AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I had no idea you had such a good vocabulary. Kinesics?”
He chuckles, and the low rich sound rumbles from his chest into mine. I squeeze my thighs together and nearly gasp at the warmth pooling between them.
“Well…” Zack rubs his lips together, and I can almost feel the movement on mine. Just a few millimeters closer and I would. “As you pointed out earlier, there’s a lot we don’t know about each other.”
This should be weird. We’re having a conversation without raised voices or tempers. And, we’re essentially speaking into each other’s mouths. Sharing the same air. There’s no his. No mine. Just ours.
For some reason, it isn’t weird. I really must have Stockholm. If you can develop Stockholm in only a few hours.
“Maybe it would be better if we keep things that way. Leave things mysterious.”
“Hmm.” He purses his lips, and this time it’s enough. It’s enough for his lips to touch mine. All either of us has to do is move our lips again or angle our heads and we’ll be kissing.
I’d be kissing Zack Strovers. And I still can’t decide if that would be the smartest or dumbest thing to do at this moment.
Outside the window, there’s a loud crack followed by peels of laughter. I jump, bumping my nose on Zack’s chin.
“Ouch,” I hiss through my teeth and clutch my nose with my hands. “I guess that’s one way to use a chiseled jaw.”
And, great. Now he knows I’ve been thinking about his jawline enough to call it chiseled.
“Sorry about that.” He reaches for my elbows, concern written on my face. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Still clutching my nose, I take a step back. I can’t believe what almost happened. I can’t believe I even considered letting it happen. “I should get back to my side of the library.”
He frowns, but remains standing in place, his hands still outstretched toward me. “We still have five minutes.”
“And you’re welcome to use yours in the librarians’ lounge.” I take another step backward and bump into a globe perched on top of a table.
I swirl around quickly enough to keep it upright. I keep my gaze averted from his. “I… I… I’ll see you later.”
“Don’t you want to get a better look?” he calls after me.
I pretend not to hear him. I’m too busy mentally kicking my own ass for that momentary lapse in judgment. That was a close call. Way too close.
***
Plink. Plink.
Oh, jeez. What now? I push myself up from the little nest I’ve made for myself next to the wall of biographies and memoirs with the blazer I was wearing earlier. A sweatshirt would’ve been much more useful—not to mention comfortable—for a night spent in the library.
That’s what I get for choosing appearances over comfort. That would probably be the most accurate title for my memoirs: Appearances Over Comfort. I’d rather it was something cooler, or more inspirational. But I’m nothing if not brutally honest.
Though, maybe, not always to myself. But that can change now.
The noise continues as I make my way toward the border between my half of the library and Zack’s. No doubt, it’s just him creating some new form of mischief.
Not that I didn’t play my part in the most recent bit of mischief. It takes two to almost kiss. I may have put a stop to it before it could happen. But only just barely.
My cheeks burn as I try my best not to think about the way his scent enveloped me as we stood close, almost kissing. I figured he’d still be taking baths in Axe body spray, the way he and the rest of the guys in our class did back in high school.
Instead, Zack’s scent was muskier and earthier than I expected. Masculine. Intoxicating.
A fresh tingle runs up and down my spine, and I shiver.
Plink. Plink.
The sound grows louder the closer I get. And sure enough, through the shadows I can make out Zack’s broad-shouldered figure. He’s seated at one of the tables not far from our border. Every so often something small flies from his hand and bounces off the table before landing in a cup.
