Page 79 of Sweetheart

This time I stood on tiptoe and pressed my mouth more firmly to his. The sparks started up again, and before it could get too far, I drew back.

"Better?" I asked.

"Honestly?" When I nodded, he said, "It wasgood, but where's the heat?"

I crossed my arms. "You're kidding, right? There was heat in that kiss."

Sam stared at me a second, then his eyes shifted to something to our left.

"Hey, Felix," he called out. Startled, I followed hisgaze and found the guy he was talking to, leaning up against one of the bleachers severalfeet away. He was dressedall in black. Blackt-shirt with the sleeves rolled up, black jeans, and black shoes.His hairlooked black too. Even from a distance, he gave off intimidating, don't-mess-with-me vibes.I hadn't even noticed him until now which was crazy because the guy was tall and hard to miss. "On a scale of one to 10, how would you rate that kiss?"

Felix thought about it a second then held up two fingers.

"Thanks, man," Sam said.

"A two?" I said indignantly. "He seriously just gave me a two?"

"Technically, he gave us a two,but yeah. I told you, Kent. It's missing something."

That low score had officially awakened my competitive streak.

"Let's try again," I said.

Sam nodded, and when I leaned forward, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer, he came willingly. Our mouths moved together. It was like a song, a slow one that built with intensity the longer we stayed connected. I was slightly out of breath when I stepped back. Looking over my shoulder, I raised a brow at Felix.

The guy gave me a blank stare.

A second later, he held up a hand.

I scoffed. "Five? What the what? That kiss was at least a six."

"Hey, no argument here," Sam mumbled.

"Who is that guy anyway?"

"Felix Sorensen. We grew up together. He's a friend."

I frowned at that. "Some friend. He's dissing my kissing technique."

When I looked back at Sam, he was staring at my lips.

"I've never gotten a failing grade in my life," I said.

"Wouldn't want to start now," he said back."But if you don't want to do this, it's okay."

"One more kiss."

"Whatever you want," Sam said and pulled me closer.

Those words would replay a thousand different times in my mind.

I kissed him, and this time I didn't hold back. My lips moved over Sam's with intention. All the emotions I'd been fighting, the frustration at having to hide them,I let it all pour outinto that kiss. The sparks turned into flames that started low in my stomach before expanding outward, licking up my insides, until I felt the kiss everywhere. When I ran my tongue along the seam of Sam's lips, he opened. Whenour tongues met, I whimpered at how right it felt. Sam's handstightened on my waist in response, and when I lifted up higher on my toes, trying to get closer, feeling like I could never be near enough, he held me so close it felt like we were one. I'd never felt so wrapped up in another person. Never felt so connected. The kiss lasted forever and not nearly long enough.As he lowered me back to the ground, Sam stayed attached to my lips, following me, and I couldn't help it. I caught his bottom lip and gave it a slight tug before releasing him, letting him know without words how much I wanted him and how pissed I was that he couldn't see it.

Sam's breath hitched, and as we parted, his eyes stayed on mine.

I cleared my throat then said, "Let's see what your friend Felix thought about that."

But when I looked back, the guy in black had disappeared.

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