Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50681 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50681 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
I frowned when he pointed at me with an expectant look. “What do you want me to say?”
Mitch rolled his eyes. “If I told you we were filming in bed, how would you respond?”
“Fuck, no.”
“Exactly. Except…no swearing. Let’s try it again.”
“But that’s what I’d say. Why censor it?”
“Because I love the F-word as much as anyone else, but it doesn’t translate well on these kinds of videos. It’s not a problem to say it once in a while, but it can’t be everyone’s first impression of you.”
“Why the fuck not?” I challenged.
Mitch scoffed. “Now you’re just being a real fuckhead. Cooperate, please. This is your intro. Oh, and maybe you should put your arm around me and kiss my cheek.”
“Now?”
“Yes. This is a rehearsal, so…go for it.”
I moved to his side, slipped my arm around his waist, and kissed his cheek. His scruff threw me off stride. It wasn’t noticeable because his facial hair was blond, but I could feel it. He smelled and felt different from anyone I’d ever kissed before. Sure, I’d kissed male relatives. I was part Italian. No one in my family shied from physical contact. But a hug and kiss on each cheek from my Uncle Gianni was different from kissing an attractive man. I caressed his cheek impulsively and then leaned in to sniff him the way I’d wanted to since the party. “Mmm.”
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“You smell good. I’ve never kissed a guy I wasn’t related to who had a five o’clock shadow.”
Mitch gave me a funny look. “You kissed me yesterday at lunch.”
“Yeah, but you haven’t shaved since this morning, right? The texture is like sandpaper…but in a good way. I like it,” I assured him.
He looked flustered for a second but recovered quickly. “Well, that’ll make the real kiss easier then.”
“Right. When do we kiss, and what’s the intensity level supposed to be? G, PG, PG-13? Or are we going straight to the nasty?” I teased.
“Ha. G is peck on the cheek, which we just covered. PG is peck on the lips. That should be fine.”
“Got it. Maybe we should practice first,” I said.
“Um…sure.” Mitch turned around and gestured toward the bar stools at the island. “We can sit there, and I’ll set up the tripod a foot or so from where you’re standing now.”
“We don’t have to be in exact position. I just need to get used to touching you. It would be the same with anyone. Guy or girl.”
Okay, fine. I wanted to do it again. I’d thought about him nonstop since the party last weekend. And that throwaway kiss yesterday at the restaurant had opened a Pandora’s box. I was consumed now. I didn’t want to practice kissing him. I had to or I’d go crazy.
“Maybe you’re right. Um…okay. You can kiss me,” he said in a low voice.
“Well, you have to participate,” I chided as I stepped into his space.
“I’m…yes. Do you want to go first? Like…” Mitch set his hand on my hip and inched closer still. “…this?”
I lifted my right hand and hovered it above his ear for a moment before threading my fingers through his hair. He suddenly looked nervous, which somehow worked in my favor. I held his gaze, then moved forward and gently pressed my lips to his. And fuck, it felt amazing to be here again. I tilted my head slightly, loving the intoxicating contrast of his soft lips and scratchy chin. Mitch closed his eyes and hooked his arms around my neck so we stood toe-to-toe and chest-to-chest. All the ways this felt different no longer applied. I knew what to do here. I was practically a fucking expert.
I cradled the back of his neck and licked his bottom lip. He let me in immediately, gliding his tongue alongside mine in a slow, sexy maneuver that made my pulse race. My instincts screamed for me to keep going. I owed it to myself to see where this led. I deepened the connection, twisting my tongue with his in a building frenzy. Then I lowered my hand down his back and pulled him against me, so my half-hard cock grazed his—
Oh, fuck.
I released him quickly and swiped my hand across my mouth as I tried to think of how to defuse any potential awkwardness. The best method for dealing with uncertainty was humor, but nothing seemed particularly funny at the moment. My heart was pounding, my brain felt fuzzy, and the longer I stared at his swollen lips, the more I wanted to pull him close again and see what might happen next.
Mitch looked like he felt the same. A little shell-shocked but definitely curious. I started forward but just as my momentum shifted, I lost my nerve.
I gulped and let out a strained half chuckle. “Was that what you had in mind?”