Page 35 of Wayfinder
“Lied.” Pearl huffed and made a face. “I lied.”
“You do not wish to stay aboard the Bardaga?” I frowned, sadness crushing my heart.
“No... I mean, yes. I want to stay onboard the Bardaga. What I lied about was....” Her cheeks flushed dark pink. “The kiss.”
“You did not enjoy our kiss.” I tried to keep the disappointment out of my voice.
“Oh no, I did.” Her smile was soft and adorable. “I enjoyed it very much.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I lied about why I kissed you.” Pearl’s blue gaze met mine, searching and reticent.
I wanted to tell her I didn’t care about why. She could kiss me anytime she wanted, for any reason. But I could tell this was important to her.
“You do not kiss for congratulations?” I recalled the reason she gave me after the first time our lips touched.
“We do.” Her fingertips rested on my chest. Surely, she could hear the way my heart hammered. “It’s just that the way I kissed you wasn’t exactly a congratulatory kiss.”
“How is a congratulatory kiss done?” I’d use any excuse to feel her lips on me again.
Pearl rose slightly, hands resting on my shoulders as she brushed her soft lips across my cheek.
“This is not how you kissed me,” I accused, although I enjoyed the touch of her lips against my skin.
“No.”
Pearl took a deep breath, and the tip of her pink tongue moistened her lips. It was all I could do to control my urge to crush her against me and capture her mouth with mine.
“How did you kiss me?” I ventured, watching the flush of color rise on her face.
Her bright blue eyes found mine. “The way I kissed you. Normally, only lovers kiss like that.”
She leaned against me, the curve of her breasts pressing into my chest. It was all I could do not to moan from the pleasure of simply having her against me.
“Lovers?” My voice was thick. “You mean like mates? A mated pair?”
Pearl nodded, her gaze never leaving mine. “Yes, and no. On Earth, people who really like each other do something called dating. They may never make it as far as becoming mated... or married, as we call it. But they spend time together and... enjoy each other.”
My blood surged with heat at the idea.
“And you kiss during this dating?” My fingertips trailed along the curve of her cheek, feeling the warmth and silkiness of her flesh.
“Oh yes,” she sighed, her hands moving to rest on my shoulders. “They kiss a lot.” Her expression grew suddenly shy. “Along with other very pleasant stuff.”
“Then I think we should date.” My lips itched to feel hers again, but I stopped myself, content to let my forehead rest against hers. There was something intrinsically fun about this playful teasing, and the pleasure it insinuated would follow.
Pearl’s smile widened, making my heart squeeze.
“Good idea. It seems a shame to break up such a good team.”
“We are an excellent team.” It might be the closest thing I could say to claim her as mine, but at this moment, it was enough.
A devilish grin spread across her face as she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me in for a kiss. My heart raced as her lips pressed against mine, sending flashes of electricity through my veins. Her fingertips traced the back of my neck, tangling in my hair. While I preferred the neatness of a braid, I would gladly live with messy hair if it meant feeling her touch every day.
Pearl’s lips parted, a soft moan escaping as our tongues met in a dance of passion. Every taste and touch felt like an electric flame, hot and shimmering. The sweet flavor of her mouth intoxicated me, causing an instant reaction in my body. My cock grew harder, pulsing against the fabric of my trousers in anticipation.
I pressed my lips against hers, enjoying her eager response of molding herself against me. I felt the softness of her curves through the thin dress she wore, the firm little points of her nipples creating a sensual friction that sent shivers down my spine.
