Gavin takes my fingertips in his, our hands just barely touching as we stand here in the dark, facing each other. “I want to kiss you,” he says softly.
“Why?” I ask. He lifts an eyebrow, and I realize I sounded kind of harsh. I let my shoulders fall. “I mean… why do you want to? Because it’s a first date and it’s like, tradition? Or—”
“Because you’re amazing in every way,” he says, cutting me off. He takes a step closer and releases my fingers, then cups my face in his hands. “Because ever since you knocked my feet off your chair, I’ve been totally stuck on you, wanting you to like me. I felt like I had to win you over, and now it feels like I might actually have a chance.” His hands slide down to my shoulders. “I’m crazy about you, Clarissa. That’s why.” His tongue flicks across his bottom lip and he smiles at me. “But I can take my time. If you don’t want to, that’s fine with me.”
I draw in a ragged breath. That little monologue of his has awaken something inside of me. This passionate, aching, hungry part of me that I don’t think has ever been awake until now.I peer up at him, silently thanking the Universe for making him taller than I am, for letting me bask in this moment like a normal girl who isn’t freakishly tall.
“It’s just that first kisses are kind of a big moment.”
“Is this moment big enough?” he asks softly. “I can come back on horseback, with flowers. A thousand flowers.”
I chuckle and press my hands on his chest. “I don’t need pomp and circumstance,” I say playfully. “I just need—I don’t know—honesty.”
“You arehonestlythe best thing in my life right now,” Gavin whispers, lowering his forehead to mine.
“So do it,” I whisper back. “Kiss me.”
And he does. Without hesitation, Gavin takes me into his arms and pulls me into him. Our lips press together, packed with all the anticipation of this whole night. I forget to breathe at first, all these thoughts of technique and skill making me nervous. I want him to like me and I want him to like kissing me.
But Gavin knows what he’s doing. His lips move over mine in ways that send heat coursing through my body. His lips part slightly, so I part mine, and then his head tilts and he’s kissing me gently, like he did to my collarbone. It drives me crazy. I bury my hands into his short hair, tugging him down closer to me.
He deepens the kiss, and my knees nearly go out when his tongue flicks across my bottom lip. But he’s holding onto me tightly, his strong arms keeping me pressed against him.
When we finally break apart, I am out of breath, and my lips are tingling. Gavin’s cute smile reaches his eyes. “Goodnight,” he whispers.
“Goodnight,” I say back. He steps backward while I slip into my house, and as I close the door, I’m only thinking one thing.
His chest does feel as amazing as I thought it would.
