Page 35 of The Love Penalty

Her breath catches the air between us, and then it’s gone as our lips press together for the softest initiation ever…

And it’s like a spark to a flame.

A current passes between us. A bolt of energy that seems to fuse our bodies together. The sweet peck quickly turns into a passionate kiss like we’re drinking each other’s life force and completely unaware of any other human being on the planet.

People are probably gliding past us, double glancing at this couple in a serious lip-lock.

But I don’t give a shit.

I’m not even conscious of them.

All I feel is the kiss. Lani’s tongue, her taste, her sweet tits pressing against my chest. All I hear is the sweet suction between us just before we pull away for a small puff of air, then dive back for more.

My arm wraps around her waist while my fingers trail into the back of her hair.

She’s squeezing my shoulders, pulling me close… then jerking in my arms and shoving me away.

I step back like I’ve just been electrocuted, and she gapes at me, bug-eyed—just like last time.

“I thought you wanted…” My voice trails off while her head bobs.

“I did.” She bites her lips together, her eyes glassing before she closes her eyes and shakes her head.

“Lani, I?—”

“I can’t,” she whimpers, then takes off running.

I don’t chase her. I can sense that would 100 percent be the wrong thing to do.

So, as much as it kills me, I stand my ground and watch her disappear.

“Burn, dude,” a guy walking past me hisses.

I give him a dry glare, which only makes him snicker, then grip my bag strap and head in the opposite direction.

At least she didn’t slap me in the face this time.

I just wish I could figure out what’s making her pull away so fast. If she wants to kiss me, then why won’t she fucking let herself do it?

CHAPTER 17

LEILANI

It’s been four days since I ripped myself away from Asher and fled.

Four days of pure embarrassment.

Four days of torturous guilt.

Four days of deep self-loathing.

I wanted to kiss him. Oh gawd, the second his hand cupped my cheek, I was putty in his arms. His lips were perfect. His arm pinning me to his rock-hard body was all-consuming. I wanted him so badly it hurt.

And that’s what freaked me out this time.

I want him.

I want his body on mine. In mine. I want those beautiful hands exploring every curve of my body. I want those fingers touching all my sensitive spots and sending me over the edge. And he could do it. He could make me scream his name with barely any effort.