Page 36 of Nerdelicious
I can’t tell what he’s thinking. He blinks rapidly, looks out the front window. Lets out a huff and then faces me. His gaze darts for a hot second to my mouth before returning to my eyes.
Then he types into the phone.But would that be like cheating?
“No. You and Caroline went out for coffee once. You haven’t discussed dating exclusively, and it’s only a kiss. We won’t do anything else. It’s practicing. As friends.”
Just a kiss.
“Yes.”
He types and then his head whips up to watch me read his words.You’re sure you want to kiss me?
I laugh. “Beast. You’re hot. Trust me, it’s not going to be a hardship.” My face warms with the words, but he should know the truth.
His brow crinkles in this adorably confused way.Hot?
I nudge his arm with my shoulder. “Stop fishing for compliments. I know I don’t need to explain that further.”
But I don’t know what I’m doing. And I’m weird.
I laugh. “No, you aren’t. I’m the epitome of weird. My best friends are fictional characters. The weirdest person in this truck is me.”
I hold my breath and wait for him to answer. I want him to say yes. I want him to say no. What if this is an awful idea?
But then... he nods.
A flash of surprise followed by a fluttering of nerves skates through me. “Okay, then.” My mouth is dry.
I angle my body to face him. He watches, his head turned in my direction, but he doesn’t move. His frame is rigid, shoulders tense.
“Relax. We’re not doing anything crazy, just a simple brush of lips. No tongue. Don’t be nervous.”
I’m trying to convince myself more than him. My hands are clammy and my heart is thumping like it’s attempting to exorcise itself from my body.
He turns and now we’re facing each other directly.
He watches me with the same blank expression he’s had since the moment we met, but now it’s different. Now I can almost reach out and touch the thoughts flickering underneath the surface. The twitch in his jaw, covered by the scruff on his face. His features are hard planes, serious and austere, but there’s a twinkle in his eyes mirroring my own curiosity and nerves.
I place a hand on his shoulder. There’s no way I can reach his mouth without a little help. “Want to meet me halfway here, big guy?”
After a slight hesitation, he tilts down. I stretch up. With an intake of breath, I lean into him and brush my lips against his. It’s no more than a whisper of movement.
But I feel like I’m taking advantage of him or something. I lean back to search his face. He’s tense. His mouth was relaxed against mine, but his eyes are screwed shut.
I smile and my nerves flutter away. “Beast,” I murmur.
His eyes blink open, then search mine.
“We don’t have to do this.”
He signs,I want to.
“Are you sure?”
He nods.
“Okay. Then relax. Breathe slowly through your nose.”
He lets out a breath and then nods again.
