that Zeus’s wife, Hera, got jealous so she turned Callisto into a bear.
“Then one day the son went hunting and almost killed his mother, so Zeus turned his son into a little bear and sent the mother and son up into the sky forever.”
He lowers our hands and rests them together at the top of his thigh, keeping our fingers locked. He acts like this is no big deal, but my whole body is shivering, and not because of the wind. My hand is on Bennet’s thigh. My hand is on Bennet’s thigh!
I look over at his face. I’ve slipped out of my skin and floated up into the sky like Callisto. I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be doing this. I love Andrew. I’ve always loved Andrew. But the gods have been so, so good to Bennet. He’s maddeningly beautiful. Dammit, I’m weak.
Bennet must sense me watching him because he turns his face toward me. His eyes gaze into mine, holding them for an eternity, then they drop for a second to my lips, then back up again.
“I like you,” he says. Just like that. No messing around.
“Right,” I say, trying to be equally cool but failing miserably. “Because you find me entertaining. Isn’t that what you said?”
A grin slowly pulls across his face. “Yeah.”
There is an agonizing moment of hesitation. My stomach tenses then flutters. I don’t even know who moves first, only that the next thing I know his lips are crushed against mine, and they’re warm and firm and—God—they know exactly what to do.
His tongue slips past my lips and tastes sweet, like chocolate. My fingers press the defined muscles in his shoulders, one hand sliding down to his chest, feeling his heart beating against my palm. He is gentle, but I can sense the growing intensity in him.
Kissing Bennet is like stepping into the lake. At first shocking, then slowly I acclimate, sinking into the luxury of it. His hand wraps around my ribs, right below the swell of my breast, and I’m in way over my head, drowning in the sensations that overrun my body. No one has ever kissed me like this. Not even Andrew in all my wildest fantasies. Andrew. Andrew! Oh my gosh, what am I doing?
“Bennet?” I say, pushing myself away from him.
His breath is hot against my goose-bumped flesh, and a tingle of electricity races down my spine as his hand cradles the back of my neck. “Hmmm?” His eyes are still on my lips.
I keep my palm against his chest to maintain some distance. “I’m sorry. I don’t do things like this.”
“Well, you can not do it again, if you’d like.”
“What I mean is—” I smile despite my misgivings. Andrew’s had fun with other girls and it’s never made me think I don’t want a future with him. If I should have fun with Bennet, why should that keep Andrew from someday wanting me?
“It’s just that I really don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”
“If that kiss is any indication, I think you are entirely wrong about that.” Bennet’s voice is low and throaty. He lifts his head, and a tiny smile pulls at the corners of his mouth. His hand cups my face, and his thumb strokes a line across my cheekbone.
“But if you’re not sure of yourself, D’Arcy, this island is the perfect place to figure it out.” He hesitates, and we lock eyes. Something shifts in me. The last remnants of uncertainty slip away.
“Listen,” he says. “I know we’ll blink our eyes, summer will be over, and you’ll be heading back to your life, and I know that’s nothing I’d ever go back to… We’ve got limited time, but we should do something with it, don’t you think?”
“Okay.” This is happening. I try to wrap my head around it. I, Katherine D’Arcy, am having a spontaneous, very unplanned, and definitely unscripted summer fling.
“Because I’m right. You’re as insanely attracted to me as I am to you.”
I exhale, letting my fingertips slip from the collar of his shirt and drag down the ridges of his abs. There’s no denying his statement. Even if I tried, my body would tell the honest truth. “Correct.”
He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, and his gaze skims the line of my jaw. “So let’s cut the bullshit and not waste any more time, shall we?”
“Sounds good,” I whisper, but it’s barely more than breath.
His lips curl into a smile, and his eyes spark. “We can start right now