Then he winces.
“God. Did that make this awkward?”
I actually smile.
“Jamie, I just told you that I’m not as straight as you, and everyone else around me thought. I don’t think you confessing you want to kiss me is going to make things awkward.”
He laughs, breathless.
“And there’s a reason I came out to you first,” I add.
He tilts his head, confused.
“And that’s because…?”
“Gosh… You are so cute when you’re confused,” I tease grinning.
Then I see it click in him.
“... it’s because you want to kiss me too?” he asks.
“Yes.”
My voice is low.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about our almost-kiss at the wedding.”
Jamie swallows hard, cheeks turning pink. He steps in front of me – closer this time, close enough that I can feel the warmth of him.
“You really want to do this?” he whispers.
“It’s the only thing I’m certain of right now.”
Jamie lifts a hand slowly – like he’s touching something dangerous – and cupsthe side of my jaw. I close my eyes for a second, just breathing him in. Then his lips brush mine.
Soft.
Careful.
Testing.
But the second our mouths touch, something snaps in me. His scent – clean laundry, orange and warm skin – floods my senses. My fingers curl into his shirt. I pull him closer, and he gasps quietly against my mouth. His whole body reacts, tense and trembling, and mine fires back like electricity is surging under my skin.
When he finally pulls away, we’re both breathing hard.
“We probably shouldn’t,” he murmurs.
“We’re… stepbrothers. It feels wrong.”
“Did you like it?” I ask.
He nods.
I grin, hook a finger under his chin, titling his face up to mine.
“That’s all that matters, princess,” I murmur.
His breath shudders out of him.
