He smiled softly at the floor. “Yeah, when you put it like that, I guess I’m not so bad.”
Why was he so down on himself? I laid my palm on his shoulder. “Sal, I’m not sure what happened to make you feel less-than, but you’re an amazing person. Anyone would be lucky to have you as a friend.”
He hunched into himself and laughed. “Thanks.”
“Hey, I mean it.” I tugged him to face me and even took off my glasses so he could read my facial expressions better. “I’m glad you’re my friend.”
His gaze flicked across my eyes, then my lips. “I…am glad you smashed my drone so we could become friends.”
I snorted, clutching his shirt so I could push him and drag him back. Laughing, he steadied himself with a hand on my leg. My insides whirred with excitement. He was joking around again.
“If I ever fell in love, I’d want it to be with someone like you,” I said.
“What?” His brows furrowed, but his eyes brightened, so he wasn’t alarmed so much as surprised, I guessed. “Why?” he asked.
My heart skipped a beat.
“It would be easy. To get along with you.” I flexed my hand, my fingertips brushing his warm neck. “You’re kind and curious. We never run out of things to talk about, and you have a great laugh.”
“It helps that I’m handsome.” He grinned. Fuck those gorgeous dimples.
I mirrored his smile and pinched his chin with my free hand. “A little scruffy, but yes.” His goatee could use a trim. I traced the fair hair around his lips. It was much softer than the synthetic stuff I used for robots.
He leaned into my touch and hooded his gaze. “I’m also a good kisser,” he rasped.
My heart skipped a beat when I met his gaze.
He wasn’t demanding anything. There was some element of suggestion, though.
Was he inviting me? Asking?
I couldn’t comment on his prowess until I’d experienced those kisses. And his lips did look soft. Tempting.
It’d been a long time since I’d kissed anybody. Curiosity wound around my gut and squeezed. Why not try it? He offered them freely. No attachment, no regrets.
“Let’s see,” I said, tugging on his shirt.
His gaze flicked to my mouth. “You want to try me?”
I nodded. Even if it was a disaster, he’d still be nice about it.
We inched closer and farther away, dancing like two spinning magnets, not sure when they’d snap together. I couldn’t kiss him. This was supposed to be his talent.
He chuckled, his breath sweet from pineapple, and cupped the back of my head. “Are you sure you want this?”
I rolled my eyes and grinned. “Yes.”
He smirked and pulled me closer. I clenched my fist on his shirt, bracing for the swoop of my gut and the crash of his lips. But this kiss was anything but a mess. It was lightning in a bottle, a jolt of intense affection. He was tender and hot, soft but strong. My pulse thrummed with excitement. Was this what kissing was supposed to be like? He supported my neck and cradled me against him, gently sucking my lips. This was nice. Good, even. Like a shoulder rub but wetter. Maybe a little fuzzier. I smiled, rubbing his jaw. When he let go, I caught my breath, then embraced him when he returned for another kiss. The affection pulled my insides tight like a trampoline and peeled off the protective film around my heart.
Wow. Kisses. They fanned some hidden flame. I wanted more, but I wasn’t sure what or where. More tongue? Pecks down my neck? Suck my earlobe? Pull his hand onto my ass? I couldn’t straddle his lap without simulating sex. Did I want that?
There were too many thought-branches and not enough brain power to follow through on any of them. Everything powered my nerves, instead, a pleasant buzz simmering under my skin.
My lips puckered as he pulled away.
“How was that?” he whispered, massaging my neck.
I lingered in his space as if our brains and bodies could be synced by proximity. My forehead brushed his as I drifted out of the haze. How was it? “Above average,” I managed.
