Page 46 of Pucking Your Best Friend

Matt looked at her with a frown. “Aha. And why is the kiss particularly good?”

“Just watch, Matt!”

“Okay.” He watched the screen, where the protagonist and lead actress were standing across from each other in the rain. The sun was setting behind them, disappearing into the shiny surface of a lake, while the man asked,“May I kiss you?”and she sniffed her reply,“I thought you’d never ask!”They tilted their heads and he wrapped his arms around her…

Matt snorted loudly. “Oh, come on, Maddie!”

She flinched. “Huh?”

“You can’t be serious.” He gestured at the television. “I expected more from you.”

“What?” she asked, perplexed, and pressed pause.

“Well, sunsetandrain. Isn’t that one cliché too many?”

“It’s romantic.”

“It’s cheesy. And heasksif he may kiss her?”

“It shows respect!”

“It’s evidence of a bad script! Sure, both parties should agree to a kiss and obviously, questions likeIs that okay with you?should be part of the first time. But, come on, that was lame. Not particularly romantic. He should have just grabbed her and kissed her.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re such a Neanderthal. It’s sweet that he asked her.”

“It ruins the moment! He should have communicated the question with his eyes.”

She snorted. “How do you ask with your eyes if you can kiss someone?”

“Well, withthelook!”

“What kind of look, Matt?”

“This one,” he said matter-of-factly, and then he turned to her and gently cupped her face in his hands. He cleared his throat and blinked several times as if he had to prepare his eyes for an important task…before finally looking at her. His eyes locked with hers. He absently stroked her cheek with his thumbs, sending goosebumps running down her neck, and automatically, Maddie asked herself if he was doing it deliberately. Was this part ofthe look,or what? Then, she lost the thought because Matt’s expression changed.

It was as if small flames were dancing in his irises. The light brown in his eyes darkened and turned to liquid chocolate. Maddie’s breathing quickened. She had the feeling that Matt was peering directly into her soul. Then, his gaze slowly slid downward. Over her lashes and nose to her lips, lingering there for what felt like an eternity. Caressing her. Making her feel like he was thinking about nothing but touching her with his ownlips. That his world revolved around her mouth…and then he blinked and smiled broadly.

It was probably because he had noticed her cheeks turning pink. “Oh, that one,” she croaked and swallowed, trying to chase away the heat that was coursing through her veins, making her heart beat faster.

“Yes.” He dropped his hands and nodded meaningfully. “Now tell me, women seriously find it hot when they’re asked to be kissed?”

“It’s polite,” she said firmly, distracted by her skin tingling where he had touched her.

“It’s silly! It takes the…hotness out of the kiss.”

“Hotness is not a word!” she informed him hoarsely. “And you’re wrong.”

For a few endless seconds, Matt just stared at her blankly. Then, he grabbed her and kissed her.

His lips landed on hers, rough and gentle at the same time, so suddenly that Maddie gasped in surprise, which Matt used to deepen the kiss and…her heart stopped. Just like time did.

She tasted something tart and veryMatt,before she melted under his touch. The pulse in her neck beat violently, frantically, and the heat of the kiss spread rapidly through her body. Matt’s stubble scratched her skin, making her shiver. He grabbed her neck whilegently sucking her lower lip between his. Her hands slid to his chest, since she needed to balance as his lips continued to press against hers, taking yet giving her enough space to explore for herself.

Before the kiss could really begin, though, Matt pulled away.

His hand fell abruptly from her neck as he leaned back and slid away from her. His pupils were dilated. His cheeks were flushed, as were his lips, as he murmured hoarsely, “See? Hotter than if I had asked you, right?”

She stared at him with her mouth still open. Her whole body vibrated and heat surged in waves through her abdomen.

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