Page 35 of Play Dirty

“Don’t you want to? Is he gross or something?”

“Oh. No, not at all. He’s very handsome. It’s just…” I pull my lower lip through my teeth. “I haven’t kissed anyone since Damien, and I don’t want my first kiss since that disaster to be with a stranger.”

He searches my face as if looking for the answer to a question.

One that I’m nervous about asking.

One I didn’t think I would—or could—ask.

“What can I do?” he asks softly, his eyes never leaving mine.

“I… would it be a huge ask for… you to do it?”

Chapter11

Marty

She’s kidding,right?

A huge ask to kiss one of the most beautiful women in the world?

Jesus, I feel like I should play the lottery or something.

But the look on her face is so sincere, so worried, I know I can’t crack a joke.

She’s serious.

Like this is something inconvenient.

I can’t even wrap my head around that.

We almost kissed once before, and we both handled it badly.

I don’t think I should bring that up, though.

“You want me to kiss you?” I ask instead. Just to make sure. To be a hundred percent positive she didn’t blurt it out and then change her mind.

“I know we’re just friends but I think?—”

“Shh.” I don’t want her to overthink things. “We almost kissed once … remember?” Maybe it is a good idea to remind her. Let her know that there’s been chemistry between us for a while now.

“I…remember.” Her eyes start to close, and I’m immediately drawn in.

What man in his right mind wouldn’t want to kiss her?

I lower my mouth to hers, slowly, gently, nuzzling her lips.

She may not realize it, but it’s my first time kissing anyone since separating from my wife. I haven’t had the energy to deal with one-night stands and though I’ve been tempted a few times, it didn’t feel right.

Kissing Stevie feels perfect.

Like coming home even though we’ve never done this before.

I brush my lips back and forth across hers a few times, savoring the softness of her skin and the way she moves against me, her body warm against mine. I slide an arm around her waist and pull her closer but continue to just tease and nuzzle. If this is the one and only time Stevie Marchand lets me kiss her—I’m sure as fuck not going to rush it.

She tastes like cinnamon and margaritas, which is an oddly satisfying combination—in this scenario at least. Her mouth yields to mine, waiting for me to take it further, and I coax out her tongue. That first slide is tentative but then we find our rhythm. She’s sweet and feminine and sensual, lips and mouth fused to mine. I’m not sure how far I’m supposed to take this, how much of a gentleman I need to be, so I’ll let her guide us.

As wonderful as it is—no matter how much I’m enjoying it—I have to remember that this isn’t real.

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