Page 4

“Try?” Leo asked with a note of humor in his question.

“Well…” I lifted a shoulder, “We should probably see if we like how the other kisses, before exploring this…further.” I winced a little. Was I being too analytical about it? Was this professional Jacqueline sneaking in, interviewing him like an employee and not a person I was interested in fooling around with?

“Ah, very practical.” Leo nodded as he sat a little straighter, releasing his grip on my fingers and shaking his hands out. He even went as far as to crack his neck and relax his shoulders, as if he was preparing for a type of athletic activity instead of just kissing me.

“Are you good?” I asked through a nervous giggle.

Leo intertwined his fingers and stretched them out in front of him, winking at me as he replied, “I’m just preparing myself. I don’t want to miss out on anything if I don’t do this just right for you.” He pronounced it like “any-fing” which was oddly adorable, for a man I wouldn’t describe as adorable in any way. He was attractive, sexy, and confident. Everything I wanted to be.

My lips parted in surprise.

I’m the catch, I repeated to myself as I grinned at his theatrics.

“Take your time, as long as you don’t slobber all over my mouth, we should be good.” I played along, my nerves easing the slightest bit.

“Got it,” Leo nodded, making a face as if he was taking a mental note. He pulled one arm across his chest to stretch, closed his eyes, and said, “You’ve got this, mate.” I laughed again, covering my mouth to smother the sound, “You’ve done this before. You know how to kiss a woman. Don’t psyche yourself out just because she’s gorgeous.” I blushed, rolling my eyes at his little act. “Why she even singled you out of all the blokes here is none of your business,” he continued, his brow pinched in concentration during his pep talk, “Just kiss her.”

“She’s waiting,” I replied, amused with the show.

He opened his eyes and grinned at me, a grin that promisedthings. Things that made my insides fill with butterflies. Things that lit up nerves and stirred a warmth in my lower stomach.

“My apologies.” He shook his hands out one last time and settled in his seat, sitting with a straight back with his hands planted on his thighs, “Lay it on me.”

I immediately felt insecurity creep into my spine again, but with a hopefully subtle shake of my head, I mentally slapped myself to get it together.

Just kiss him.

Just take his face and…put your mouth on his. How do you expect to do anything else if just kissing a man intimidates you this much?

I leaned forward, waiting for him to lean in as well to meet me halfway, but he just sat there. A friendly, open expression on his face as he waited ever so patiently.

“Actually, um…” I blinked, trying to calm my racing heart, “I think you need to kiss me.” Leo’s brows twitched up, before nodding and reaching forward to take both of my hands in his again.

“Is this, okay?” He asked. His thumbs brushed smooth circles on the backs of my hands. It was embarrassing how little contact with him sent my heart into cardiac arrest.

“Mhmm.” I nodded. He smiled as one of his hands slowly started traveling up my arm, the brush of his fingertips created goosebumps on the skin underneath my long sleeve as he slowly made it to my shoulder.

“And this?” He asked as his eyes held me hostage. He leaned closer, his long legs resting on either side of mine.

“It’s good,” I whispered, my breath caught in my throat as he leaned even closer, using his other grip on my hand to tug me a hair closer to his body.

Damn, he smelled amazing. It wasn’t a strong smell, but the smell of a man who bathed and washed his clothing often,thank god. Soapy, with a hint of clean linen. His hand on my shoulder barely brushed the exposed skin from my wide-neck shirt. His fingertips teased me as his warm hand slowly came up to cup the side of my neck, his thumb resting on my jaw, “…And this, Jacqueline?”

“It’s, um,” I inhaled through my barely parted lips, desperately trying to control my breathing, “Really good.”

“Good,” he murmured, leaning in, and using his grip on my neck to angle my face for him. We were an inch or two apart now. My hands rested on his thighs as he guided my movements. He had hard muscles underneath his denim. My own fingertips flexed as I struggled to wrap my head around how turned on I was simply from his touch.

“Are you ready?” Leo murmured as his eyes became hooded.

“As I’ll ever be,” I whispered. His lips pulled back in a quick grin, before he finally, finally closed the distance.

I held my breath when his lips first pressed themselves against mine. I was frozen, every muscle in my body aware of his touch and his lips as I adjusted to their smooth warmth. It was probably only a second or two before he brushed his lips against mine again. He adjusted the kiss so that my bottom lip was tucked between both of his, nipping gently.

I didn’t recall closing my eyes, but I was thankful that my body thought to do so, allowing me to focus on how amazing this simple kiss felt. I removed one of my hands from his thighs to clutch the open panel of his leather jacket, tugging him closer to me as I responded to him.

I wondered if he knew that he was teaching me with this kiss.

Letting me know just how slow or fast to kiss back, and how much pressure to apply.