Kiss and Don't Tell(62)
“You must spend a lot of time with each other if you know such intimate details.”
“Too much time. Hence why I’m spending my time with you.”
“And here I thought it was because you couldn’t get enough of my winning personality.”
He squeezes my hand. “That too, along with the fact that you’re much nicer to look at than the guys.”
“I don’t know. Eli is very nice to look at.”
Leaning into my ear, Pacey whispers, “Watch it.”
I let out a laugh as we stop. I turn toward Pacey and then lean against my bedroom door. “I had a lot of fun today. Probably the most fun I’ve had in a long time.” I look him in the eyes. “I love my friends dearly, but they were there with me when my mom was sick, when she passed. Because of that, I think they treat me a little differently. With caution, you know? They have the image of me at my mom’s funeral in their heads and things just haven’t been the same.” Will it ever be the same? I know it’s only been a few months, but . . . “They’re cautious and that hinders our fun. You don’t look at me the way they do. You just let me have fun.”
“I can understand that.” He leans in closer and says, “I think we’re the same way with Holmes. He’s grieving too, and we don’t really know what to do with him. We’re often too nervous to push him to do something fun, but unlike you, we’ve watched him become more and more withdrawn. So, we just let him read, we let him escape.”
“I noticed,” I say quietly, and although I was curious, it wasn’t my place to know Halsey’s life story. “But you guys are there for him. I’m sure he’ll come around. At least, I hope he does.”
“Me too. Any plans for tomorrow?”
“Given it didn’t rain today, I’m thinking about calling the tow truck and seeing if they’ll get Minnie for me. And I don’t know, maybe go for a hike.”
“Let me join you.”
I smirk. “I mean, if you want to.”
“You know I want to.”
I yawn and cover it up quickly, but Pacey catches it and chuckles.
He gives my hand another squeeze and then says, “I’ll let you get to bed. See you in the morning.”
That’s it? Just a “see you in the morning”? After the day we had, I would’ve assumed there would be an epic end to it. But it’s falling flat, and I’m not sure I’m okay with that.
He releases my hand and heads toward his bedroom but I call out to him before he gets too far.
“Pacey?”
He looks over his shoulder. “Yeah?”
Oh God, am I really going to do this?
Someone has to. Someone has to put the cherry on top of this wonderful day, and I know if I let him go back to his room without getting what I want, I’m going to regret it. I don’t take charge like this; whenever I tried to do something spontaneous, Josh hated it. But Pacey isn’t Josh. Pacey is completely different.
Nerves bloom in the pit of my stomach, and before I can chicken out, I walk up to him and place my hand on his bare chest.
“Don’t you want your present?” My voice wavers, my nerves show, but I go for it anyway. Before he can answer, I bring my hand around the back of his neck, pull him closer to me, and then press my lips to his.
With the three first kisses I’ve received in my lifetime, I’ve always sat back and waited for the guy to make the move, but I don’t want to wait with Pacey. I was hoping he’d kiss me as we were saying good night, but maybe it’s time I take a chance and see if I’m wanted. Take what I want.
And I’m glad I did, because he groans and moves his lips across mine. His hand slides around my waist, pulling me in tighter against his rock-hard chest. Carefully, he backs me up against the wall and braces one hand next to my head as he holds my jaw with the other. With his thumb, he angles my chin up for better access to my mouth, and then he swipes his tongue across my lips. I open up and our tongues collide in demanding need.
There’s nothing frantic about our kiss despite how desperately my body wants to get closer to him. Our kiss feels smooth, easy, meant to be as he moves his tongue deeper against mine. My hands fall to his chest and then back up to his neck. I allow myself to feel him, to take in the strength of his chest, the short-clipped hair sprinkled on his pecs, and the thick column of his neck.
And his lips are magic, not thin in the least, but not too thick either—a perfect medium. I feel like I’m being consumed by his mouth.
His mouth slows and then he lets out a sigh as he draws back an inch. He rests his forehead on mine and quietly says, “That was the best present I could’ve received.” His eyes open and meet mine. “Have a good night, Winnie.”
He pushes off the wall and grips the back of his neck as he stares at me with a goofy grin. His body language says he doesn’t want to leave, but I think his brain is winning out because he takes another step back.
Hands behind me, leaning against the wall, I say, “Good night, Pacey.”
He winces as if he’s in pain, and says, “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.” And then he spins on his heel and heads into his bedroom, shutting the door behind him.
This is what giddy feels like, this consumption of happiness pulsing through your veins. I’ve met—I’ve kissed—the perfect man. And. He. Kissed. Me. Back.