Page 38 of What If I Knew You

CHAPTER EIGHT

BODHI

Wow is right.

She didn’t give me time to think about what kissing her might feel like, but hell, what I wouldn’t do to kiss her again. I know I’m not supposed to feel anything and I’m not saying I’m gushing over this girl, but also, I’m a fucking lucky bastard. Corri is drop dead gorgeous. Her light-brown hair is full of curl, but she has part of it pulled up behind her. The rest hangs in ringlets passed her shoulders, a few tendrils blowing in the evening breeze. Her bright blue eyes are as mesmerizing as her friendly smile. She has a narrowed facial structure with high cheekbones, a dainty nose, and lips that taste like marshmallows.

The green floral dress she’s wearing wraps perfectly around her small waist but flaunts her curvy hips. The tie of her dress hangs loosely along her left side. And those heels…fuck. Maybe I have a shoe fetish because those heels make her legs look killer.

“Okay, so I don’t think you have to worry about kissing.” I watch as she trails her finger from her lips down to the top of her chest. “I uh…” She clears her throat. “I don’t have any critique for you because that was…good. Very good.”

Thank fuck.

The last thing I wanted to do was give her a bad impression.

But also, she’s very easy to kiss.

And I really want to do it again.

“I like marshmallows.”

Her lips turn up in a smile. “What?”

“Shit,” I whisper, shaking my head like an idiot. “Sorry. It’s just that uh, your lips tasted like marshmallows.”

“Marshmallows huh?” She touches them with her finger again and I find myself wishing I could be touching them again.With my tongue.“That’s definitely one I haven’t heard before.”

“You’re a good kisser, by the way,” I say. Hell, I have no idea if what I’m saying is cool or totally ridiculous. “You made it very easy, I mean.”

Her smile widens so I’m going to take that as a good sign. “Good. That’s what this arrangement is supposed to be all about, right? Making things easy for you so you can feel confident?”

Heat spreads across my cheeks, my ears, and my neck. “Yeah. I guess so.”

Sensing my embarrassment, Corri places a tender hand on my knee. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Alan. I promise I’ll be a safe space for you.” She sits back and leans against the loveseat cushion. “There’s no judgement and no preconceived notions. I can usually read another human being pretty well and you give off a friendly vibe.”

“You think?”

“Mhmm.” She nods but then gives me a quizzical look. “Should I be worried? Because I’m not.”

“No.” I shake my head. “Not at all. I know you don’t know me, but I promise, at my core, I’m a good guy. I’m just…”

Lame as fuck.

“Inexperienced but curious?” she offers.

I nod. “Yeah. That sounds better than what I was saying in my head.”

Though I should also add liar to my list.

Now that I’ve met Corri and she seems like a decent woman, I feel guilty that I’m lying to her about who I am.

Okay, maybe not really lying as much as omitting.

Lying by omission. That’s a thing, right?

Because that’s what I’m doing. But there was no way I could tell her who I am and then turn around and tell her I’m a virgin. And I certainly couldn’t tell her who I am and then take her up on her offer for intimacy help.

Talk about professional suicide.

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