Page 71 of Bewitched & Bewildered
The tension breaks. How long has it been building between us? I’ve ignored it since the potion incident, but it feels like it started before. It’s ancient, swirling, begging to break free since our souls were created.
His free hand moves to my waist, tugging me until I’m flush against him. He touches the small of my back, and his fingers dig in.
We can stop now. I don’t want to.
My lips part in a desperate invitation, and he accepts with equal fervor. Everyone is watching. I don’t care. Need rushes through me.
Finally, I’m living my fantasies. He’ll never know, but this is for me as much as it is for him. His tongue slips into my mouth, and a soft moan passes between us.
It may be his or mine. We meld into one.
The vibrating sound brings me back to reality. Back to where we are, and who I’m kissing—and why I should not, in a million years, feel warmth pooling between my legs. Not with him.
We pull away and look at each other with wide eyes.
“Th-thank you,” he says in a low voice.
“Do you think that was enough for her?” I ask.
His eyes darken, and heat blazes between us.
“No,” he says. “She needs more.”
OZAN
I don’t know if Vanessa is watching anymore, and I don’t care. There is no hesitation as Juniper and I explore each other’s mouths. This isn’t the sort of party where we should be doing this. We’ll be the talk of the town when tomorrow comes, but…
I’m not thinking straight. Kissing Juniper makes me dizzy.
The next kiss is as long as the last, and I don’t want it to end. I press a few gentle pecks to her lips. Each time I pull away, she’s chasing me for another one.
“I don’t think she’s watching,” I say, though I still don’t know.
I can’t bring myself to look or care. This isn’t for her anymore. It’s not just for me, either. A soft sound of regret and need comes from the back of Juniper’s pretty throat.
Even though I’ll regret it, I want to give her a chance to stop it before we go too far.
“Oh,” she breathes.
Her cheeks are pink when we pry away from each other.
I’m kissing Juniper. It’s not the first time—but it’s better than the last. So much better. We’re not foolish, bumbling teenagers now. She’s not my first kiss anymore. In a way, she always will be…
But it doesn’t feel like that now.
It feels like I need her. She said she wants me to move on but doesn’t realize how much she’s helping me do it. I’ve always been attracted to Juniper, but this is something else.
She looks up at me with wet, parted lips. Does she know how enticing she is?
I never wanted to open my heart again, but it feelsinevitable now. She opened my chest and pulled out my desire. I can’t shove it back in.
If there’s a chance she wants me like I want her, I need to tell her.
“Do you think—” I start.
I never get to finish.
Laurel meanders over with a gigantic smile on her face and a big drink in her hand. “Hey, lovebirds.”
