Page 58 of The Kiss Class

“Good thing I doodled instead.”

“To really learn how to kiss, you have to practice.”

“Is that so?” She lifts her eyebrows and wears an adorable grin.

“Mmmhmm. Frequent practices.” Taking her hand, I lead her into the sitting room with the softly glowing Christmas tree.

I say, “Keeping our Merry Kiss Me kiss in mind, recall our first lesson.”

“Breathe,” shesays.

We both draw a soft breath.

“For the second lesson, we got more comfortable with each other. We don’t have to be dancing, but think of our positions as a standing cuddle.”

Cara giggles and I cannot ignore the curve of her lush lips as I anticipate what’s coming.

Then she stiffens. “Wait. Do I keep my eyes open or close them?”

“You’ll know when to close them.”

Her throat bobs on a swallow. “Do I move my head from side to side or—?” Making kissing lips, she demonstrates.

We both laugh. Then she raises her hand as if we’re really in class and she has a question.

I twine my fingers into hers and then, with my other hand, I hold her jaw in my palm. “Trust that you’ll know what to do.”

Fretting, she asks, “What if I hiccup?”

I chuckle. “Don’t overthink it. Just be in it. Let go.”

Nodding, she says, “Okay, but how do I know when it’s over?”

My grin is irrepressible because her first kiss fears are adorable. “It’s over when we can’t stop smiling.”

The corners of her mouth lift, making her eyes sparkle.

“Amour, you don’t have to worry.” But I do. My heart is on fire.

“Why not?” she asks, her voice small.

I tip her chin up slightly. “Because you’ve got me. Forget everything else.”

Taking a deep breath, she asks, “I do?”

“You do,” I repeat as my gaze dips, turning heavy.

She leans in, lifting onto her toes.

We’re a breath apart.

“Are you sure?” I ask to confirm she wants this.

“Yes,” shewhispers.

Our mouths crush together because Cara doesn’t need lessons. She’s a natural. I’d like to believe that’s because she was holding out, passing up other guys, for me.

With her lips on mine, this is one of those situations where I want to hold on super tight to the grass outside or to a tree so I don’t fall off the earth.

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