She snorts. “I’ve not even kissed you yet.”
“Kissin’s not just lips and tongue. You can foreplay a kiss just like you can a shag.”
“Huh.” She rubs my beard again, smiling slightly when my eyes fall closed. “You like this.”
“You could touch me anywhere and it’d feel good,” I say honestly. Her smile widens. Digging her nails into the back of my neck, she presses forward, kissing me again. This time, she pecks me once, slow and soft, before letting her lips part and slipping her tongue into my mouth. I can’t help the low noise of surprise that falls out of my chest as our tongues stroke together.
It’s not a bad kiss. I’ve certainly had worse. But her body is still stiff against mine, and all of her movements are weirdly rehearsed. She Frenches me for a few seconds, then goes back to the long pecks. Then she repeats the pattern again. And again. It feels like she’s trying to follow a list of instructions. Which, knowing her, she probably is.
Eventually, she pulls away. I smack my lips, considering, as she waits for the verdict. “Better,” I say slowly.
She looks affronted. “Better? I thought that was good!”
“You’re still thinking too hard, lass.” I run a hand through her pale hair. “I can practically hear cogs turning in your head.”
Her brows furrow. “But… how am I supposed to do it right if I don’t think about it? I’ve not kissed enough people for it to come naturally.”
I hum. “How about you let me take over? You know how to do this, lass, it’s just all locked up inside here.” I tap the side of her temple.
She scowls. How do you know I know how to do it, when—”
“Oh, for God’s sake,” I mutter, sinking my hands into her hair and crashing our mouths together.
FOURTEEN
LAYLA
I gasp as heat wires through my body.
When I was kissing Zack, I was trying to be nice about it. It’s awkward kissing your best friend — I didn’t want to just lean forward and start sucking his tongue.
Zack doesn’t care about being nice. Wrapping a strong hand around my throat, he kisses me hotly and hungrily. I melt, letting him drag me into his fierce, hard rhythm. He tastes like honey and smoke and whiskey. I lap the flavour right out of him, and feel my breath getting faster as my body lights up. When I get brave enough to nip at his bottom lip, he growls like a bear, yanking me closer. I pant against his mouth as arousal rolls through me.
Jesus, is this what kissing is supposed to feel like? I feel like I’m going to explode. Like all of the tension that’s been slowly building inside me since our date is boiling over. It’s like I’ve lost control of my own body, all of my limbs moving on instinct. He cups my jaw, making a low, rough sound that goes straight between my legs.
Closer. I want to be closer.
I wriggle closer on his lap, jamming my hips against his. Our bodies rub over each other. My hand slides up his thick thigh, and he wraps his fingers around my wrist, drawing my hand up higher, towards the waistband of his jeans…
Josh coughs, and we yank apart. Zack’s eyes drift open slowly. He licks his lips.
“Right, then,” he says. “Huh.” He clears his throat. “Quick learner, aren’t you?”
I slip off his lap, breathing hard. My skin feels hot under my clothes. I’m wet and throbbing. I don’t think I’ve ever been turned on by kissing before, but right now, I’m so hot it’s literally uncomfortable.
I turn back to face Josh. He’s sitting stiffly on the armchair, his eyes fixed on us, his cheeks pink. He clears his throat and nods.
“Yeah. You look fine,” he says, his voice rough. “I wouldn’t worry.”
“Right.” I look down. “Good.”
We’re all silent for a few seconds. I squeeze my thighs together.
“Uh oh,” Zack says. “I know that face. You’ve fallen for me, haven’t you?”
I scowl at him. “What? No.”
He tuts. “I warned you I was powerful, babe. You shoulda been more careful.”
I jab him hard in the ribs, making him grunt and double over. “Get over yourself. It was just for practice.”
“You say that now, lovebug, but I’m like a drug,” he insists. “Tomorrow, you’ll be wanting your daily fix.”
I snort and stand. “As if. I need the bathroom.”
“Need to calm yourself down?” He nods understandingly. “I get it, babe. Take your time. Do some breathing exercises. It’ll pass.”