Page 75 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“Way to up the stress level.”
“I’m absolutely sure you’re a good kisser,” Nick says.“Maybe I’m the bad kisser and you’ll have to givemepointers.”He leans across the table at the same time as his foot slowly traces a line up my calf.His gaze is so intense.
He wants to kiss me.
My heart rate jumps.I can do this.He’s right.We need to practice.
I’m a great kisser.Not like a wet fish at all.
He reaches across for my hand and laces his fingers with mine.I love the feeling of the rough calluses on the tips of his fingers.
“But do we have to try it across this table?”he asks.“Because I’m not going to be able to impress you if I’m trying to kiss you with a table in the way.”
I nod.Nick Devlin and I are going to kiss.
“You’re thinking too much,” Nick says.“I can see it in your eyes.You’re analyzing this.”He pulls me up by the hand.“Couch?”he asks.
I nod.I don’t think Icanspeak.Nick’s couch is this deep-blue velvet loveseat, but instead of letting me sit down, Nick sits and pulls me into his lap.He smells so good—a combination of Dove soap and spicy aftershave.And he radiates heat.
“Are you comfortable?”
The weird thing is, Iamactually comfortable.Sort of.This is Nick, my infuriating neighbor, but these past few weeks, he’s moved from annoying, attractive neighbor to something…more.We used to just hang out when we ran into each other in the neighborhood, like at my favorite dumpling place or at Craic and Laughs, but we were more casual friends.If I’m honest, though, I’ve always tried to see him perform at Craic and Laughs.But I didn’t show up at his other performances because I was afraid he’d realize I found him attractive, and that would ruin our casual vibe.
Now I’ve shared my hopes with him.I trust him.
And this is one kiss.I can do this.
“Areyou?”I counter, bringing my attention back to his question.“I’m the one sitting on your lap.”
“I’m not comfortable.”He puts my hand on his heart.It’s beating so fast.“But I like holding you close.”
Yes, I can definitely kiss the socks off Nick Devlin.
I tilt my head.“Is this part of our fake dating?”
“Maddie, have some confidence in your effect on me.I can’t fake my racing heart.”He leans his forehead against mine and looks deep into my eyes.“Tell me you’renotun-attracted to me.”
“Nick, you have to know your effect on women.”
“I want to know my effect on you, Maddie,” he whispers.
His eyes are filled with something that looks like desire as his peppermint breath lightly brushes over my heated skin.I swallow.
“I want you to kiss me,” I whisper back, somehow finding my voice.It comes out deep.
He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear and then cradles my face.I can feel myself sinking into his warmth and comfort.
Nick tilts his head, my eyes close, and his lips find mine, teasing, exploring, as I give myself over to this moment.Shivers of desire flicker and flitter throughout my body, and I want more.I grab his shirt as he pulls me closer, slanting his head, not stopping.He tastes so good.I shift my hands to run them across his back muscles.He moans and shifts our positions so I’m lying beneath him on the couch in one motion, all while still kissing me.
His hard, lean body rests on mine, but I like the weight.I like the solidity of it.
But then all conscious thought ceases, and I lose myself in the kiss, in Nick making me feel all the feels.This is all that counts—the shivering sensations, the heat, the glowing embers being stoked to a simmering fire, his lean back muscles rippling under my hands.
We finally part to breathe.Nick tenderly sweeps my hair back from my face and then drops a kiss on my nose.“You’re a very good kisser, Maddie.I don’t want to stop.”
“I don’t want to stop either,” I say.
“I can kiss you again?”he asks.
