Page 9 of Last Fall

Lucky for her I was used to bossy women telling me what I thought. “I never say anything I don’t mean, Zoe. And kissing you? That’s been the top of my Christmas list for two straightyears.”

“No...it’s not possible. I’ve been so mean to you.” She shook her head as if that was going to convince me she was right and I waswrong.

Fat chance of that ever happening. “You can be rude, mean, or anything else you want, as long as you kiss me like thatagain.”

Her eyes bulged but her bright red cheeks and soft little breaths told me she wanted to kiss me as much as I wanted to be kissed by her. “Erik, no. It’s notpossible.”

“Maybe I should kiss you back to show you how much I mean it.” And now that I said it, I knew I needed to do this. If Marie was right, if Zoe was interested in me even afractionof—

“Erik, don’t make this more awkward that italreadyis.”

“Keep saying my name and it’s going to get real awkward real fast.” Every single time she said my name I got a little bitharder.

Sheblinked. “What?”

Cute.I cocked an eyebrow. “Do I really need to spell out what hearing you say my name over and over does to me? You’re the one who writes about these...reactions.”

Her eyes went roundagain.

Which was really interesting considering she wrote—in explicit detail—exactly what my body wanted right now, and yet she seemed so clueless. As if she’d never actually experienced any of thisbefore.

Maybe shehadn’t.

Which meant Ireallyneeded to kisshernow.

“Me?” shewhispered.

“You.” I leaned in a little closer. Not too much to be intimidating, but I needed to close this gap, needed her tofeelthis electricity that jumped from me to her. “Justyou.”

Her lips formed the sexiestlittleoh.

I needed her.Now.“Zoe, tell me tokissyou.”

A million questions flew through her eyes but she didn’t ask any of them. Instead she stared at me. And then the words I wanted to hear whispered off her lips. “Kissme,Erik.”

Three soft, vulnerable words. This kiss had to be just right because it was the only chance I’d get. I stepped into her while at the same time sliding my hand against her cheek and around to cup the back of her head. Every move was slow and deliberate, showing her that I wanted this and that she had the power to say no at any point. The only way this would ever work is if she felt safewithme.

She watched as I sank down until our lips met. At first it was just a straight up jolt to my system but then this warm electric sizzle replaced that. She tasted salty and sweet at the same time. Probably the soy sauce lingering from lunch. She whimpered, her hands gripping me hard, pulling mecloser.

Wanting.

Yes...

The amount of pride that surged up inside me was probably on the ridiculous side for a kiss, but this was huge. Monumental even. I was kissing Zoe Burke andshe wasenjoyingit.

I let out my own groan of pleasure so Zoe could hear it. God, how I wanted her to understand how much I wanted her. I was so sick and tired of pretending that I was okay with distantfriendship.

Iwasn’tokay.

And now that I had this little window into the secret life of Zoe Burke, I wanted it all. Her trust, her body, her mind, her secrets...allofit.

As much as I hated it right now, that had to start withrestraint.

Mine, to be exact. It took everything I had to end that kiss. Pulling away from her lips, knowing I might not get to taste them again for a while, it sucked. It sucked so much I couldn’t do it. I went back in for onelastkiss.

Okaytwo.

Maybethree.

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