Page 63 of Tempting the President

“Why won’t you tell me what happened?”

I rolled my eyes.

He frowned. “Is it...embarrassing?”

Hallelujah. He got it.

His lips twitched at my exaggerated expression of relief. “You could have just said it, too.”

I shrugged.I’m not the one in need of answers here.

“How embarrassing?”

My cheeks turned red.

Kellion’s eyes gleamed, which only made my cheeks turn even redder. “Thatembarrassing?” His eyes lowered, resting on my lips. He asked in a low, husky murmur, “Did I kiss you?”

I wetted my lips, unable to help it. And then slowly, I nodded.

Kellion suddenly groaned, startling me. And then I frowned and scribbled on my board.AM I TOO HEAVY?

Kellion shook his head. “That’s not why I’m groaning,terataki.” He shifted me on his lap. “Do you understand now?”

Since I now felt something growing harder and hotter right under my butt, I could definitely say ‘yes’. I understood quite well.

He curled a lock of my hair around his index finger. “I’m sorry, though.”

I cocked my head to the side.

“When I drink too much, I forget. And I never remember.” His tone became flat. “Which means I will never be able to remember our first kiss.”

Ah.

The thought did sadden me, but only for a second. In a way, I was glad that Kellion had his own imperfections, however selfish that sounded. At least this way, it made him feel less...unreachable.

I wrote on my board again.IT’S OKAY.

“Of course you’d say that.”

BECAUSE IT ONLY MEANS WE CAN HAVE TWO ‘FIRST’ KISSES.

His eyes widened.

Gaaah.

Did I really just write that?

Before I could convince myself I had just dreamt being that foolish, Kellion was once again cupping my face. When our eyesmet, I saw that he was smiling, a dazzling and wicked one that had my heart skipping more than a beat.

“You are absolutely right.” It was the only warning I had before we had oursecondfirst kiss.

It was everything I imagined – and more. Kellion Argyros, when under the influence of liquor, was impossibly tender and heartbreakingly sweet. But a fully sober, completely conscious Kellion?

In one word: irresistible.

Just one touch of his lips and he made me feel all kinds of things. One kiss and he made me forget we were in a public place, made me proud that he was attracted to me. Seductive. Poignant. Passionate. Every word that could be used to describe a toe-curling kiss? I feltallof them.

When he lifted his head, I was once again dazed and breathless. He was breathing almost as hard, and his eyes were fierce with need. “Did we kiss like that?”