Just when I think I have my shit together, I feel him.
My eyes flutter open, and there he stands. Just out of reach. Staring at me with those hungry eyes again.
I brush my tongue over my lips, my mouth suddenly dry.
He tracks the movement with his gaze, swallowing roughly, throat bobbing.
Then, he takes a slow step toward me.
And another.
I don’t move.
Not when he reaches out and slips his fingers over my hips.
Not when he steps closer, fitting himself against me like he’s done it before.
And not even when he leans forward, running his nose along my jawline up to my ear.
He pauses. And we’re back to not moving.
I can feel his chest brushing against mine, can feel how hard his heart is beating. Mine is doing the same.
I don’t know how long we stay like this. How many songs pass, how many bodies move around us. How many times his fingers tighten and loosen on my waist, like he’s fighting with himself to do something or walk away.
I’m fighting too.
Someone jostles us and he’s forced to close that last gap of space between us.
I feel him.
Everywhere.
“Fuck,” I hear him mutter quietly.
It comes out somewhere between a curse and a plea.
I don’t know who moves first, but suddenly our mouths are fused together.
Cooper Bennett is kissing me, and I kiss him back.
I twine my arms around his neck, driving my fingers through his hair, pulling at the ends. Pulling him closer.
His mouth moves against mine like he was made for kissing me. His tongue darts out to slide across the seam of my lips, wasting no time. He pushes inside my mouth, kissing me expertly.
And I guess he is an expert. His experience is much greater than mine has ever been.
Is this seriously what I’ve been missing out on? Kisses like this?
His hands hold my hips tightly, pulling me in. Holding me close like he’s scared if he lets go even just a bit, I’ll run. Scared I’ll come right back down to earth and realize this is the worst idea ever.
Oh shit. What am I doing?
Like he can read my thoughts, Cooper wrenches his mouth from mine, and we both gasp for air.
He peers down at me, eyes hazy and filled with a combination of desire and confusion.
What the hell are we thinking?