Ouch. I pushed the sting of her rejection down and buried it under a dwindling layer of confidence.
“You need to get used to the small things,” I explained and gently pried one of her clenched fists from her lap. “This is dating 101.”
Threading my fingers through hers, I brought our joined hands back to rest on my leg. Every few seconds, I’d rub my thumb over the soft skin of her wrist. It took half the movie, but we finally fell into sync. She melted against me, no longer tense and straight. Her hand didn’t grip with misplaced nerves but sat loosely within mine.
Milestone reached. I was perfectly content spending the rest of the night just like this. My dick finally behaved, and her comfort made it easier to relax. That is, until she opened her mouth and blurted out the last thing I thought I’d hear her suggest.
“Should we practice kissing?”
Four words. It only took four little words to break me down to my most basic thoughts. She said kissing, and instantly, my dick stood at attention. There was nothing in my brain but images of her soft lips and memories of how they tasted. I reached for the remote, taking the precious few seconds to pause the movie and get myself under control.
When I trusted that I wouldn’t pounce on her like anunderdeveloped Neanderthal, I turned slightly on the couch. She sat there, as nervous as I’d ever seen her, but completely serious. Her knee bounced as she waited for my answer.
“I’m trying not to be insulted here,” I told her, my tone teasing. “Do you think I need practice?”
“No.” She shook her head. “You were…fine.”
One brow rose. Fine? I wasfine?Clearly, she needed another demonstration, and shewasasking for one, wasn’t she? I’d show her fine. She closed her eyes and sighed before I could act on my baser instincts. When she looked at me again, her cheeks were tinged pink.
“More than fine,” she amended. “What I meant…Shouldn’t couples as enamored with each other as we’re supposed to be…kiss?”
So that was it. She was still worried that we couldn’t sell the story. It was a fair concern, seeing as simple touches were something we had to work on, but I didn’t like the idea of her wanting to kiss me only to pacify others.
“No one else needs to know a thing besides that we’re together. It’s none of their business.”
“But Rani will know,” she argued, worrying her bottom lip. “There’s no way she’ll accept that I’m living here and that we’re not doing anything. She’s already bugging me for details that I refuse to give her.”
My grin was slow. I bet I knew what kind of details Rani asked for. The only kind that could get my bond to turn that exact shade of red.
“If she thinks I’m lying, I don’t know what she’ll do.”
I grimaced. Ez already had a theory about that based on how fiercely Rani went after him for details when Eryn disappeared.
“Probably tell the dean I kidnapped you or something.” I frowned. “We’ve kissed before, more than once. Do we really need practice or do you just want to take advantage of me?”
Heat flushed through the bond as she broke eye contact. She coughed, trying to clear her throat. “Those kisses quickly spiraled into something else. Something I don’t want to do in front of other people.”
“Not into voyeurism, got it.”
She smacked my arm. “You know what I mean.”
I did. We came together like fire and gasoline, especially when tempers flared. We barely controlled ourselves the few times we kissed, and only because so much was going on at the time. Now? Who knew how far we’d go.
“So, you want to practice kissing but tame it down? Do I have that right?”
One nod. Just that slight sign of permission and I pulled her to me and covered her mouth with my own. A gentle pressure, nothing too demanding. Slow. That was the key to control. My lips brushed hers a couple times, and she sighed, melting into it.
“What’s acceptable?” I asked and trailed fingers up her arm. “Can I touch you here?” My thumb brushed over a nipple on its way to cradle her jaw.
She gasped, and I took it as an invitation. My tongue swept inside her parted lips. Claiming. Dominating. She fought back; her little tongue tried in vain to set the pace but eventually gave in and followed my movements. I broke the kiss before her gentle submission broke all my restraints.
“What about here?” I nibbled on her neck while one hand snaked around to grab her ass.
I flexed my hand, kneading the firm flesh and hoping my touch left a mark. That ass was mine. With a growl, I pulled her closer, practically onto my lap, and bit down to hold her still when she squirmed. She straddled one of my legs, panting and wiggling as I marked her neck. I let the delicate skin free with a smallpop.
“Heavy petting isn’t too scandalous. Right?”
Her mouth crashed into mine, lips demanding my attention once more. I let her set the pace for a time, enjoying how she came to life under my touch. Where she ground into my leg was damp and hot, and still, her excitement grew. Her hips rolled and pressed down, triggering the moan she’d been holding back.
