The No-Kiss Blogfest -- Donna's Scene!

Today, bloggers throughout the blogosphere will post scenes from their WIPs, favorite books, movies, and TV shows that show the almost kiss -- the rising, crushing, excruciating, longing tension that comes from when two characters get oh-so-close to kissing that you can just feel it ... and then ... they don't!

(Sorry, Jacob, you just don't sparkle enough.)

Our lovely crit group member Frankie started this whole shebang at her personal blog, Frankie Writes, and of course we had to participate! (Did you guys miss the Official Kissing Day Blogfest a couple weeks ago? It was too much fun to read everyone's posts!)

Without further ado, here's the Donna Gambale contribution to the No-Kiss Blogfest! (Inspired by life's potential for drama on New Year's Eve.)

Natalie giggled. Uh oh. She never giggled, especially not at jokes by her ex-boyfriend. Her inner Tipsy-O-Meter flashed a warning. Giggling meant she was in the Bad Decisions category somewhere above Dancing Like an Idiot but below Karaoke. She set her half-full glass of wine down on top of the sink. One more sip might just inspire her to belt out "Wind Beneath My Wings." On second thought. She poured the drink down the porcelain, feeling significantly more sober.

"That's good wine you're wasting," said Ethan.

"You made me giggle."

"I'm not allowed to make you laugh anymore?"

"Not since you broke up with me." She wanted to say 'broke my heart,' but refused to lose any dignity she'd scraped together in the past eight months.

"I told you how much I regret that," Ethan said. He stepped closer and ran a finger from the hollow behind her ear down to the point of her chin, knowing that it always made her shiver. As her body reacted, Natalie realized that James still hadn't learned that particular trick.

"James," she repeated aloud.

"What?"

"My boyfriend. The one I came into the bathroom looking for in the first place?"

"If he disappeared on you, I'd be happy to be your date. You look beautiful tonight."

She avoided the compliment. "He didn't."

They'd gotten in a fight, actually. Because once Natalie saw Ethan at the party, she wanted to drown herself in wine, which James interpreted as "I'm still not over him."

She'd insisted she was, but now she couldn't bring herself to walk away. She could smell his spicy cologne, the same he'd always worn. While they dated, the slightest hint of it turned her on. After the breakup, it made her cry. And now? she asked herself. Definitely more of the tingle-in-the-belly reaction.

"Don't you have a date waiting for you out there?" Natalie said. Fifteen minutes had passed since she first walked in on him washing his hands. Fifteen more minutes than she ever thought she'd want to be in his company.

He shook his head. "I came to this party for you."

"Me? How did you know I'd be here?"

He smiled. "I asked around. And last year you said you wanted to go to Lydia's for New Year's."

Last year. When he was her midnight kiss.

Ethan moved closer, his shirt grazing her chest. Her breath caught.

"I made a mistake, Natalie. I tried to tell you, but you wouldn't talk to me."

She swallowed. "I'm talking to you now."

His lips brushed her forehead, and he wrapped a warm, slightly rough hand around hers. Those hands used to touch her. She looked into his eyes, really looked, and knew that he meant every word. He would be hers again, if she wanted.

"Ethan..."

He leaned forward so that their foreheads touched, and then his nose bumped hers softly. Eskimo kisses. She smiled without thinking and titled her chin to meet his, a breath away. The moment hovered between them. She felt his urgency, and his restraint. It was her decision.

Her entire body fought her as she moved backwards incrementally. But he didn't let go of her hand.

"I have to find James," she said, her voice cracking.

Ethan swallowed, then nodded. His thumb rubbed a slow circle in her palm. "If you change your mind..."

She slid her hand from his and walked back into the party, which suddenly was too loud for the confusion in her brain. A hand grasped hers a moment later, and she turned, a smile spreading across her face.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," James said.

She hated her disappointment. And her guilt.

"I'm sorry about before," he said. "I was being stupid."

She stood on tiptoes to kiss him. "Don't worry about it."

Natalie leaned into his arms, inhaling the fresh, light scent of his cologne. They hadn't been together long enough for her to associate it with him, but she'd been hoping to make those memories. Over James' shoulder, she watched Ethan walk out of the bathroom. He caught her eye, and though she knew James would be her midnight kiss, she wondered where her heart would be when the clock struck twelve.

Alright, there it is --- written just for you guys on the No-Kiss Blogfest! (Go HERE for Frankie's amazing scene.) Can't wait to read everyone else's!

What's your favorite almost-kiss from a TV show, book, or movie?