondering if he should really be dating her, after all. But deep down inside, he knew he could never walk away.