Page 34 of Long Story Short

“No,” I mutter, trying to think of where their first kiss is even at in the book, but it’s hard to think of anything but him right now.

A corner of his mouth turns up in a satisfied smirk. “Might want to remember this for that part, then.”

If I weren’t so lost in the way he leans in and traces his nose against my jawline, I might call him out for how incredibly cocky he sounds.

“What else are you feeling?” he asks, his breath hot against my cheek.

“Hot,” I respond before I can even think through my words.

This makes him laugh. His warm breath tickles my cheek as he replaces the thumb against my cheek with his lips.

“Even in the dark, I can see your blush,” he announces, his lips moving against my skin. His lips have finally pressed against me, but not where I want them. I place my hands against his chest, needing to steady myself as I get lightheaded from his proximity.

“You can put blushing in your book too. He makes her blush…a lot.”

“I don’t blush a lot,” I argue, even though it’s no use. We both know I’m lying. I can’t hide the constant flush to my cheeks when I’m around him.

“Yes, you do. And I love it.” His lips still move against my skin, but he’s teasing me. He won’t press his mouth to mine, no matter how badly I want him to. Instead, he trails his lips along my jaw.

There’s an ache deep in my belly. I squeeze my thighs tighter, trying to ignore the desire building deep in my core.

“Make sure you drag out the connection between the two of them,” Tyson instructs. “He shouldn’t kiss her right away. Have him take his time. That way, her desire is almost palpable on the page.”

“And what about his desire?” My words come out hurried and barely above a whisper, while he’s so calm and collected. If he’s using characters to discuss what’s happening between us, I will use it to my advantage to find out if he’s feeling what I’m feeling.

Tyson’s breath is hot against my neck as he pulls on my hair, forcing my spine to curve as he exposes more of my throat to him. He presses his lips to my racing pulse, his tongue peeking out for just a fraction of a second. “From the moment he laid eyes on her, he’s felt it,” he declares, his breath warm as he speaks against my skin. “He’s wanted to act on it, but hasn’t known how she feels and hasn’t wanted to rush things.”

I let out a moan when he places his hand that isn’t in my hair against my bare thigh. His fingertips against my skin feel like a brand. He isn’t anywhere near where I want him most, but it doesn’t matter. Having him touch me at all has wetness pooling between my thighs.

“He’s thought about kissing her a lot, imagining what it’d be like…what she’d taste like.” He presses another kiss to my throat. A small whimper of protest escapes me, because no matter how good it feels to have him trailing kisses against my throat, I’d still prefer he stop dragging it out and kiss me on the lips instead.

“He could easily find out if he just kissed her already,” I respond, my words coming out more like a plea.

“Oh, but the anticipation is so fun. Nothing strengthens a connection more than the longing and desperation that comes before the first kiss.”

I’m happy he’s busy with my throat, because if he were to look at my face right now, he’d see it pinched together in frustration. I’ve gone from not knowing if I should kiss him to not wanting anything else but to feel his mouth against mine.

“Hasn’t there been enough anticipation?” I breathe, my heart slamming against my chest when his hand on my thigh snakes a little higher.

“I think there could be more,” he mutters against my throat. “You said you wanted there to be an intensity to the connection. Dragging it out does that.”

This time, I can’t hide my frustration. A small moan of protest leaves my lips when it occurs to me that he might not actually kiss me tonight.

“Tyson,” I whisper, his name coming out strained.

There’s a rush of cold air the moment he removes his mouth from my skin. I miss his lips against me immediately.

Tyson brings his head down until he’s eye level with me. His fingers trace circles against my skin as he meets my gaze. “I’m still waiting for you to call me Ty.”

I smile, my stare moving to his lips. “I’m still waiting for you to kiss me.”

He keeps a poker face. The only way I can tell my words have any kind of effect on him is the way his fingers still against my thigh.

Just as I pull my gaze from his lips, his falls to mine. He leans in close, so close that I swear his lips softly brush against mine for a moment. “Oh, Josie, I hope to do far more than kiss you, but not tonight.” He squeezes my thigh before he leans back. Shock races through my veins as his words settle in.

I’m staring at him, my body hot with desire and my mouth hanging open as he pushes off the couch and stands to his full height.

I sit up straighter as I run my fingers through my hair in an attempt to fix the tangles he created with his hands. “Where are you going?”