Page 20 of Ruin

“Mmhmm.”

“How so?”

He’s staring at my lips, and it’s making my heart beat faster. My pulse is racing off, sending adrenaline shooting through my veins.

His gaze lifts to mine. “I have no clue.”

He smiles, eyes dancing with humor, and I laugh.

God, he’s gorgeous. And I can’t stop staring at him.

My breaths are coming in shallow, and I notice his are, too.

I inhale, and my lungs fill with him. That heady, spicy smell of his mixed in with the cool scent of rain does crazy things to me. Hormones are setting off inside me like rockets.

Water trickles down his cheek, catching on his upper lip.

And I really want to catch those raindrops with my lips.

So, I do.

I don’t know what comes over me, but without a second thought, I lean in and press my lips to his.

Shit. I’m kissing him!

And…he’s not kissing me back.

I make a strangled sound in my throat as I pull back at the realization of what I just did.

I kissed him, and he didn’t kiss me back.

Can I please die now?

God, I’m so freaking dumb. Of course he’s not interested in me in that way. He’s older and gorgeous. He could have anyone.

“Oh God,” I groan, covering my face with my hands. “I’m so sorry, Zeus. After my big don’t-try-to-cop-a-feel lecture, I attack you with my lips. I really don’t know why I did that.” Well, I do. He’s hot, and I’m stupid. “Can we just pretend that never happened?”

“No.”

My heart pauses. “No?” I lower my hands from my face.

The shield of his jacket is now gone, and he’s staring at me with this intensity in his eyes that makes my toes curl up in my sneakers.

“No.” He slides a hand around my cheek, cupping my face. “Even if I did want to pretend it never happened, which I don’t, I wouldn’t be able to. Because it’s scorched in my memory.”

“Scorched in your memory in a good way?”

“The best way.”

He smiles, and I feel like I’m falling or floating or something.

Rain trickles onto my lips. He catches it with his thumb, making me shiver.

His eyes focus there, and my insides are swirling like a whirlpool.

“Are you going to kiss me?” I whisper.

“I want to…”