Page 45 of Halftime

I held my breath, afraid of what might happen.

He turned, looking annoyed. Then he looked surprised. Not pissed. Definitely not pissed. That sparked more courage. I used my other hand to grip the back of his head, and I kissed him.

13

Sebastien

Seeing Faith behind me was a shock. Especially since the look on her face was… And then she kissed me. I’d been upset with her, wanted to ask why she’d blown me off, if she had. Why she’d run after that night together. What she wanted. But none of that mattered, not here, not now, not while she was kissing me.

I wrapped one arm around her waist and threaded my other hand through her hair, holding her to me. I was almost afraid she’d vanish again. But she ran her tongue along the seam of my lips, and I opened to her, and then I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t thinking, just pouring myself into the kiss.

She tasted like beer and hope and Faith, and I never wanted to stop. I pulled away when I got dizzy and realized it was from lack of oxygen, not a surfeit of Faith. At least, I thought it was.

We were touching, chest to knees. My skin prickled, goosebumps rising, legs feeling weak. Slowly, the sounds of the party around me came back, but all I could see was Faith, her expression open and warm. Her face was right there, no need to kink my neck or bend my knees. Right there, at the perfect height for us to kiss for days, just as long as I remembered to breathe.

We should try that sometime.

“Hey.” I had a lot of other things I wanted to say, things likeDoes this mean we’re back together?AndWhy didn’t you get back to me?But I didn’t want to say any of that right now. I wasn’t sure I wanted those answers at the moment. I just wanted this, more of it, as often as I could have it.

“Hey.” She was a little breathless, and I probably was, too. Didn’t care.

“Um.” She bit her lip. “I need to say happy birthday to Anders, and see what Penny’s doing. Then maybe we should get out of here?”

I nodded. I just hoped we were getting out of here to do more of the kissing kind of stuff.

I slipped her hand in mine, prepared to take any advantage I could. She flashed a grin at me and led me through the house.

I’d follow her anywhere.

When we got to the birthday girl, Coop was there. He looked at me, then at our hands linked together, and he smirked. I didn’t know what exactly he’d done, but I was grateful.

ThanksI mouthed, and then I followed Faith again as we tracked down her roommate.

Penny’s eyebrows shot up when she saw us, and then she smiled, big and wide. It was a good night for smiling. She told Faith she was good to get home on her own, and then we were free to grab our coats and leave. We had to separate while we put on our coats and gloves, but once we were walking out the door, I reached for Faith’s hand again and found hers seeking mine. I gripped her gloved fingers tightly and let her lead the way.

She led us back to her dorm. Good idea, since I think some of my roommates were still at the hockey house, and I didn’t want to talk to anyone right now. We walked in silence. I didn’t know what Faith was thinking. I wasn’t thinking much of anything. For the moment, I was happy just to enjoy this.

Once we made it to her room and shut the door, I turned and pushed her against the wall. I framed her face in my hands and pressed my lips to hers. She opened, and there was that connection again. A connection I’d only found with her.

I could feel my dick waking up, ready to take this further, but I didn’t press against her. I didn’t want to risk spooking her. I would take sex off the table if we could be together and keep kissing.

I wanted lots and lots of kissing. Like when we first were together, before either of us took that next step. Faith melted into me for minutes or hours and then pushed me away.

“No, we need to talk, Seb.” Her voice was ragged.

I sighed, dragging in air. Her lips were swollen from our kisses, and her pupils were large in those amazing eyes. Her hair was mussed, and her skin was flushed.

Mine was, too, I was sure.

I wanted to keep kissing her. I was afraid talking was going to end this.

“I know, but one more—”

“No!” She slipped out of my reach. “One more kiss, and we’ll be naked in bed.”

I jerked forward, toward her, unable to stop myself. Was she trying to kill me?

She held up a hand. “I’d rather do that, but I think it’ll be better if we talk first.”

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