Page 21 of Mitch

I steadied his frame as I shifted us further into the shadows of the empty pool room to let the next contestant—a woman I didn’t know—up on the stage.

The shift pulled us into the low-lit corridor adjacent to the game room, which lead toward one of the three emergency exits.

It was close enough to hear the woman wailing on her rendition of Carrie Underwood’sBefore He Cheats, but not so close that we didn’t have a modicum of privacy for the moment.

“You’re having fun. Fun can be messy sometimes,” I said, licking my lips as I focused my gaze on his perfect pout.

I wanted to kiss him.

I wanted to tell him that messy or not, he deserved to have a good time.

I wanted to be the one to show him just all the funwecould have.

Together, if he’d give me the chance.

Somewhere in my mind, I knew it was a bad idea. For starters, he was technically a client, and pursuing any sort of romance was unprofessional.

Then there was the whole question about whether or not Penn was even remotely into the idea of any sort of romance or relationship with someone like me.

Because I wasn’t a tall, tanned, pretty blonde woman.

I was the furthest thing from that.

But caught up in the shadows, with Penn in my arms, looking like a bedazzled wedding cake with his plush lips and rosy cheeks and glittering eyes...

I couldn’t resist.

The words fell out of my mouth without warning.

“I want to kiss you right now,” I whispered, my voice catching in my throat.

Penn stood upright, his entire bodystiff as a rod.

“I think... I think I want to kiss you too... but...”

I reached out, sliding my hand through his damp, sweaty hair.

“But what?” I asked, trying to breathe.

“I’ve never kissed someone like you... before,” he admitted.

In my drunken stupor, I stupidly asked what I already knew. But perhaps I just wanted to hear him say it.

Out loud.

“Like me?” I drawled. “I think I need you to elaborate, Cream Puff.”

Penn squeezed my side as his breath shook.

“I mean... I’ve never kissed a guy,” he whispered, licking his lips as he swallowed harshly.

“There’s a first time for everything,” I said, ignoring all the alarm bells sounding in my head.

I ran my hand down his neck, cradling the back of his head as I used my thumb to nudge his chin up.

Penn fell into me with ease as I brought my mouth to his.

Like he’d been waiting for my kiss allhis life.

---