"We're not exactly strangers anymore. I mean, we've exchanged names, I told you my hopes and dreams, and you've shared all the stupid things you've done with me." She motioned to the walls surrounding them. "Not to mention the fact that we have the shared trauma of being trapped in an elevator." She was rambling.
Was it nerves? Or was she trying to convince herself she knew him well enough to kiss him?
It's not like I'll see him again once we get off this elevator.
That thought made it easier to consider going through with it.
Damon locked gazes with her. "What are you saying?"
She pulled her water bottle from her bag to moisten her suddenly dry mouth. Then she faced him and squared her shoulders. "You can kiss me."
"What?" His eyes widened. "You don't have to do that. Like you said, this whole thing..." He circled his hand through the air. "Has been traumatic enough. The last thing you need when this is all over is to feel like some jerk took advantage of you."
Grace's heart melted a little more at his words. She'd been taken advantage of before, and Damon certainly wasn't giving off those kinds of vibes.
"I'm giving you a chance to put the whole bet with Howie behind you. You don't want it? That's your problem." She tried to act nonchalant. "Good luck figuring out how to convince Howie to give you another consequence that won't jeopardize your military career."
"Wait." Damon scratched his neck. "I want this whole ordeal over, but...are you sure? I mean, when you tell your children and grandchildren about that time you got stuck in an elevator, I don't want you to have to admit you felt forced to kiss some stranger just to save him from humiliation and a court martial."
"Oh, believe me, when I tell this story, I willneveradmit to kissing a stranger." She wagged her finger.
No one knew about the first time she kissed a stranger in an elevator as an adolescent, except her friend who was there to witness it. And the guy she kissed of course. No way would she ever admit to doing it as an adult.
Damon set the candle on the other side of him and shifted closer to her. Then he rubbed his palms over his jean-clad thighs.
"Okay. Well..." Cool and calm Damon suddenly appeared nervous and insecure. "Um...we should probably take a selfie first." He pulled his phone from his pocket and promptly dropped it.
Grace almost burst out laughing again, but the sudden swarm of butterflies in her stomach made her feel a little nauseous. Or was she anxious? Excited?
No, I'm just doing him a favor. I'm not kissing him because Iwantto.
She leaned toward him for the picture, but then straightened, distancing herself a little. This was his punishment for making a stupid bet; may as well make him work for it.
"It doesn't need to be like a deep kiss or anything. But Howie's going to want details, so it probably needs to be a little more than a peck on the lips." The words rushed out of Damon's mouth in a single breath.
"Of course. Because if I everdidtell someone I kissed a stranger in the elevator, it should at least be a kiss worth talking about."
"Right." He sucked in a deep breath then chuckled. "No pressure or anything."
"Damon?"
"What?"
"Just kiss me."
CHAPTER 3
Damon didn't need to be told twice. Everything about Grace drew him in. Her big brown eyes and full lips. The way she wrinkled her nose. Her sass and wit. Her courage and spunk. He loved that she wasn't afraid to defend her desire to be a wife and mother or call him gross and crazy.
He leaned toward her, then paused mere millimeters from her lips, giving her the chance to change her mind.
She didn't. In fact, she closed the gap. Her lips were warm and soft and felt oh so amazing.
A tingling warmth spread through him as though he'd just slid his aching body into a hot tub. One he never wanted to leave. He lifted his chin, applying a little more pressure to her silky lips then rocked to the side in a gentle caress.
He wanted to pull her into his arms and fully taste her mouth, but that didn't feel appropriate under the circumstance. He pulled back slightly, lessening the pressure. He didn't want to end the kiss, but he let her know she could if she wanted to.
Apparently, she didn't want to, because she leaned into him, keeping the contact. So Damon slid his hand into her hair and pressed his lips more firmly against hers. A soft sigh escaped heras her lips parted. He accepted her invitation to deepen the kiss, and something shifted in him when he tasted sweetness and perfection.
