Page 50 of Moonlight and Mischief
Suddenly the only thing I want in the universe is to get as close to him as physically possible. Maybe that’s always been what I wanted and my walls are too brittle to stop me any longer. Our faces are inches apart, hands gripping, abdomens pressing.
“I was thinking about last week,” he says, his voice vibrating through me. “And if I had known that was your first kiss, I would have done things differently.”
“I…” I have no idea how to respond to that.
He keeps one hand on the small of my back, but the other skims my jaw. His skin might be flames, the way it burns me, but it feels so good as his thumb strokes down the column of my throat. I can’t look away. He’s a cobra, toying with his prey, and I desperately want to feel his fangs.
“If you don’t want me, please tell me or just walk away.” His voice is hoarse, none of the soothing rich tones he usually has.
Swallowing, I press my hips forward, aligning more of our bodies together. That will have to be answer enough, because there’s no way coherent words are coming out of my mouth right now.
He holds me in place, eyes searching for something. Is he deciding ifhewants this? When I’m aboutto melt into a puddle in his lap, he tilts my jaw, fingers tightening around my jaw and throat. A thrill runs through me.
Pulling me to him, he uses his grip to hold me still as our lips collide.
While our first kiss was heavenly, this one feels different. It’s intentional. Methodical. Sparks shimmer from every place we connect, pooling low in my core.
My lips part and his tongue tentatively teases me, coaxing my mouth open for him. It’s a jolt in my gut, the lush feeling of his tongue against mine.
He overwhelms me, and I sink backwards on the sofa, his legs hemming me in. The weight of him presses me into the cushion, solid and reassuring.
We kiss over and over, firm, soft, sweet. I’m addicted and I don’t want it to end. But when I slip my hands under his shirt and start to pull it upwards, he hesitates. I can feel his smile against my lips as he whispers, “This is your first kiss re-do, so let’s not go from zero to a hundred.”
That makes me giggle, despite the fact I also want to lick him and bite him and drag him to bed. He kisses me once more, and then stands up and offers his hand.
We get ready for bed, and I step into his bedroom, feeling jittery. He pulls me against him, my head tucked under his chin.
“Better first kiss?” he asks, barely above a whisper.
Blushing, I nestle in closer. “No complaints about the first one. But I think that might have been the best kiss in the history of the universe.”
“I can’t disagree.”
“So is that a one-time redo, or is this something we do now?” My attempt at casual fails, the lilt in my tone giving away my insecurity.
“If you like.”
“So we’re friends who kiss?” I ask, hoping he will demand more.
“Is that what we are?” he asks, the hesitation in his voice triggering a flash of panic that constricts my lungs.
“I think I’d like to do that again,” I say carefully, looking for a reaction. “And I think it’s safe to say you’re basically my best friend, so at the very least…”
“If that’s what you want,” he says, pressing his face into my hair..
“It sounds good to me,” I say. I’m too frightened he will pull away.
His heart beats through his skin against my cheek. He’s anything but calm. The moment feels fragile.
Nervously, I say, “I think I like kissing you. And with how stressful everything has been, it’s probably good for your stress, too.” Maybe I mean it as a joke, but it just comes out breathy. All my emotions are layering and muddying my happiness. I need to shut up.
“Okay,” he says, his thumb stroking my ribs.
Despite the unease churning in my gut, the shock of emotions has exhausted me, and I can’t keep my eyes open. His warmth soaks into every fiber of my being, relaxing me. If this is all we have, it’s enough for now.And with time, surely I can convince him he wants more.
JASPER
“Wake up! It’s getting late and I miss your face,” Marigold calls, breaking through my sleepy fog. Had I slept so late that I missed my morning run?
