Page 111 of The Score

"We'll take it slow, but… " I lick my lips. "We should see what happens when we kiss on purpose. It's been a few weeks. What if we faked too hard at the wedding and it put the wrong thoughts in our mind?"

He takes one final step. It brings him within reach, but we don't touch.

"We're not confused, Penélope."

Casually, like it makes total sense, I take off my blazer.

I drop it on the floor. "Then kiss me. We'll see."

"This isn't how I would go about kissing you on purpose."

"It is how you kissed me the first time in my backyard."

"Not how I kissed you on our wedding day."

"Then show me. How will you kiss me tonight?"

"Not like this."

I purse my lips. His severe gesture doesn't change. Leon is a determined man, and I know this look. He's not going to kiss me like this, whatever that means.

"Okay. Fine." I make a single, decisive nod. "I'll… give us time."

His eyes narrow. I take a step away, escaping the tight space between Bear and the door behind me.

I aim for a shrug, but it comes out as a twitch. "To be honest, if we end up doing all these things together… well, maybe I need time to wrap my head around that."

I take a couple of slow, hesitant steps backwards.

"Right." He purses his lips this time.

"I'll go— I don't know." I take another step away. "Take a shower. And I—"

I don't fully turn away when he grabs my arm. Before I know what's happening, he pulls me to him. I crash against his chest— and he kisses me.

Hekissesme. He devours me. He licks my lips, sucks on the bottom one, and my breath catches— I gasp. He insists, pushing me back toward the wall, and asking for more with his tongue. I'm not sure how I know, but I sense it, and I respond. Swiftly. I cling to him, arms surrounding his neck, because he's still pushing me back until I'm plastered on painted drywall.

And he keeps on kissing me. It's not the first time for us, but this— the way his lips move on me, the way our tongues play and explore, and with his beard tickling my face— it puts a veil on our previous kisses. Even those at our wedding fade, and those were life-changing. This kiss has the power to create galaxies. It's powerful, unexpected, and all-in.

I could melt, but he presses me against the wall. His big, delicious body engulfs me and, if he weren't who he is, I wouldn't let myself dissolve intohim the way I do. His hands travel from my arms up my shoulders. With slow movements, he cradles my head. With assertive fingers, he angles my face. It opens me further to him and, in an instant, he's taking advantage of it.

A moan builds in my throat. I don't stop it. The sound must do something to him, because he pushes himself on me. How can a body be so soft and hard at the same time? And, fuck. I guess he likes kissing, because the erection pushing on my belly leaves nothing to the imagination.

Until he stops kissing me. It seems like a sacrilege not to have his mouth on mine, and I pursue his lips. He teases me. Doesn't quite kiss me, but rubs his lips on mine. I frown and open my eyes, to find his dark blue stare tracking my reaction.

"More," I complain.

He smirks. "We'll get there."

"Bear—"

"First, I need you to understand that this is how I want to kiss you." He runs a thumb over my bottom lip. "Moving forward, this is how I'll kiss you."

"Sounds good." I try to kiss him again, but he chuckles.

He pulls from me until he can hold me in his arms. It takes me a few steps to realize he's guiding me to the bathroom. I'm hazy enough that I don't question it. All I hear in my head is that I loved that kiss, and I need more.

"If I had known you're such a good kisser…" I say.