Page 51 of Studious
“I’m not answering that.”
I tilt up his chin with my finger, looking into his whiskey-colored eyes. “Alden, be honest with me.”
He reddens. “No.”
“Please,” I wheedle.
“Fine. I want it to be you.” He meets my gaze, defiant, and a zing of electricity rockets through me.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” I say slowly.
“Why?”
“Because don’t you want your first to be someone who you could… ” Actually end up with. Have a relationship with. I don’t say the words, but I think he gets the idea.
“Danny, I’m at the point where I just want to be kissed, and you’re hot, so there you go.”
I want to drag him into my arms right now, exhaust fumes and random pedestrians be damned. He’s eminently kissable. He has this way of biting his lip and giving me a shy smile that makes me want to do very dirty things to him. Plus, his unsullied innocence is captivating. It’s not that he’s sexually inexperienced—or it’s notonlythat—but how he’s so willing to let me guide him.
If he really wants a kiss, who am I to second-guess him? I can credit him with the agency to know his own mind.
Even though I’m concerned he may later regret this choice, I’m not sure I’m a strong enough or a good enough human being to say no to him. Because I want to kiss him for me, too.
“When do you want your first kiss?”
Alden lets out a frustrated noise. “It’s all built up in my mind now. It’s annoying. At this point, I want to get it over with.”
“That’s not the right attitude.”
“I know. I’m being super romantic.” He rolls his eyes.
“Well, there’s no time like the present,” I point out. “Do you want to do it right here on the sidewalk?” My pulse has ratcheted up so I feel it in my ears and eyeballs.
“What?” Alden’s jaw drops, literally drops, and he’s so adorable, I can’t even stand it.
“Do you want me to kiss you?”
“Are you kidding me? I told you I don’t want to be made fun of.”
“I’m serious. Yes or no?” I can’t help the gruffness in my voice. And I can’t help but focus on his plump lips. I step closer to his slim form. I want to touch him. I want to run my fingers through his hair and trace his jaw. I want to press against him, hip to hip.
“Yes,” he whispers.
Before I can stop myself, I lean over, slide my hand behind his head, and kiss him. I’ve got a little bit of scruff right now, and it scrapes against his smooth skin.
He stands there like a fish, and I chuckle against his soft lips. No chance of him parting them for me to slip him the tongue. God, he smells good, though. “It’s okay to kiss me back,” I say against his mouth, then lean back, studying him. His eyes are closed, and he looks so sweet. Like he’s waiting for a prince. Not me.
Alden reddens and opens his eyes, then sighs and bites his lip. Now I want to bite it. “But how?”
“Just give it a try. Trust me. You know how to kiss instinctively, I’m sure of it.”
He hesitates, then seems to pull resolve from somewhere deep. I smile. “Is it a problem? You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Shaking his head, he whines softly and then tentatively puckers up and stands on tiptoe to kiss me. We’re touching only at the lips, our bodies forming an archway.
I step into him, getting us much closer. Chest to chest. Hips to hips. And, of course, mouth to mouth.
And I take control. With one hand on the back of his neck and the other at his waist, holding him to me, I whisper, “Let me in.”
