“Well, you won. Barely.” I sigh, equal parts disappointed not to claim my winnings yet eager to hear what he chooses. “But a win’s a win. And, like you, I’m a person of my word.”
I take a deep breath and straighten my shoulders. “So. What do you think? What’s your prize?”
“I think,” he says, taking a slow step toward me, his voice low, “that I’d like to kiss you.”
“You’ve already kissed me.” My heart is off to the races. “Several times, in fact.”
“That was before. When it was the tequila and bubbles doing the talking. And neither of us was thinking right.” His gaze drops to my lips.
I instinctively rub them together. “And this time?”
“This time”—he lifts my chin and lowers his mouth until it’s a breath from mine—“I want both of us clear-headed. I want us to remember. Every. Damn. Second of it.”
“Okay.” My already thundering heart pounds even faster. “So kiss me.”
“With pleasure.”
His lips touch mine. A gasp catches in my throat as his warm, strong lips move against me, waking ever cell in my body. Stirring my soul. Capturing my senses.
With a groan of pleasure, Josh slides a hand to the back of my head, urging my lips open. Deepening the kiss. His other hand strokes up and down my back before resting on my hip.
A discernible, intriguing bulge presses firmly against my body.
It’s all I can do not to crumble at his feet. Instead, I grip his shoulders. Pressing my body more intimately against his. Tangling our tongues together. Stealing his breath. Giving him mine.
I’ve never been kissed like this.
I’ve never kissed anyone like this.
The past twenty-four-hours have been a whirlwind of firsts and never-have-I-evers. And each one has led me to this moment. Led me to this kiss.
I could live to be a hundred, and I will never—ever—forget the feel of his heart racing under my palm. The heat of his lipsbranding mine. The way with one kiss, time seems to stop and the whole world disappears beyond us.
It’s soon too much. We break off the kiss, gasping for breath before either of us passes out.
“Well,” I say between breaths. “I’d say you got what you wanted.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.” I nod, daring to raise my gaze to his. My heart hitches at the way he looks at me as if I’m the most important person in the world. As if I truly matter to him. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget that kiss.”
“Me neither.” His lips, swollen from mine, curve up. “What do you say? Should we see if the second time is a charm?”
“Please.” I lean up on my toes.
Tightening his grip on my hip and cradling my cheek in his palm, he kisses me again. Slowly. Sweetly. Savoring me as if we have all the time in the world instead of just this weekend.
This is only for fun.
This is only temporary.
This could never, ever last.
No matter how many times I try to remind myself of this, it’s no use. I’m drawn deeper and deeper into this man. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to pull myself away.
When we pull apart again, our brains desperately in need of oxygen, he rests his forehead against mine. “I’d like to take you out for dinner tonight.”
I grin. “Aren’t you supposed to ask a girl out on a date before you marry her?”
