So much for my vow of no kissing her. I’m fifteen again, when Nicole and her red lipstick is moving in.
I’ve never seen Sophie with lipstick.
The first touch of her lips is soft and tentative. I knew it would be, because what I know about Sophie tells me that this is not the norm for her.
That’s what makes it even sweeter.
She brushes my lips with hers, off-centre and more of a swipe than a real kiss. Then she tries again, pressing her lips against mine.
Soft. Sweet. Sophie.
A pause and I hold my breath, afraid to move. Afraid of frightening her off.
Afraid that she might move her lips away from mine.
And she does after a moment; Sophie pulls back for a breath and nudges my nose with hers. Then she tilts her head and tries again.
This time, I grab her by the back of her head and kiss her back.
31
Sophie
Ashtonkissesme.
Because I kissed Ashton.
I thought he would give me a perfunctory kiss in return, butno.He—he gives me arealkiss.
A really good kiss.
Lips part, move against each other in a motion that’s old as time, and yet seems brand new. Ashton has kissed countless women; I have no need to find out the exact number, but his kiss doesn’t feel stale, or jaded or anything but thrillingly original.
As for me, I really think I’m giving back as much as I’m giving. At least I hope I am.
I’ve never had a complaint about my kissing, and I do have some experience, but this… This is new.
This is hands in his hair. This is … there is tongue. A slip, a dive. Not too much, not too little, but the perfect amount.
There is Ashton’s hand on my neck, and I’m leaning into him like I’m a blanket trying to keep him warm.
There is his other hand stroking my back, catching in my ponytail. Tugging it, tilting my head and his mouth slides off mine and rains kisses down my neck.
There might be a soft noise from me when he hits the sensitive spot behind my ear.
And then both hands cup my face, and he’s kissing me, on and on and...
Ashton is kissing me, and I don’t want it to ever stop.
I shift, and it’s awkward because my body is telling me to straddle him and my leg won’t work that way. But I can lean in closer, and I arch into him even more and—
There’s a knock. On the door.
Thank god Ashton closed it after the burgers came. I usually leave it unlocked and open because it’s a pain to get up but this would—
“Sophie?”
“Oh god,” I breathe. “Dad.”
