Page 29 of Head Over Heels

Now I want to kill him.

Because he’s smug. And smirking. And because, of course,he’s right.

While Kieran is not aterriblekisser, he’s not a great one, either.

Or maybe we didn’t have the right kissing chemistry. I’m not sure. All I know is that during our two make-out sessions, I was unable to stopnoticingeverything. I mean, everything. Everything that was wrong with it (teeth clashing, tongue poking, that weird sipping thing he was doing) and everything I wished it were that it wasn’t (rocking my world, making me want more).

After a while, I had to tell Kieran the truth. That I didn’t think it was going to happen.

Not tonight?he’d asked.

I winced.

Oh. You mean, not ever.

As breakups go, it was bloodless. He was a good sport about it, further reinforcing my conviction that he should find someone who can appreciate him.

Chase is staring at me like he can see my thoughts, which is a disconcerting idea. “What?”

“Why do you go out with these guys you aren’t even really into?”

I’m about to snap back at him, but let’s face it, I said something pretty similar to him last night.

“Seriously, Liv, the only difference between me and you is that you string the guys along for a couple of weeks or months before you bail out.”

Oh, now wait a second. Them’s fighting words.“I don’tstringanyone along.”

“You kinda do, though. I mean, you deliberately pick these great-on-paper guys that don’t do anything for you.”

I know it’s crazy, I know I should keep my mouth shut, but he’s really pissing me off. I cross my arms. “How do youknowKieran doesn’t do it for me?”

He levers himself off the couch, and my mouth goes dry.

My heart starts pounding at the look in his eyes—slow-burning and intense.

I instinctively take a step back. Because—well, a million things. Because if he’s about to do what I think he’s about to do, it would be a mess and a disaster. It would ruin our friendship and confuse everything and I don’t, can’t, want to like him the way I think I might like him—

“So Kieran ‘does it for you,’ ” Chase says slowly, his eyes never leaving mine.

I’m frozen in place, pinned by the heavy-lidded look.

“So when he gets close, you feel this?”

He does. Get close, I mean. His body is not quite touching mine, but it might as well be, because he’s brought every hair to attention, every nerve screaming to life.

“F-f-feel what?” I squeak. Even though I knowexactlywhat he means. He’s talking about the heat that’s filled up all the available space in the room, all the emptiness in my body. That rich, melting sensation that has invaded me. The sweet swirl low in my belly, pulling me toward him.

He’s so close. All I’d have to do is tip my face up and lean in a fraction and we’d be kissing.

Thatthought sends a surge of heat across my chest and face and makes my legs wobbly.

His eyes on my face flash satisfaction. He saw me blush. “Well?” he demands. “Is this what it feels like?”

I’m frozen. I can’t speak.

“Yeah.” His smirk is gone. His eyes are dark and hot. “That’s what I thought.”

He wraps his hands in my hair. I feel the tug not only on my scalp but also in my nipples and between my legs. Despite my best intentions, I make a sound. Pretty sure it qualifies as a whimper.

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