Page 56 of Clean Out of Luck

It’s the biggest, fattest lie I’ve ever heard. Nothing could possibly be the same. Even if we walked away right now without kissing each other, nothing will be the same.

Because now I know. I know that Scarlett is attracted to me too. That maybe it’s been eating away at her just like it has been me. Only, she’s been a lot better at hiding it.

“I’m going to kiss you now.”

Scarlett raises her eyebrows. “You seem to be talking a big game, but I don’t see a lot of action?—”

I cut her off by tugging her against my chest and laying my lips across hers. She gasps against my mouth but doesn’t pull away.

I’m kissing Scarlett.

There’s a victory band playing in the back of my mind. This is really happening.

I am holding Scarlett in my arms and kissing her.

The same woman I never thought would give me a second glance. The same woman who has been an instrument of unbelievable torture the last couple of weeks. The same woman who is moaning against me as she slips her arms behind my neck.

“Scarlett,” I mumble against her lips. “I want more.”

She nods and runs a hand through my hair, pulling my head back down so she can lead the kiss. She tips her head to the side, giving me better access to deepen the kiss.

It’s not at all like I imagined it would be.

When I thought about kissing Scarlett, it was all 2D.

But this kiss involves arms, hands, lips, the scent of soft lemon, her soft hair between my fingers. The sounds emanating from her as she kisses me back.

My entire body feels as though it’s finally alive.

Every sense is heightened, and I never want it to end.

Scarlett finally pulls back a little to catch her breath, and I reach up to gently grasp her head. I stand straight and pull her to rest her cheek against my chest.

I wonder what she’s thinking as she clings to me, feeling my shuddering breaths and my frantic heartbeat. I wonder if she feels like the earth shattered and rebuilt itself just for us.

I don’t know how long we stand there. It could be five minutes or five hours, but it’s long enough that I don’t know what to say. I know exactly where I want this to go now. But I don’t want to scare Scarlett away.

She’s a processor. If I tell her, “Hey, let’s jump into a serious relationship together,” she’ll be doing cartwheels to get away from me.

Even though I don’t want to, I need to just let this kiss be what it is tonight: an experiment.

Scarlett places a hand on my chest and steps out of my arms. She looks at me with wide brown eyes and tousled hair. “What have we done?”

I try to shrug nonchalantly. “That was just a goodnight kiss.”

“That was your version of a goodnight kiss?”

I nod twice.

“Dang,” she whispers softly.

She’s in shock, poor thing.

She reaches out and touches my lips with her finger. “I kissed that.”

“Yes, yes you did.” I smile slowly. “And it was the best kiss I’ve ever had.”

“Really?” she asks as she slowly pulls her hand away. “How do you rank kisses?”

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