Page 2 of Be My First

I step away from the table and walk toward him. I know what I want, and I’m going to get it. I better do it fast before Eli finds me.

I stop when I’m right in front of him, so close I can feel the heat coming off his body. I nearly swoon once I’m close enough to smell him.

How does he smell so damn good?

“Are you going to tell me your name?” He reaches out and twirls a piece of my hair between his fingers. A shiver slides down my spine.

“I’m not really interested in talking,” I say, locking eyes with him.

One side of his mouth twitches up. “Is that right?”

He pushes off the wall so he’s standing just inches from me. Our chests almost touch as they rise and fall together.

He puts his hand on my shoulder, turns me, and gently pushes me until my back is against the wall. He places one hand on the wall just over my head and leans into me until his lips are just above mine.

“So mystery woman - how do you like to be kissed?”

My heart is pounding. I slide my hand around his neck and say, “Any way you want.”

A soft groan escapes from deep within him, and I feel it all the way to my toes. He removes his hand from the wall and cups the back of my head, his fingers gliding through my hair, bringing me closer. He holds still for just a heartbeat with our lips nearly grazing each other’s, and then he inches closer andpresses his lips to mine. Gentle and soft at first.

When I feel his tongue on my lips, I part them, allowing him to slide his tongue deep in my mouth. I moan, my whole body sags and a fire starts to build between my legs. He plunges his tongue deeper in my mouth as I run my fingers through the back of his hair.

Nothing else exists but this kiss. The rest of the world fades away as we melt into each other. I couldn’t say how much time passes until his phone starts buzzing, but it isn’t nearly long enough. He steps back and looks down at it.

His brow furrows as he reads his texts.

I slip around him, back to the table with the drink. My legs are shaky, and my stomach is fluttering. I should be getting back before Eli freaks out, but my lips are still tingling from Bode’s touch, and I can’t seem to pull myself away.

Bode is still reading his texts when Eli stumbles around the corner.

“Oh thank god, you already found her,” he says to Bode.

I take a sip of my drink.

Eli points at me. “Juno, I swear to god if you keep disappearing...”

“Juno?” Bode looks at me like he’s just seeing me for the first time.

Eli cocks his head to the side. “Yeah, my sister...didn’t you know?”

“I just walked up,” I lie.

Bode’s eyes narrow on me.

I extend my hand his direction. “It’s been a few years, Bode. Good to see you.”

He doesn’t take my hand. “How old are you?”

Last time he saw me I had braces and some very unfortunate bangs.

“Eighteen. Can you fucking believe that?” Eli answers for me. “She was just a kid like five minutes ago, and now she looks twenty-five somehow. I swear it happened overnight.”

Eli turns to me. “Which is why you can’t run off at parties like this - especially not dressed like that.”

I scoff. “Should I have worn sweatpants?”

Both Eli and Bode answer at the same time, “Yes.”

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