Page 31 of Otter Heart
“Dark brown. Just like my hair.” I reached out, running my hand across his cheek. “I’m not nearly as hairy as you, though. You’ve definitely got that otter thing going on.”
“Is that how I caught your attention? The chest hair got you?”
I nodded. “A bit, yeah.”
His fingers went higher, combing through my still damp hair. He raked it back away from my face like I usually wore it. The moment his fingers were through, the front side flopped forward and to the right, where it always hung. He traced the shape of it, exploring the tightly shaved sides and my ears.
“You have straight hair! And your ear is pierced,” he commented. “Three times.”
“The bottom one is a normal one. But the upper is an industrial.” I guided his hand upward. “Feel the bar that connects them?”
“Didn’t that hurt?”
“I guess. But it looks cool.”
“I bet it makes you look like a bad boy,” Mateo smirked. “Silver?”
I shook my head. “Black.”
“Oooh. Definitely a bad boy.”
His fingers traced down the side of my face and over my jaw.
“Wow,” he smiled. “You have sharp features.” His palms came to rest on my cheeks, his thumbs gliding over my cheekbones. “Close your eyes.”
I did as I was told, my skin prickling with delight as he explored my eyes and brow ridge.
“Oh my god. You… You’re gorgeous!” I could hear the smile in his voice. “Why didn’t you tell me you were so pretty?”
“I thought looks didn’t matter to you?”
His thumbs came down to my lips and I couldn’t help pursing them slightly. Without meaning to, I practically kissed his fingers as they danced over my skin.
“You have beautiful lips, Adam.”
I liked the sound of my name onhislips.
“Can I kiss you?”
The question caught me off guard. I swallowed hard, my body surging forward a few inches of its own accord. Mateo just laughed, still holding my face.
“Is that a yes?”
I nodded, unable to bring myself to say it. Of course, my brain was screamingkiss me you fool, but my heart was a little more timid than that. However, with his hands on my cheeks, he felt my nod and gave me one of his own.
He leaned close and before I could overthink it too much, his soft lips made contact with mine. I closed my eyes, leaning into his touch as he kissed me with more care and passion thanI’d had in what felt like a lifetime.
Fire spread through my veins, but it did not burn me. Instead, it filled me with warmth and light down to my very core. The butterflies in my stomach erupted into a maelstrom and I leaned into his kiss, opening up so that our tongues could dance against one another.
Mateo’s lips were soft, plump, and hungry. I felt like he could suck the life out of me if he wanted to, taking all the passion I could give him and then some. But he took just enough to assert his dominance, but not enough to make me feel used or taken advantage of. It was just the right mix to not only drive me crazy, but to make my hands go straight to his waist where I dug my fingers into his skin. With that touch I gave him permission to take whatever he wanted from me. All he had to do was make a move and I’d let him have whatever he wanted.
He pulled away at last, the pair of us breathing hard. A sly grin spread over his lips, like he understood exactly what kind of permission I’d given him. He’d conquered me with a simple kiss, and I wasn’t sure whether I was happy or embarrassed about that fact.
“You’re a wonderful kisser,” he smiled, stroking my cheek with his thumb.
I squeezed his hip tighter. “Then,” I whispered breathlessly, a plea on the tip of my tongue. “Don’t stop.”
He looked at me seriously, his unseeing eyes searching mine. “Are you sure?”
