“Then you went and ran into me so I wouldn’t feel left out. How did I smell?”
I suck air between my teeth and wince. “It’s okay, I know you work out before class now,” I say as earnestly as possible, but then I feel guilty when his face drops. “I’m teasing, you smell like you always do—clean and soapy.”
“Now your true colors are coming out. Not only are you a rule breaking traffic violator, you’re mean!”
“Guilty.” I shrug and realize I’m rubbing my thumb along the side of his palm, but I don’t stop.
“Good thing we didn’t stink, it might have scared you away,” Oswald tells me.
“You did scare me away—well, Memphis did. I was so embarrassed when he made that comment about not watching where I was going, I ran away.” I don’t tell him that I was also having a mini meltdown because he sounded too much like the voice I hear in my head. “He’s different…”
Oswald speaks before I can continue. “At school. I know.”
“I was going to say when he’s not with you. He’s intimidating all the time, but you soften his edges.”
Oswald stops walking again, and I can feel him peering at the side of my face, so I look up, hoping I didn’t offend him and his brother with my observation.
He tugs his fingers from mine and removes his hand from my shoulder. I’m expecting him to step back, but instead, his fingertips trail over my cheek and he leans down to kiss me.
The moment our lips touch, my head spins like I just got done twirling, and thoughts that do not belong to me whisper through my mind.Fuck, she feels good. I wish we were at home, I want to touch every inch of her.
The sensory overload only lasts a breath, then the whooshing in my ears fades and I can feel the press of his warm, soft lips against mine. My entire body relaxes, which Oswald takes as a sign to step even closer to me. I feel his chest against mine, and then he opens his mouth and slides his tongue along my bottom lip.
My heart thunders in my chest, quickening my breaths, but I open my mouth, and he slips inside. His kiss is sweet and a little teasing, but it has me lifting up on my toes.
After several long seconds, he slows, giving me a few soft pecks on my top and bottom lip. I know the kiss is about to end, but I return each press of his lips until he finally pulls his mouth away to rest his forehead against mine. He’s still holding my cheek, and when I open my eyes, I see him lick his bottom lip and run his teeth over the damp path he just left. My stomach tightens with the most intense sensation of butterflies I’ve ever had. I want to kiss him again.
A soft groan comes from Oswald’s chest before he mutters, “You have to stop looking at me like that, baby.”
I blink several times and start to pull away, but he captures my mouth again with a rougher kiss while the tips of his fingers curl just above my ear, holding me tighter. There’s no warning or slow pull away, he stops the kiss abruptly by jerking his head back, but his fingers trail down my jaw slowly.
When he turns my shoulder so I’m beside him again instead of facing him, I notice the people walking around. Some are stealing glances at us, but most don’t even seem to notice I just had the best kiss of my life.
“Where are you parked again?” Oswald asks, and his voice is deeper.
“Williams,” I say, but it comes out more like a croak. Damn, he sounds sexy and I sound like a surprised frog.
“If I know Memphis, he’s probably waiting for us.” He begins walking again, and I shuffle my feet forward to keep up.
The rest of the walk is quiet. I’m still imagining his lips against mine, and I have a feeling I’m going to be thinking about that a lot, but I have no idea what Oswald is thinking.
Just as he said, Memphis and Bates are waiting for us near the rear of my parked car. I watch his eyes rake over me from head to toe, and I like the way it makes me feel. I just kissed his brother and want to do it again, but I like his attention too. I’m really in trouble.
“What took you so long?” He pushes away from my car and approaches.
“Got held up.” Oswald licks his lip, and it feels like we’re sharing a secret. I duck my head and move around Oswald, partly to avoid Memphis seeing my red face and partly so I can grab my bag.
Oswald looks over his shoulder as I pull it down his arm. “Hey now.” He acts like I’m taking something that doesn’t belong to me.
“I need my keys,” I tell him and balance the bottom of my bag on my lifted knee as I reach for my purse.
“Your car doesn’t even take a key.” Oswald snorts.
“I have to have the fob though. It won’t sense it through both bags,” I explain. “Do you guys want a ride to your car?”
“No,” Memphis refuses.
“Can I drive?” Oswald asks at the same time.
