Page 39 of Roman and the Hopeless Romantic
“Cassie,” he whispered.
She murmured but didn’t wake.
A smile tilted his lips. He was doing this—as long as it was what she still wanted. Reaching up, he brushed hair away from her forehead. “Cass.”
Her eyelids fluttered open, and she blinked at him, her long lashes brushing her cheeks. “Rome?” Sleep clouded her voice, and she sat up, rubbing her eyes. “What are you doing?”
He blew out a breath, all the confidence he normally had around girls slinking away. “Can I sit?”
She nodded.
Roman sat across from her on the bed and folded his legs up underneath him. “I…”
A smile curled her lips. “Look who’s silent now.”
“I like it when you talk to me.” He cringed. “That sounded weird.”
“Not in this context.” She shrugged.
“I want it to be me.” He forced the words out as if he was the one who’d never been kissed before.
Cassie turned so her entire body faced him. He saw the moment understanding dawned on her shadowy face. “Roman, you don’t have to—”
“Cass, stop. Listen to me, okay. You’ve always been obsessed with romance. For a girl as tough as you, it’s been one of your more charming traits.”
“I’m not tough.”
“Okay, first rule of kiss club: No putting yourself down.”
Her lips twitched. “Kiss club? Isn’t the first rule supposed to be we don’t talk about kiss club?”
He shook his head. “That can be rule number two, but it’s not as important as the first.”
She bit back a smile and nodded. “Go on.”
“Rule number three: We—” His words cut off as Cassie leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. He froze for only a second before responding.
A million thoughts raced through his mind.
This is Cassie.
Jesse is going to kill me.
I’m going to be kicked out.
Her lips parted, and she deepened the kiss, taking control as if she’d done it a million times before.
He sighed against her lips.
This is Cassie.
