Page 78 of Innocence
And cue slow clap.
Lorenzo seemed more annoyed than anything. He released a deep sigh and grumbled, “Fine.”
“Okay then,” I said, slightly mad that he so easily dismissed me.
Which didn’t make sense. People dismissed me all the time. I was the forgettable girl that passed by in the background of their lives. Except, when it came to Lorenzo, I didn’t want to be in the background anymore.
I wanted to be front and center under a bright light, where he could see me.
I glanced over at him, still hard at work, and added, “I’ll just go then.”
Still nothing.
“Fine. I don’t need you to kiss me.”
My hands slapped over my mouth too late.
“What?”
Stay still, Kya. If you don’t move, he won’t see you.
The pen dropped out of Lorenzo’s hand, clinking against his desk, as he lifted his chin.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into…”
This time it was him that froze. Ice-blue eyes going wide, while his mouth hung open with forgotten words.
My heart had never pounded as hard as it did when his gaze slowly rolled over me. I couldn’t breathe, but I could feel every inch his eyes caressed. After a few minutes of incredibly awkward silence, Lorenzo cleared his throat.
“So, you want hamburgers tonight?”
“Um,” was this a trick? “Yeah?”
He didn’t say anything, just continued to stare at me. Should I go over there? This was what I came here for, right? Taking a deep breath, I told myself to loosen up and slowly made my way across the room.
Lorenzo’s eyes remained locked on me. Watching every move I made. Making me more and more nervous with every step I took. When I made it to his desk and he rolled his chair back to make room for me, I had to brace my palm on his desk to hold myself up.
The trek around his desk to stand in front of him, was the longest of my life. Twice in those ten steps, I thought my knees were going to give out. By the time I was close enough to smell him, my nerves had completely taken over.
“I don’t know what to do?”
Lorenzo tipped his head up at me. “What do you want to do?”
My gaze fell to his lips. Full, soft, and slightly parted.
“I’ve never been kissed.”
He rose from the chair and placed his hands on the desk behind me. “So, kiss me.”
I licked my lips and swallowed. Was this real? Was this beautiful man really asking me to kiss him?
“Or better yet,” the corner of his mouth lifted, “I’ll kiss you.”
His lips crashed down on mine, stealing my breath. They were softer than I imagined, and much more forceful. Terrified and thrilled, I gasped, making Lorenzo growl and thrust his tongue in my mouth.
I don’t know how my legs wound up wrapped around his hips, or how my fingers got tangled in his hair. All I knew was I never wanted his taste to leave my mouth.
His mouth moved against mine, wearing down my resistance with every sweep of his tongue, until we were nothing but a tangled ball of needy hands and clanking teeth. But it was one word that tore the last piece of my soul from my body.
