Page 60 of Last Fall

15

Zoe

Remember to Use Your TurnSignal

Erik’s kisseshad to be the best dessert ever. Even with the awkward angle of the curved booth, his lips found a way to slide against mine in the most fantastic ways. Somehow this kiss was every bit as wonderful as what I thought for sure were overblown memories. No, actually this was even better because I knew I wantedthiskiss.

Our first kiss was pure impulse. Our second,desperation.

But this was a decision. And I reallylikedthat.

“Erik...”

“Please don’t ask metostop.”

“No.”

He kissed me harder. “No, you want me to stop? Or no, don’teverstop?”

I suppose it was hard to tell the difference when all I’d uttered was a single word. I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck, right at the edge of his hairline, and pulled his lips against mine. “Don’tstop.”

“Okay.” He nodded and kept right onkissing.

His nose grazed mine. It was a tender move. I liked it. His hand rested respectfully on my knee. I likedthattoo.

I alsowantedmore.

“We should go somewhere moreprivate.”

He froze, pulling back slowly. “Where?”

Neither of us lived alone. Going to his place meant Seth would have questions, but going to my place meant June and Roman would be there with questions oftheirown.

I just barely survived Erik’s family. There was no way I could handle more people wanting to know about my life. Nottonight.

“Let’s go dancing,” I saidinstead.

“Dancing?”

I liked that even though he looked confused, he also seemed game for anadventure.

And I really needed some adventure. “It’s not private but it is easy to get lost in the crowd. And there will be lots of people kissing there.” Unlike here where I was quite sure we were the only couplemakingout.

Couple.Whoa.

“Where?”

“Ybor. Club Jane has salsa tonight.” I loved to dance and since I kept weird hours sitting in a chair, I often snuck out at night to get some fun exercise in the form ofdancing.

“Ybor City it is.” Then he threaded his fingersthroughmine.

We were holdinghands.

And it was...wow. My insides felt like they were doingbackflips.

Fromhandholding.

I definitely needed to put this in my next book. Because whoa. I had no idea how intimate it really was until this very moment. The connection was unreal. The electricity surging up my arm, the way I tingled everywhere. It was so much more intimate than simple touching. It said, “we’retogether.”