Page 7 of The Kissing Challenge

I wanted to kiss my best friend.

Captain finished scrubbing, pulled the towelette away from his face and smiled. There he was.

"Um, there's kind of something else I wanted to try," I said hesitantly.

"Okay," he said and chucked the cloth into the trash. "I'm game. What did you have in mind?"

Oh gosh, it was now or never.

"All you have to do is look into the camera," I said, walking closer. "I'll do the rest."

"No problem," Captain said. "So just straight into the camera?"

I nodded, bending so I was at his level. If he'd been standing, I would've had to go on my tippy-toes for sure. And even then, I might not have been able to reach. Captain was like a giant in comparison to my shorter frame.

"Should I go full-on smolder?" he joked. "Or just tamp it down to half?"

"Whichever one. I'm sure they both look good on you."

I leaned in, my mouth only inches away from his face—when Captain suddenly turned his head. He looked surprised to find me so close. His smile faded into something more intense as he stared into my eyes.

And I froze.

"Anne?" he asked after a moment.

I couldn't help it. The hitch in his deep voice, the way he was looking at me, everything about him was a reminder. This was Captain. My Captain. I had loved him for years, and I just had to know. After searching Captain's face for any sign of reluctance and finding none, I did what I'd always dreamed of doing.

Slowly, oh so slowly, I closed the gap between us, giving him plenty of time to pull away if he wanted to.

But he didn't.

My lips captured his in a kiss I would remember for as long as I lived. Captain's mouth was surprisingly soft. I went back again and again for more. Each time that same electricity flowed from where our lips touched to every part of my body. It was impossible to tell how long it lasted.

Finally, after an eternity, I gave him one last kiss and pulled away, realizing at some point Captain had moved his hand to my cheek. His big hand cupped my face with the utmost gentleness, like he was holding something precious. My eyes opened, and as he looked at me, the weight of what I'd just done came crashing down.

"Oh my God," I gasped.

His hand fell away as I straightened.

"Um, I uh…need to go."

"Anne—"

"Bye, Cap," I said, grabbing my phone and hightailing it out of there. Yes, it was my house. And yes, I had left Captain sitting in my bedroom. But I had to go, drive around, be away from him, do something. Captain could let himself out.

Did I regret the kiss? No, and I never would.

Could I bear to see the questions in Captain's eyes and stay to answer them? Also no. That took some kind of courage, and after that kiss, I was all out.

So, I ran. I knew I wouldn't be able to avoid him for long. We were best friends after all. But I needed a little time and some space. Oh yes, and if I replayed that video over and over again while I was at it, well…I guess that could just be considered research.

Gah, I could not believe I'd actually kissed my best friend.

CHAPTER 3

I hadn't responded to any of Captain's texts.

Not that he'd sent many. There were only three. None of which I knew how to answer.

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