Page 47 of Any Second Now
“Sure,” I say, even though it’s late and I should send him home.
This time, I don’t hesitate to sit down next to Atticus. This time, our whole bodies touch. He puts his arm around the back of the couch and we watch Shaun and his friends battle zombies in England.
“I got it,” Atticus says suddenly and I almost jump. He laughs and lets his arm drop around my shoulders. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you during a zombie movie.”
“No problem. What do you got?” I turn to Atticus and we are so. Close. Together.
“You can make a whole zombie cross-stitch series. Like:I prefer zombies to people.Or:Don’t worry, zombies only like brains.”
“Stop it, that’s amazing.” I chuckle softly.
“Yeah? I’m not sure there’s a big market for that though.”
“People love zombies.” My eyes involuntary drift to his lips.
“Mmmm, is that true?” His arm is still resting on my shoulders, like we’re meant to be snuggling on the couch just like this, and I swear he tugs me just a tad closer.
“Maybe?” I push his knee with my hand and let it linger for a few more seconds. “Or is it just us?”
Just us. I like the sound of it.
Suddenly the air in the room starts buzzing. Or maybe the noise has been there all along, like the background noise of summer cicadas. I’m warm and happy and laughing with Atticus Knox, and he’s looking at me like I’m his kind of weird—shit that’s another good quote, but he’s not moving, and I don’t think he will. But the bottle of wine I’ve consumed gives me the courage and I lean forward to close the distance between us, pausing before our lips touch.
“Raleigh,” he says, his voice raspy. It’s a warning, and a question, and maybe an invitation.
“Yes.” I answer all of them.
Atticus slides his hand along my jaw and into my hair. His breath is hot on my lips. We’re frozen in space and time and anticipation.
I flash back to every party during college where we’d flirt and tease each other.
Every time I’ve insisted he’s just my best friend’s little brother.
I’m back to New Year’s Eve when we finally got to kiss.
And now? I’m getting the chance to do it all over again.
But it’s different this time.
Because we’re alone.
And it’s breaking theonce and never againrule we agreed to.
Fuck it. Who cares about rules.
“Any second now, Atticus.”
Atticus smiles lazily and slowly closes the remaining inches between us, touching our lips together so gently I let out a soft sigh. Holy hell, the feel of his mouth on mine. I’ve missed it so much. How is that possible? I’ve only kissed him once in my life, but I still missed him. I press my mouth onto his and let my lips fall open. His tongue meets mine, and it’s exactly what I’ve been thinking about for six months.
Atticus wraps his hands around my waist and tugs me until I’m sitting on his lap, allowing me to melt against his chest as our mouths come together again and again. He has a hand on the skin of my waist where my tank top has ridden up and the other buried in the fine strands of my hair. A little whimper escapes my throat. Atticus pauses and then pulls me even closer, his breathing sharper. His shorts are thin and mine are ridden up so my bare thighs are pressing against his hard length. It feels so good being in his arms.
But I’m so in my head.
Is this another example of me jumping in with someone too soon after a big breakup? But this time it’s Lucy’s brother? And am I really jumping in or just overthinking kissing?
I shove the distracting thoughts out of my head and bury my hands in Atticus’s thick curls, pushing his baseball cap off and leaning into him. I can feel him smile against my lips.
He shifts his body and gently runs his tongue along my bottom lip, then nips it between his teeth. My head spins with the pleasure of it. The teasing. I could kiss him forever.
