Page 93 of Wicked Love

“I don’t know whether to be offended or amused that you compared me to Darcy. The guy’s a bastard.”

She giggles. “A little, yeah. He’s broody, hard to read, doesn’t like to make conversation just for the sake of it…sound familiar?”

“More like rude and standoffish.”

She raises an eyebrow and when we reach the car, I move closer so that she’s got her back against the door. I lean into her and hover over her mouth.

“You think I’m rude?”

“Not always.”

I sputter. “I just don’t dance for coffee unless I have to.”

She snorts. “Right. Darcy would’ve never agreed to that.” She stands on her tiptoes and kisses my cheek. “I guess you’re not as bad as Darcy.”

I give her a dry look. “High praise.”

Her hands hook around my neck and she grins. “And way better hair,” she whispers.

I decide then that I kind of love it when she teases me.

There’s a sudden hush, as every distant sound and worry falls away, and our lips slowly, softly meet. It’s featherlight and then deepens as our bodies melt into each other. I explore her sweet mouth, the lingering taste of strawberries from the dessert we shared, and kiss her until we’re both breathless.

“I bet Darcy didn’t kiss like that.” I open her car door and she sinks onto the seat, looking up at me with glazed eyes.

“No, he did not,” she says.

We talk about the play all the way to her house and then I walk her to her door. She hesitates and I don’t want her to feel like she has to invite me in. I give her a chaste kiss.

“Thanks for a great night,” I tell her.

“It was a lot of fun, Bowie,” she says shyly.

When I get home, I text her.

Darcy wouldn’t have told Elizabeth that kissing her has become his favorite thing in life. What a dumbass.

Poppy

Is there something you’d like to say, Bowie?

I grin. I love it when she’s sassy.

Kissing you has become my favorite thing in life. I’d like to do a lot more of it. Please. If you’re game.

Poppy

I’m game.

Night, Poppy.

Poppy

Night, Bowie.

The next day I call her during her lunch break.

“Hey!” she says, sounding surprised.

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