Finally, His mouth brushes against mine—soft, barely there. Like a tease. But the moment it happens, something inside me stirs.
His lips brush more against mine, once, then twice, slow and deliberate, as if he’s memorizing the shape of my mouth. My breath catches, and I’m frozen in place, not because I don’t want this, but because I don’t know what to do with the way it makes me feel. My skin prickles, my fingers twitch at my sides, and my chest tightens like I’ve been submerged in warm water.
He pulls back just slightly, his nose brushing against mine, and I barely get the chance to breathe before his lips press mine again. The warmth of his mouth pulls me under, and instinct kicks in.
My lips press back, clumsy, searching, desperate, and the second I do, he makes a sound deep in his throat—one I feel more than hear—and the kiss shifts.
His hand tightens on my throat, his other hand leaves my waist and slides into my damp curls, tilting my head exactly how he wants, and my body shudders.
The kiss turns hungry, urgent. His mouth claims mine, coaxing me to open, to follow his lead. My body reacts before I can think. My lips part, and he takes advantage, his tongue brushing against mine in a way that makes my knees turn jelly, and a quiet, desperate noise escapes me. Heat curls low in my stomach, spreading fast, leaving me breathless.
My hands find the front of his shirt without thinking, gripping onto the fabric like it’s the only thing keeping me grounded as the kiss turns hotter, deeper, the desire in my body igniting and consuming.
It’s my first kiss. And fuck, I didn’t know a kiss could feel like this. I didn’t know a kiss could feel this…intimate. It’s overwhelming and a reminder that Alex is touching something in me that no one ever has.
His hand leaves my neck and wraps around my waist, pulling me closer until there’s no space between us. I can feel the bulge of his erection against my abdomen, and close to mine. And fuck he feels so huge.
Everything about him is huge.
I should pull away, I should—but the slow drag of his tongue, the way he tastes, the heat rolling off his body, and his rich scent made me press my hips closer, and I don’t even realize I’m doing it until he lets out a deep groan against my mouth.
I shiver when his lips move down slightly, kissing the corner of my mouth before capturing my lips again, deeper, like he can’t get enough.
And I can’t either.
It’s dizzying. A slow, unraveling heat coils in my stomach, making my knees feel weak. I’ve never felt like this before—like my body is on fire, yet I don’t want to pull away. I don’t even want to breathe if it means breaking this moment.
He exhales against my lips, his hands gripping my waist a little tighter. Then he slows the kiss, his mouth lingering against mine before pulling back just an inch.
My eyes flutter open, my breath uneven, and when I look at him, I see something in his gaze that makes my stomach flip like he’s holding himself back.
We’re both breathing hard, the air between us thick with something unspoken. I swallow, my hands still clenching the fabric of his shirt. That was… I don’t even know how to put it into words.
He studies me for a moment, his fingers twitching like he wants to pull me back in. Instead, his thumb brushes over my bottom lip, his voice rough when he finally speaks.
“You taste even better.”
I can’t help the blush that creeps up my neck and ears.
His arms tighten around me, firm and unwavering.
“Hold on tight,” he says, and before I can process what’s happening, my feet leave the ground.
A gasp slips out, my hands instinctively clutching his shoulders. Oh my god— My legs wrap around his waist in reflex, my body pressing close. My face ends up buried just below his neck, heat rising on my skin. I can feel the solid warmth of him beneath my fingers, the steady rise and fall of his chest. His grip is effortless, like I weigh nothing to him.
I don’t know why this makes my pulse stutter.
Alex carries me inside and up the stairs like it’s the most normal thing in the world. Meanwhile, my heart is a chaotic mess, my mind looping back to what just happened. The way he kissed me, touched me, and tasted. I don’t know how he can be so calm about it while I feel like I’m about to die.
The moment we reach the bedroom—his bedroom, he strides into the bathroom and gently sets me down on the cool tile. His hands linger for half a second, then he steps back, looking down at me.
“Wait here,” he says, then walks through a corner in the enormous bathroom. He comes out after a while holding some folded clothes.
“Shower,” he says, handing them to me. “I need to go change, then plate the sushi. I’ll bring them up here so you can eat.”
I swallow, nodding.
He watches me for a moment longer, his gaze unreadable, sharp, like he’s deciding something. Then, without another word, he turns and walks out, shutting the door behind him.
