Page 51 of Blue Collar Hotties

“It’s an experience,” she explains, voice shaky. Jenny plucks at her yoga pants, still not meeting my eye. Can’t blame her. “I’ve never kissed anyone before, and I’m twenty-three years old, Lincoln. Isn’t it supposed to be this huge deal? This core human experience for lots of people?”

Yes. So?

Ugh.

“And you want to try it.”

That blush deepens to crimson, but Jenny’s scowl is fierce. She glares at me, blue eyes daring me to mock her. “Yes.I wanted to try it with someone I trust. But you clearly don’t want to, and you’re being a massive judgy jerk anyway, so forget it—”

Oh, hell no.

I cross to the sofa and throw myself down, then tug Jenny down onto my lap. She lands with a squeak, scrabbling at myshoulders, and I wrap an arm tight around her waist, anchoring her to me.

There.

Something settles inside me, despite her grousing. This feels so fucking right. For the first time since coming back to this city, that itchy, restless feeling under my skin goes away. There’s no mysterious thing I need to remember, no urgent thing I need to find, because Jenny is in my lap and there’s nowhere on earth I’d rather be.

“Kissing,” I say loudly, cutting over her stream of complaints. “You really want to try this, Jenny? You want your first kiss? Because I’m in.”

Jenny

He’s in? He’sin?

Well, maybe I don’t want to kiss the jerk anymore! The way Lincoln reacted to my idea, he was clearly horrified. Like he’d never even considered that I might want to kiss another person. Like he didn’t even think I had that wiring, or something.

And… is it so ridiculous? So laughable, that I might want someone that way? I know I’m awkward, but jeez, I’m still flesh and blood. I still haveurges, and since Lincoln moved into the spare room, they’ve been twisting inside me, gathering strength, until I can barely brush past him in the narrow kitchen without letting out a whimper.

He’s just somanly.All big and broad shouldered and stubbly and tall. With those muscles and that deep voice that gets all gravelly first thing in the morning.

“You’re an ass,” I inform my roommate.

Lincoln huffs a laugh, squeezing my waist. “I know, sweetheart. But I mean it. You want to do this? I’m in.”

He’s even more overwhelming close up. Those muscled thighs are rock hard beneath my butt, and I can feel the steady thump of his heartbeat through his shirt. His spicy, masculine scent laces every breath I take.

Lincoln ishot, too. Just like I’d wondered. This is why he never wears a jacket—because he’s a walking, talking radiator with a devilish grin.

“Jenny.” He’s teasing me now, voice low. “You look very shocked, considering this was your idea.”

My idea? I splutter, gripping his t-shirt in my fist.Myidea was that I’d have more warning. More control. I wouldn’t find myself here in his lap with no time to mentally prepare, suddenly confronted with the hard planes of his chest and those strong arms around my waist andgod, the warm puff of his breath against my neck.

“This doesn’t mean anything.” I don’t know who I’m trying to reassure, me or him, but Lincoln sobers up, his smile falling. He reads my expression for a few seconds, then nods.

But that’s a good thing, right? That he doesn’t need to feel pressured?

I won’t kid myself that he’d ever stick around here with me. I won’t do that to either of us.

Ground rules. “It’s just kissing. No further.” Is there anything else? “And if I’m bad at it, you can’t make fun.”

Lincoln rolls his eyes. “You won’t be bad at it.”

“But if I am—”

“Not possible.”

“Lincoln.”

He smirks, cupping my neck with one hand, and that’s the only warning I get before my roommate tugs my face to his.

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