Page 25 of Strong Side
Casey hands me my cup, and I take a sip, but I’m still watching his face. I mean, I put it out there, and I can’t take it back, so I need to read his expression.
“Aren’t you just full of surprises tonight, pretty girl? First worms, now a kiss, huh?” He takes my drink from my hand and puts both of our cups in the drink holders.
“I mean, we don’t have to. I just figured it might be easier to have our first in private. But, no, we shouldn’t?—”
“Oh, no. We’re going to. But I am curious. Do you want to kiss me so it looks real to other people, or do you want to kiss me because you want to taste me as much as I want to taste you?”
The rush of heat that shoots through my body is nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. And now, of course, I can’t find my words, so I nod.
“You need to speak, Noelle.”
I swallow, and my words come out hoarse. “The second one.”
“Well then … let’s do this.”
One of his hands slides around my neck, and he pulls me toward him. I look between his lips and eyes as we get closer. Instead of placing his lips on mine, he kisses my forehead, then trails kisses down the side of my face, on my neck, then along my jaw until he reaches my mouth.
He pulls back slightly to look me in the eyes. “I’ve been waiting a really long time for this.”
Before I can ask him what he means, he places the most perfect, softest kiss on my lips. He pulls back and searches myeyes. When he leans back in, he angles his head and traces his tongue along the seam of my lips.
My lips part instinctively for him, and our tongues meet for the first time. It starts off slow and gentle, our tongues dancing around each other. With his tongue caressing my own, I feel a wave of pleasure roll down my body and settle in my core. His lips are firm, his tongue like satin, and there’s something so passionate about the way his hand pulls me in and his breath comes out like a moan. I am so lost in this kiss that I forget my name. Then a car horn beeps, startling us both.
We pull apart, but our faces are still aligned.
“I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind doing more of that.” He kisses the tip of my nose, one cheek, and then the other.
“Oh, we’ll definitely do more of that. Since you’re my boyfriend and all.”Who is this breathy girl speaking? It’s like I’ve lost all sense because of Casey King’s lips.
He releases my head and pulls away, then winks. “Damn straight I am.” And it doesn’t sound fake at all.
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
CASEY
A few days later,I pick up Noelle to take her on our first official date. She might think this is for show, but for me, it’s not. I want to show her what it would be like to date me for real. Show her how she deserves to be treated.
She’s waiting outside her apartment, and she waves when she sees me and starts to walk toward the car. I get out anyway—because I respect women.
When she reaches me, I pull her in for a hug and kiss her forehead. “Hey, you. Were you excited to see me? Waiting outside and everything.”
She laughs. “Well, you texted me when you left your place, so I timed it and thought I’d just be ready when you got here. Plus, Chelsea is studying, and I don’t want to interrupt her.”
“I like the idea that you were excited to see me better.”
We walk to the passenger side of my truck, and I open the door and hold out my hand for her as she climbs up.
“Always a gentleman.” She smiles her genuine, gorgeous smile.
“That’s right. My parents taught me well.”
And that’s true. My dad was a great role model, but my mom also expected me to open her doors when my dad wasn’t around. So, it’s just something that was standard in my family. Respect and treat women kindly.
“They did good.”
I nod and shut her door, then walk around to the driver’s side. “What are you hungry for? We haven’t been to The Font in a while. I can’t decide what to get yet.”
