I asked for submissions for great kiss stories for Valentine’s Day and got a pretty great response! I hope these stories make your day a little better and tide you over until the next time you get to lock lips with someone that melts you like butter!

Random question…Why is there no Valentine’s tradition similar to mistletoe at Christmas?

1. “You never know where a single kiss will lead you”

I was going on a second date with a girl after the first had left me feeling very “ho hum.” I had even toyed with the idea of canceling but it’s just not in my DNA to do that. She was actually really cute and sweet in a way that was very unfamiliar to me. However, it was clear that we came from very different worlds. The date was going “fine ” and that is not a word you want to be using to describe a second date. She suggested that we go listen to some music after dinner which surprised me. I had assumed she didn’t feel a spark since I obviously hadn’t. We went to a little honky tonk and listened to an old school western swing band. We were there for a couple of hours and the date had turned from grim to bearable. I awkwardly tried to lead her around a dance floor but it was clearly to anyone watching us dance that we were not a couple. I spent the last part of the evening trying to find other guys to dance with her. Finally, it was time to leave. We were in the parking lot and about halfway back to the car when she stopped and turned towards me. She put her arms around my neck looked up at me and said in a very serious tone, “I’m going to kiss you now. Deal with it.” Before I had a chance to respond our lips connected. It was one of the most intense experiences of my entire life. It was as if her mouth was the only key that fit the lock that could release the intense passion inside of me. A bolt of lightning shot through my body but instead of leaving me lifeless, it left me feeling like I had enough power to light the city. To this day, I couldn’t tell you if we kissed for two minutes or for ten. All I know is that I spent five years with that gal and it was just because of that kiss.

2. “I guess he had a lust for life”

I was walking through the airport and a strange guy walked up to me and planted a huge kiss on me. I was so shocked that I didn’t even have time to react. When he finally let me go, I looked up at him and saw that it was Iggy Pop! I simply said, “cool.” and kept on walking to baggage claim.

3. “First date awesomeness”

I was on a first date that was going very, very well. Maybe I should say it was exceptional. There were a couple of awkward moments but for some strange reason our awkwardness seemed…normal. We had very similar wit and our style was complimentary. Conversation was flowing and our backgrounds had some strange coincidences. The problems started when the date was in the third hour…and then the fourth. It was clear that didn’t want the date to end. It was also obvious hat we were dying to test out chemistry and wanted to smash our faces into each other. In hour three we tried moving from outside the bar inside hoping that would reenergize the small talk and minimize any sexual tension. It did not. Five minutes later we decided to walk to a different bar hoping a change of scenery and a walk in the cool night air would turn down the heat a notch. You see…it was just the first date…we were TRYING to behave ourselves! Finally at the second bar we were both frustrated and were even getting a bit chippy with each other. Finally I turned to her and said, “Look, you and I both know that if weren’t at this bar…hell, if we were anywhere where there were less people we’d be making out. I’d invite you to my place but it’s our first date.” She turned to me and with a coy look in her eye said, “I’m not saying you are wrong. And you’re right..this is our first date.” I had to excuse myself to the bathroom so I could splash some cold water on my face. I decided that since we weren’t acting on our impulses the best course of action was to walk her back to her car and give her a good night kiss. Nothing wrong with a goodnight kiss, right? Totally appropriate for a first date! She had a totally different plan in my mind. As soon as I got back to the table she grabbed me by the shirt and pulled me in for a kiss that was powerful enough to make the ten other people sitting on the patio to take notice and fall silent. The release of the tension could have been felt a mile away. She climbed on top of me. We tuned the entire world out and enjoyed an absolutely dynamo makeout session that we will remember for a long, long time. When we came up for air she asked me what I thought we should do. I told her that I thought we needed to go make out in my car like we were teenagers. That is exactly what we did and it was freakin’ awesome. It was one of those first dates that you actually have to think about the next day and ask yourself if everything that you remembered in your head actually happened. It had. And it was AWESOME.

4. “A long time coming”

Aaron and I met in college – or rather, our friend groups met and started attending each other’s house parties. He was good looking, messy haired, tan, sexy surfer-type with a mischievous look in his eye, but a big smile which is what I loved about him.

At one particular house party Sophomore year, we were hazy-drunk and sitting together on the couch, just messing with my phone. As we talked, we kept leaning closer and closer together, holding the phone so that our hands were overlapping. Our voices dropped to a whisper and our movements became so slow, just anticipating what could happen. If he had kissed me right then… oh man.

Sadly, the moment was broken by who knows what, and the party continued. I went home, the school year ended, I met some other guy, started dating him, and that was that. But our friends still hung out so we’d have occasion to see one another, and without fail, our eyes would meet across the room and linger, and we’d smile, thinking ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda’ – the classic story of missed opportunity.

Fast forward four years. All of us had graduated at this point and moved back to the same town. My ex and I had broken up about a month prior, and I was living wild and carefree, enjoying the single life. The old group decided to get back together and hit the town. We went to a crowded club, and Aaron reached for my hand to pull me close to him and onto the dance floor. We weren’t even dancing, just standing there pressed against one another, alternating glances from our eyes to our lips, smiling, knowing that something we’d wanted to happen for so long was finally about to. Finally he bent his head forward and kissed me, slowly at first and then eagerly. All that pent up chemistry made for one unforgettable, explosive kiss! We’re talking weak-in-the-knees, heart-racing, room-spinning, vision-blurring, can’t-form-a-coherent-thought kind of kiss!! Those DO exist! I get butterflies just thinking of it!

I was in a glowy haze that night and every other day I spent with him – just a useless human being, but a very happy one. Each time he’d kiss me it was the same feeling all over again. I literally had to pull over when he kissed me at a stop light because I couldn’t focus. Then a week later he moved across the country for grad school. Maybe that’s why we lived like there was no tomorrow. We texted for a while after that, then both moved on. He’s got a lady friend (I’m so much cooler though…) and I’m back to my single shenanigans. It’s still nice to think about him and feel my little heart flutter.

5. “What is it about a god damn train?!”

My girlfriend and I had been dating for a couple of years. Our relationship was rocky but never short on passion and chemistry. After a particularly tumultuous two week stretch, she surprised me with tickets for a train ride in the Hill Country. We had a private room in the train and there was a nip of nostalgia in the air. I was prepared to hold my gal’s hand and watch the world go by out the window of this old, steam engine powered train. We had been moving for about ten minutes when something primal came over me. I can’t explain it. It was something visceral and animalistic that wasn’t going to be denied. We were standing up drinking some champagne when this spell came over me. I shot her the most intense look I have ever given another human being. At first, the intensity confused her and she asked me what was going on. I never broke my gaze as I told her that I was going to ravage her. She said, “Absolutely not! This train is going too slow! People outside can see us!” I said nothing. I gently put my hand against her stomach and pushed her up against the wall. I raised both of her hands over her head and held them both in my left hand. I took my free thumb and gently brushed it across her lips. I then moved the hand to the back of her head and pulled her in for a kiss that must have felt like a miniature earthquake to those on the train. I literally felt her entire body tremble…then go limp. I actually had to catch her. When she regained her composure she was no longer worried about the off chance someone might see…

6. “Something online and can turn to something super real in a hurry”

I met the love of my life just months after I escaped m terrible marriage, so yeah, the timing was way off. We met online and spent weeks instant messaging before we met. We finally agreed to get together at a place I felt comfortable: Whole Foods in downtown Austin. I was incredibly nervous.

Even though it feels crazy to me even now, I had already felt a real connection with this man I had never met. Like I was already falling a little bit in love with this person I was about to meet in the flesh for the first time.

I was so nervous the entire lunch. I have no idea what we talked about. What I did know from the jittery feeling in my stomach was that I really liked this guy.

We walked across the street to a bookstore to continue our date over coffee. I felt much more animated and relaxed (thanks caffeine!) and our banter was funny and comfortable. I excused myself to go to the ladies’ room and when I came back he was looking at books. I tilted my head and smiled, I wanted him to get that I *liked* him, that he wasn’t going to get relegated to the “friend zone.” I touched the tops of his forearms and briefly squeezed, just to establish some flirty physical contact.

The Kiss (Finally)

I glanced up to gauge his reaction and was completely stunned to realize his mouth was coming towards mine. I briefly panicked, I was caught off guard and was trying to figure out which way to turn my head when I felt his hand–gentle and firmly confident–cup my chin and angle my face towards his.

I relaxed into his touch and felt like I was falling, melting as he kissed me. It had been so long since I had felt truly adored, desired and I could feel my heart beating hard in my chest. He was a REALLY great kisser. It was literally the best kiss I had ever had, and I was 32 so that’s quite an accomplishment, not to mention a huge surprise for me.

He stopped much sooner than I would have preferred, every nerve in my body protested as he pulled away and guided me towards the stairs so he could pay for his book.

He was parked at the book store, my car was still in the garage at Whole Foods so we stood at the sidewalk in front of the busy street and kissed and kissed. His hands were tangled in my hair and cars were honking as they passed us. I know….get a room! I walked back to my car on shaky legs and drove to meet friends at Blues on the Green.

I started getting texts from friends giving me the heads’ up that he had updated his Facebook status: “Still tingling from the first kiss…and the second…and the third.”

Me too.

7. “One last goodbye smooch”

I was married to the same wonderful man for almost seventy years. He was a decorated fighter pilot in WWII and made me swoon at least once a day for almost my entire life. He died of complications from Alzheimer’s on my 86th birthday. It had been a really long time since he had recognized me. I’d come to visit and he’d think I was someone different every time…but never his wife. However, he always recognized who I was in our wedding photo that was next to his bed. Everyday he’d say to me and the nurses, “Do you see that gal there? That’s my sweetheart and my co-pilot.” He had been calling me his co-pilot since our first date. The nurses called me real early on my birthday and told me that Bill had passed. They also told me that they though it was important that I come see him before they moved him. I didn’t understand why but I had bonded with the nurses and trusted them. When I walked into Bill’s room I couldn’t believe what I saw. Bill was clutching our wedding photo and I swear it looked like he was pressing his lips against the picture of me. We had a lot of memorable kisses…but I promise I felt that one more than any other.

8. “Turn and face the strange”

I had a make out session with a guy in a pioneer cemetery that was dressed like David Bowie. We exchanged a kiss that would have even made Bowie blush while listening to “Space Odyssey!” I haven’t even told you the best part- I was ALSO dressed as David Bowie! We were part of a Prince vs. Bowie costume bike ride. Needless to say…we got chased out by security. Totally worth it!

9. “Is this covered by my tuition?”

When I was in college I was really attracted to my advisor. I think she was attracted to me to as well but she was seeing someone. She had pictures of her and a boy all over her office. Then a year later I saw her on a dating website and couldn’t believe it! I immediately emailed her and asked her for a date. She said that she couldn’t date me since I was still a student. I decided I needed to make an appointment to see my advisor to clear up some final details. 😉 She verified all of the things I wanted to confirm. I verified that she knew what it was like to be dipped and passionately kissed in the middle of her office! 😉

10. “Strike a pose”

In college I won a Madonna look-alike contest. He won the Sean Penn look-alike contest. After we accepted our trophies we went outside and made out in the grass. It was dirty and sexy; everything you imagine that the real Madonna-Sean Penn marriage was like. Madonna dedicated her third album “True Blue” to Sean. I also left this Sean “truly blue!” I wonder what his real name was?

