Page 63 of That Fake Feeling

Thehair twirls and twirls around her finger. “Yeah, but not for real.”

It’salmost fully dark up here, apart from a night-light plugged in near the bathroom.IthitsRose'seyes as they rise to meet mine.

“Thankyou, though,” she breathes as she drops the strand of hair. “Yourfamily seems to be into goodnight hugs.SoIshould probably give you one.”

Shesteps toward me, sparking life to every nerve ending.Andthen her arms are on my shoulders and sliding around the back of my neck.

Myheart races with excitement and surprise.Iwas not expecting this.

Instinctively,Idip into her, circle her waist, and pull her to me, desperate to have as much of her body against mine asIcan.And, this time, without a photographer in sight.

Hercheek grazes the side of my neck asIclose my eyes, drop my face into her hair, and drink her in. “Ah, it’s the shampoo.”

Shepulls back slightly but leaves her hands on my shoulders. “Whatis?”

“HowIcan tell where you’ve been in the house.Thefruity scent you leave behind.It’syour hair.”

Herforehead falls to my chest as she quietly chuckles.

Ifight the urge to stroke her back and keep my hands in place on her waist instead.

“Damn,” she says. “Soyou knowIsneak into your room when you’re out and rummage through all your personal belongings?”

“Yup.Ican smell you all over my underwear.”Shit.That’sprobably a very bad joke, and it might be about to ruin a perfect moment.

Shelaughs, thank fuck, and lifts her head to give me a sideways look. “That’llbe becauseIput them on my head and model-walk back and forth in them.”

Ipush her hair off her face, and our smiling eyes lock together in the almost-darkness.

Myheart flutters as she slides her hands from my shoulders to my chest.

“Goodnight, then,” she breathes.

Unableto help myself, because it feels like the most natural thing in the world to do,Ibrush my lips across her forehead and murmur “good night” against her delicious skin.

Shedoesn’t move.

NeitherdoI.Unlessyou count the quickening rise and fall of my chest.Shemust be able to feel it.Shehas to knowIwant to kiss more than her forehead.

Hereyes drift shut asIslide my lips to the end of her nose.

Andin possibly the most glorious moment of my life so far, her chin lifts and her lips part as she offers them to me.

It’sa giftIhave no intention of refusing.

Idraw her hips against me as my mouth meets hers.Shetastes of scotch, but asIcapture her bottom lip between mine,Ifind a sweetness that’s all hers.Mydick shifts in my jeans as she presses against me.Nocameras this time, no sparkly red dress.Justthe two of us, alone on my parents’ dark landing.

Irun my tongue along her upper lip, and her mouth falls open to let me in.Themoment our tongues meet,IknowI’mlost.Heatsurges in my chest as my heart lurches and my groin pulsates.

Mymouth has found its home.Likeit belongs right here, pressed against hers, our tongues slowly stroking and teasing as our hearts beat in time.

I’mconsumed with the desire to pick her up, carry her to my room, and drop her onto my bed.

Rosepulls back, gasps for breath, then gently takes my lower lip between hers and runs her tongue along it.It’sthe most delicious, sexy, ticklish sensationI’veever felt.

“Oh,God,” she breathes as she rests her fingers on my cheek and strokes my chin with her thumb. “I’dbetter go.”

Iloosen my grip on her waist as she pulls her body away from mine and reaches for the doorknob to her room.