Dead Girl's Dance(33)

 It felt weird, and awkward, and he didnt immediately respondmaybe he was too surprised. Maybe she was doing it wrong, or shed been wrong to make the move on him. 

 

      His lips parted under hers, damp and soft and warm, and she forgot all of that. Her entire life focused in on the sensations, the gentle pressure that grew more intense the longer the kiss went on. 

 

      Chaste kisses, then dirtier ones, and man, those tasted good. They tasted better the wider her mouth opened, and especially after his tongue touched hers. 

 

      She could have done a whole semester of kissing with Shane. Intense personal study. With lab classes. 

 

      Time really wasnt happening for her, but eventually Claire realized that there was a soft glow coming from the windows, and she was numb and sore from sitting on the floor. She winced as a muscle in her back protested, and Shane reached out, pulled her up, and settled himself on the couch. 

 

      He stretched out, and extended a hand to her. She stared,tingling and confused. Theres no room. 

 

      Plenty of room, he said. 

 

      She felt breathless and kind of wild, stretching out on the tiny area of sofa cushion available next to him, and then smothered a yelp as Shane picked her up and draped her over his chest and, oh my God, over all the rest of him, too. 

 

      Better? he asked, and raised his eyebrows. It was a real question, and he was looking for a real answer. Claire felt a blush building a fire in her cheeks, but she didnt look away from his gaze. 

 

      Perfect, she said. 

 

      It felt like being naked, except for all the clothes. The kisses this time were wet and urgent and deep, and the feeling of Shanes muscles tensing and relaxing under her was incredibly exciting. This should be illegal, she thought. Well, it was kind of illegal. Or would be, if any clothes came off. 

 

      Shane might not have been Michael, with all the responsibility,but he definitely wasnt that impulsive. At least, not with her. His hands roamed, but never to places where she wanted them tobadlyand some of the places they roamed made her wonder why shed never wanted someone to touch her there before. Like the small of her back, where the skin dipped into a shallow valley. Or the back of her neck. Or the inside of her arms. Or

 

      As he was bringing his hands up her sides, his fingers just barely brushed the outer curve of her breasts, and she gasped into his mouth. 

 

      Shane immediately sat her upright, and moved to the other end of the couch. His face was flushed; his eyes were bright and no longer looked even a little bit tired. No, he said, and held out his hand like a traffic cop when she tried to scoot closer. Red flag. If you make that sound again, we are in trouble. Or I am, anyway. 

 

      But Claire felt that blush creeping in again, and had no idea what it was going to be like to put this into words. What about you? You know She made a vague gesture that could have been anything. Or nothing. Or anything.