“Are you going to leave now?” she blurts out, wincing as soon as the words escape her mouth.
I lift a brow, tipping her chin so she meets my gaze, suspecting she’s panicking.
“Is that what you want? For me to go?”
She tilts her head, shaking it. “No.”
I exhale in relief. “Whatdoyou want?”
She swallows hard, her eyes flickering to mine. “I’m not sure.”
My eyes shift to her lips. “Could it be that you were hoping for a good-night kiss?”
“Do first dates usually end that way?” Her tone is curious.
“Maybe not if you’ve just met the guy.” I push down the jealousy brewing at the thought of her kissing someone else. “But since we’re friends, and this is strictly for teaching purposes, I think we can make an exception.”
I’ve spent countless nights fantasizing about kissing Birdie, wondering what it would feel like, what she might taste like. Now that I’m potentially seconds from finding out, my whole body buzzes with anticipation, and I’m suddenly the nervous one.
She winds her arm around my neck, giving me a sly smile. “I think you’re on to something.”
That’s all the encouragement I need. I shift my hand to cup her cheek, my thumb brushing just beneath her ear, where I can practically feel her pulse racing under my touch.
“Walker,” she whispers.
“Yeah, Birdie, baby?”
Her cheeks flush crimson. “Is now a bad time to mention I’ve never kissed anyone before?”
Holy shit.
I trace my finger along her lower lip. “In that case, we’d better make it a good one.”
I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to be the one she’s going to share all her firsts with, even the ones that seem so small but feel monumental. On the outside, I manage to keep my expression neutral, but inside, my heart is pounding out of control, and I’m determined not to fuck this up.
Birdie’s mouth parts slightly. “You’ll show me how to do it, right?”
“Of course. Just follow my lead, okay?”
She nods as I lean in slowly, until our mouths are just shy of touching, leaving the remaining distance for her to bridge when she’s ready. Her uneven breath grazes my cheek as she subtly shifts closer, her desire unmistakable.
Just when I think she might panic and withdraw, she surprises me by brushing her mouth against the corner of my lips. My grip tightens on her waist, holding her to me as she kisses me again in the same spot. This time, she lingers a second longer, as if she’s testing the waters. I stay perfectly still, despite my cock already standing at attention. Tonight is all about Birdie and making sure her introduction to kissing is nothing short of perfect.
A third kiss lands squarely on my mouth, a gentle exploration that makes me release a soft groan. God, her lips are like velvet. She shifts back a fraction, eyes locking on mine. Fuck, the way she looks at me for reassurance winds my desire like a spring in my chest.
I move my other hand from her waist so both are framing her face. “That was very good… although I’m going to need a second demonstration to be sure it wasn’t a fluke.”
She licks her lips. “Practice makes perfect, right?”
“My thoughts exactly.”
I tilt her head slightly and kiss her again, mirroring her curiosity earlier. She threads her fingers in my hair as she explores my mouth with determination. Birdie slips her tongue against mine, letting out a throaty moan. I respond in kind, tracing hers in a teasing rhythm. Her grip in my hair tightens as she molds her mouth to mine, her movements growing bolder with each pass.
As far as I’m concerned, every kiss I’ve had before this was erased out of existence the moment Birdie’s lips touched mine.
When she finally pulls back, her lips are swollen, and a faint pink tints her cheeks. “Sorry. I might have gotten a little carried away.”
I shake my head, stroking her cheek. “You were perfect.”
