Girl Gone Viral (Modern Love #2)(61)

Her shoulders slowly lowered from her ears. “Oh. Right. If it was a person, the guard outside would have notified you, right?”

“Yes.” Lorne’s people were discreet, but he trusted them to show up when need be.

They sat in silence for a while. There were a million things they could talk about or do. They could check up on the hashtag or he could contact Lorne, or they could talk about how his grandfather might really never speak to him again. But that would mean the real world intruding on their peace. And that was the last thing he wanted.

What do you want?

He moved his hand so it lay next to hers, his pinkie brushing her skin.

HE WAS TOUCHING her. It was so small and almost something Katrina could explain away as an accidental brush.

Zing.

He moved his finger against hers.

Take up space.

He inhaled deeply. “Katrina—”

“I liked kissing you. I’ve been wanting to do it for a while.”

He froze.

Though her heart sank in dread, she continued. Taking up space. “It seems that I have developed feelings for you at some point. I thought I could shove them away. Swipe them away with someone else. But I don’t actually know if I can re-create what I feel for you with someone else. Anyway, um, I am sorry I didn’t ask you first and sprang that kiss on you.” She shut her mouth to stop the babble of words.

Jas set down his glass on the coffee table. “Katrina . . . I kissed you.”

“No. I kissed you. Because I wanted to.”

“No, I kissed you.”

What was he talking about. “I’m pretty sure it was me who was the kisser, and you, who was the kiss-ee.”

His brow furrowed. “Do you remember how much we both leaned in?”

“I’m sorry, what?”

He squeezed his eyes shut. “Nothing. Moral of the story, I wanted to kiss you, as well.”

Her lips formed an O. “I see.”

His eyes crinkled. “Do you?”

“No.”

He looked like he wanted to say something more, but then he swayed forward, bridging the gap between them more than halfway. Then he waited.

It took her about half a second to close that gap.

The first brush of his lips against hers came as such a shock she jumped, though she’d wanted it.

His touch was soft and gentle, his lips exploring. He didn’t suffocate her and for that she was grateful—this was too new to risk feeling like her air was being cut off.

Her head spun. Part of her brain tried to comprehend that this was Jas she was kissing. Jas, her longtime friend. One didn’t kiss platonic friends, but here she was wrapping her arms around his neck and crawling closer.

Katrina had wanted sex, but in an abstract way. There was nothing abstract about this.

She wanted him. Not only for kisses, though this was nice. Oh no. She pressed closer to him, pushing him back against the couch so she could straddle him as they explored each other. His chest was hard against hers, his arms tight and steady. Because he was so steady. No wonder she felt safe and secure in his arms.

She pulled away and he blinked up at her, his eyes dazed. She imagined she looked just as confused. Her blood pumped fast in her veins, making it difficult to see or hear clearly. His fingers clenched on her hips and she nearly groaned when his erection rubbed against her.

He had an erection. For her.

To think she’d been so excited about hugs and kisses, and now she had his erection at her command.

She wanted it.

“Upstairs,” she managed. “Bedroom.”

He shook his head, and some of that dazed passion cleared from his expression. She braced herself for a denial, but instead he came to his feet in a rush, still holding her.

Any worry that she was too heavy for him disappeared when he easily took the stairs with her clutching him like a koala bear. He paused every few steps to kiss her, his hands roaming her back.

For a moment she wished they were at home, because she’d like to experience this in her own bed. That was okay, though. This was a different experience, not better or worse. She wanted every single experience.

He wasn’t even winded when they got to the top of the stairs. He pressed his lips against hers, a hard, fast kiss. “Your room? Mine?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

He chose his. They entered and only got as far as a few steps in before he pressed her against the wall, his hands roving over her legs while they kissed again, deeply. They parted only for a second, so he could help her strip off his shirt, and then he was back. She didn’t want to stop kissing him, because then they’d both start thinking. Maybe about all the reasons this wasn’t a sound idea.

You’re both adults, and you’re both single. This is fine. Acceptable.

Wait.

Her lashes fluttered open, a fleeting worrisome thought worming into her brain as he kissed his way down her neck. Was there something else she didn’t know about him? In all the time she’d known him, she’d never seen him with a date. What if he didn’t bring them home? “Are you single?” she blurted out.

He paused and there was laughter in his voice when he answered, lips on the hollow of her throat. “Uh, yes.”

“Okay, cool, just checking.” She quickly mentally ran through any other anxieties she may have. In the moment, that is, because they didn’t have time to run through all her anxieties. “I do pay you. Is the power differential coercing you into sleeping with me?”