Page 30 of Powerless

“Oh, is that so?” I match her energetic, teasing vibe. “I kissed you once before, was I bad then?”

She smirks and playfully nips on her lower lip. “Well, here you are head over heels in love with me, and you really could suck.” She sweeps her hand motioning my face.

“You could be a terrible kisser too,” I shoot right back.

Kathryn’s mouth gapes as she lifts her hand to rest over her heart. “Now you’ve hurt my feelings, and I don’t think I want to kiss you anymore.” She shakes her head and clicks her tongue to the roof of her mouth. “What a shame you’ll never know how good a kisser I actually am.”

“I’m going to kiss you.”

“Pffft.” She rolls her eyes and flicks her hand dismissively. “No thanks.” Kathryn picks up one of the baguettes and unwraps it. “This on the other hand, looks delicious.” She moves to lift it to her lips and mumbles, “Unlike you.” She takes a bite and stares at me.

She’s so damn adorable. It’s my turn to tease her. “You know, you’re right. I really don’t want to kiss you, that one time was more than enough.”

She chews and swallows what’s in her mouth as I take a bite of one of the remaining baguettes. “I know what you’re doing, mister. And it’s not going to work.”

“Me?” I say while still chewing. I quickly swallow and raise my brows while staring into her breathtaking eyes. “I’m just saying, you’re not really that kissable. Besides, I can’t imagine you’re good at it.”

“I beg your pardon.” Kathryn’s pitch elevates. “You’re probably a horribly sloppy kisser. All tongue and saliva and toothy.” She bares and clinks her teeth. “Or worse,” she pauses and pokes her tongue out. “You’ve got garlic or onion breath.” She closes her mouth and puffs out her cheeks. “That’s gross.”

“Maybe you have garlic breath.”

While maintaining eye contact, Kathryn shrugs, then bites into her baguette. She’s so playful, and I love it. When she finishes chewing she cocks a brow and says, “I guess you’ll never know.” Her pink tongue peeps out and sweeps across her lower lip, catching a discarded crumb. Kathryn lowers her baguette and stands to her feet. She begins stepping backward. “What a shame, because I know for a fact, I’m the best kisser you would’ve had. But you’ve lost your chance now.” She takes off running.

When she looks over her shoulder at me, my heart stops. There’s no doubt in my mind at all. I will marry Kathryn. I jump to my feet and take off after her. Kathryn might be petite in stature, but she’s fast. As soon as I catch up to her, I grab her around the hips and pin her with my body up against a tree.

Kathryn arches her back, pushing her chest into mine. “I’m going to kiss you, Kathryn,” I say as I lower my head and skim my mouth against hers.

Kathryn’s breath hitches as her lips slightly part, and she moves her eyes down to my mouth before lifting her gaze to meet my eyes. “Maybe I don’t want you to kiss me.” She arches a brow as her eyes dart to my mouth, then to my eyes again.

She’s making me crazy with her sinful dark eyes and tight body pushing into mine. I lift my left arm and cage her between the tree and myself while my right hand grips her hip. “Then I won’t kiss you.” I lean down and skim my nose across the nape of her neck. Kathryn moans as she angles her head to the side to allow me access. “Are you sure you don’t want me to kiss you, Kathryn?” I tighten my grip on her hip.

“Don’t you dare kiss me, Bennett Adams. I don’t want any part of you on me.” She snakes her hand around my waist and pulls me in closer.

“I’ll spend my life not kissing you.” I inhale deeply, and I’m rewarded with the perfect aroma of coconut. “You changed your shampoo. Keep using this one, I like it.”

“If you like it, then I’ll change it,” she says in a wickedly sexy voice.

I hold her gaze, wanting to do nothing more than take her, right here under this damn tree. “I’m not going to kiss you.” I lower my head and skim my lips against hers.

“Don’t kiss me, Bennett.” Her hot breath mingles with my own.

“I won’t.” I lean in further until our mouths are pressed together.

“Don’t,” she whispers and contorts her body further into mine. Kathryn’s tongue peeps out and sweeps across my lower lip, silently giving me permission to deepen our kiss. She pushes her fingers through my hair and balls her hand. “Don’t you dare.”

“Never.” She closes her eyes and leans into me, giving me the opportunity I’ve been dreaming about. I claim her mouth, owning her with our sensual kiss.

With her hand fisted in my hair, she brings me even closer until our bodies are smashed together. The kiss becomes desperate, and if I don’t pull back now, I’m afraid I’ll want to tear her out of her clothes and fuck her right here. But she deserves so much more than that. I pull back and lean my forehead on hers. “I have to stop,” I say between deep breaths.

“I think that’s a good idea.”

“Your first time should be—”

“What? My first time? You mean my first time with you?” she cuts my sentence off to ask.

Her words surprise me. “You’re not a virgin?”

She lifts her brows and smirks. “Are you?”

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