Page 36 of This Broken Heart

“Damn it, Josh. Are you going to make me say it?”

“Say what?”

She tosses her hands. “You make me nervous.”

I tilt my head. “Why?”

She growls at me. “Because you’re hot, you big dummy.”

And now I’m smiling from ear to ear, feeling amused and just a bit giddy.

She backs up a little. “I always feel outgunned with you.”

I move closer. “Why?”

“I swear to God, if you say that one more time.” She steps back, legs running into Charlie’s bed. “Are you just fucking with me?”

Her voice comes out as little more than a whisper.

“Definitely not.”

She has to tip her head back to look at me. “So then, what are you doing?”

“I don’t honestly know.” My gaze follows the curve of her lips. Warmth kindles in my chest.

“I don’t understand what you want from me.”

I catch one of her curls and wind it around my finger. “I would think that’s pretty obvious.”

“It’s really not.” She says, her eyes are snared by mine, but it's like she has to keep talking. “You’re so out of my league.”

What?

I pull back, stopping long enough to really look at her. There’s more there than just nerves on that pretty face. Some sort of pain lurks behind those eyes, too.

I never thought she was below me and I don’t like hearing her talk about herself like that. A possessive sort of energy takes over my body and I find myself closing the distance.

Weaving my fingers through her soft hair, I angle her face towards mine and press my lips against hers.

I’ve wanted to know what those lips felt like since the first moment I saw her.

And I wanted to show her that I think she’s beautiful and worthy.

I did not expect the rush of sensations that followed that kiss.

Our lips just brush against each other, a whisper of a touch, but it's like my entire body comes alive in a shivery, staticky feeling. I press into her mouth, deepening the touch. A tiny sound, something between a squeak and a moan, comes from her throat. My hand slips across her lower back and, with only a slight tug, she melts into me.

It feels so good to have her soft body leaning into mine; I wrap both arms around her and hold her tight.

This touch, this connection, is cracking me open. I’m a deep root, waiting for winter to end, and she is sunlight.

I feel everything that was buried so deep start to unfurl.

My thoughts are messy, chaotic. But the thread that sews it all together is a feeling of relief.

There’s a thump in the hallway outside and we both spring apart.

Her fingers slowly rise up to brush against those lips, and I barely stop myself from diving back in for another kiss.