Page 45 of We Are the Stars

His words grow more and more clipped as he goes on.

“The entire night.”

“Yes. The whole thing.”

“You didn’t sleep?”

“Not a wink.”

“Because I kissed you.”

“Because you kissed me.”

“Oh,” I say. “I’m sorry.”

“For?”

“Kissing you?”

“You’re sorry for kissing me.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “Yes.”

Carsen clenches his jaw, and I can see the muscles jumping from my perch on the bed.

“So.” A single word, cold enough to make me shiver. “You sympathy kissed me.”

“Empathy.”

“What?”

“It wasn’t a sympathy kiss, Carsen. It was an empathy kiss. I felt your pain from that night and it… Well, it…took over. Ineededthat kiss.”

His gray eyes darken. “Needed it?”

“Yes.”

“That…” He tilts his head. “Is such bullshit. You didn’tneedto kiss me. You—”

“I wanted to,” I interject before his temper can rise. “I wanted to kiss you, okay? Stop getting upset about it.”

“Then why did you run?” Oddly enough, the hushed tone he asks this in frightens me more than any angered one he’s ever taken. “Elliott,” he presses.

“I didn’t run. Well, I mean I technically ran, but I didn’tmeanto.”

“Sure…”

“I freaked, okay? I attacked you with my lips and I had no idea if you were going to freak out or push me away or run or maybe even scream. I had no clue what was going to happen! By the time it registered what had happened, I was so scared out of my mind and confused that I ran, and I realize now that wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever had because now you’re—”

Then his lips are on mine.

He pulls back, silently asking if it’s okay. I answer him with a kiss of my own.

The same tingle from last night is instant, only this time it starts in my toes. It works its way up my body as Carsen pushes me back on my bed, his lips moving against mine the entire time. As his tongue plays a song against mine, the tingle settles low in my stomach. I feel a spark as he maneuvers us until I’m on my back and he’s lying on top of me. Another flash of heat passes between my legs once he begins to kiss down my chin, the column of my throat, and back up to my lips.

I have never felt anything so good in my life—and I’m no virgin.

Our tongues tangle together again and our hips begin a rhythm of their own. I slowly bring my hands up, placing them on his arms. I can feel the muscles straining as he carefully holds himself on top of me. He swivels his hips and I instantly grab hold of his head, pulling him closer. He moans into my mouth and I feel it in every inch of my body.

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