“I’m not ‘some people.’ The way a woman kisses tells me everything I need to know about how she fucks. I won’t waste my time getting into bed with a woman who kisses like a horse.”
Shay laughed at the gross image. She’d had her fair share of sloppy kissers, and now that she thought more deeply about it, Rosie was dead on. “Seems like a lot of pressure to put on a simple kiss.”
Rosie traced the shape of Shay’s lips with one of her perfectly manicured nails, and the sensation bolted straight to her core.
“Can’t you handle a little pressure?” she asked and pushed her other hand harder between Shay’s legs.
“I think I can handleyou.” Shay took Rosie’s hand from between her legs. “But you only just got here, and I don’t think Lori is anywhere near ready to leave.” She moved slightly so that she could see the table Gabe was playing at. They definitely seemed to be having a good time, but Gabe probably wouldn’t be impressed if Shay bailed on their evening this soon.
Rosie drew circles on Shay’s bare shoulder. “If you’re not taking me home yet, maybe weshouldplay some pool with your friends.”
“That might be a good idea.” Shay nodded across to Gabe and Lori again. “Given that those two are fast friends, you should probably get to know the rest of us. My bet is that we’ll be spending a lot of time together.”
“I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy that.” Rosie trailed her finger down Shay’s arm all the way to her fingertips. “But I’m not going anywhere until the mystery’s been solved.”
“The kiss?”
Rosie nodded. “The kiss.”
Shay shifted to face Rosie fully. She tucked a long wave of Rosie’s hair behind her ear and wrapped her hand around her neck. “Your skin’s so soft.”
“So is your touch,” Rosie whispered. “I thought your hands might be rougher.”
“I wear gloves, remember?” But she could forgive Rosie for not really noticing at the garage when they first met; they’d both been too busy looking each other up and down. She leaned in almost close enough for their lips to touch but stopped just short.
“Tease.”
“If you really want this, you—” Shay didn’t get the chance to finish the sentence before Rosie matched her hunger and crushed their lips together. She tasted of mint and sugar, and Shay gavethe kiss her best shot. She pulled back slightly and ran her tongue over Rosie’s bottom lip slowly. Rosie sucked Shay’s tongue into her mouth, bringing their lips back together forcefully and taking Shay by surprise. She couldn’t deny that she liked Rosie’s take-charge approach.
Rosie slipped her hand under Shay’s vest and dragged her nails across Shay’s hip. Shay shuddered and jumped back slightly at the electricity of her touch. She pulled Rosie’s head back slightly. “I thought you were just testing the kiss.”
Rosie withdrew her hand. “Didn’t you like it?”
“That’s not the point.” Shay tightened her grip in Rosie’s hair, and Rosie let out a quiet gasp. “Didn’t you likethat?”
Rosie smiled wickedly. “You’re saying I’m muddying the waters of the experiment with too many variables.”
Shay raised her eyebrow. “Something like that, but sexier.”
Rosie unwound Shay’s hand from her hair and put some distance between them on the plush bench. Shay narrowed her eyes. She couldn’t have failed the test…could she? No one had ever complained about her kissing prowess before, but then she’d never really stuck around long enough to ask. She stayed silent, unreasonably concerned that she was about to be rejected on the basis of a kiss that hadn’t even lasted that long.She’dcertainly enjoyed it.
Rosie edged out of the booth. “I vote we join Lori and Gabe. What do you say?”
Shay wasn’t sure what to say. The longer the question over the kiss loomed, the more unsettled she became. She hadn’t had a shake in confidence like this for a long time.
Rosie held out her hand, and once again, Shay admired her manicure, hoping that she’d still get the opportunity to feel those nails all over her skin.
“Are you coming?”
Shay shrugged. “I was hoping I would be, but now I don’t know what’s happening,” she said.
Rosie laughed lightly. “You think I didn’t feel something?”
“It was pretty short to tell you everything you need to know.”
Rosie nodded. “You’re right, but it was enough of a preview for me to want to find out the rest the old-fashioned way.” She waved her outstretched hand. “Do you want to play or not?”
Shay took Rosie’s hand and shimmied off the bench. “Oh, I want to play,” she said and tugged Rosie closer. “I want to play all night.”
