Breathe Me - C.R. Jane Page 0,39

frantically away as his lids shut.

I lick my suddenly dry lips, and lean in even closer to him. I close my own eyes just as our lips timidly connect. Logan's lips are soft and tender as they press against mine. I can tell he's never done this before, and I'm sure he can say the same for me. Yet, there is something about this simple tender kiss. It’s almost as if it's promising to be just the beginning of something. Something that’s making my heart beat violently in my chest while making my palms all clammy. I pull back after a minute, and place my hands over my heated cheeks.

"Was that okay?" he asks hoarsely, his eyes at half-mast.

It was perfect, I want to tell him, but nod instead, since words fail me. The light in his eyes continues to sparkle as a shy smile tugs at his lips.

"That was my first kiss, so it's okay if you didn't like it much."

"I liked it, Logan."

I loved it.

He pulls at my hands and links his fingers through mine.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For the kiss. For moving here. For being our friend. Take your pick."

The shy happy smile that peeks out of me can't be helped, and I lean in and kiss his cheek. He places his open palm on it as if cherishing the gesture, and my heart does a backflip at the way he’s looking at me.

"We're done!" Quaid bellows from outside of the tent.

Logan lets out a long exaggerated sigh while I stifle my own.

"Guess I better let one of them in, huh? But if they get too frisky, kick them in the balls until I get inside and finish the job," Logan says teasingly, even if he means every word.

"Okay."

The minute he leaves the tent, the butterflies in my belly run wild. I cradle my stomach, hoping to calm them down, but it’s no use. When Quaid enters the tent with a goofy smile on his face, I can't help but laugh, and my nerves settle a bit.

"You ready for me to rock your world, sweetheart?" he jokes with a wink.

Another giggle erupts from my throat, and my face starts to hurt from smiling so hard. Quaid has that effect on me. It’s just the way he is. He has a knack at making me laugh at every opportunity he finds. My nervous jitters are all gone now, and the only person I have eyes for is my playful silly friend.

"I'm ready if you are," I tease him back with a wink.

On his knees, he crawls up to me and then stops, his expression falling, his glorious grin suddenly stolen from him.

"What's wrong?"

"I just remembered I have braces," he replies bummed.

"So?"

"So this might not be what I want it to be. I might suck."

"I doubt that very much," I try to console, squeezing his knee for added comfort.

"I mean, I'm already doomed to fail. Going after Logan, you already know how to kiss, so what if I totally bomb?"

"One kiss does not make me an expert, Quaid." I chuckle.

"But you will see the difference. I mean look at this shit?" He points to his metallic smile.

"Quaid, come here," I whisper to him. I place my open palm on his face. "You are one of the cutest boys I have ever seen, braces and all. I'd be honored to be your first kiss."

"You sure?" He pouts.

"I'm positive."

"Okay. But no tongue!” He points his finger at me. “I don't want you to get cut or something."

"Okay, no tongue. Promise." I laugh, because even when he’s being all vulnerable, he’s still able to make me laugh.

He leans in and closes his eyes before I have to ask him. When his plump lips reach mine, my heart flips on its own accord. He might have cold braces on his teeth, but his lips are warm and inviting. He sucks on my lower lip just a little, and I sigh into his mouth. Logan’s kiss was sweet and tender. Quaid’s however, is a whole other ball game. It’s playfully curious, and eager to learn how my lips taste. When Quaid pulls away, his green eyes are smoldering, and I have a hard time not looking the same.

"Oh, here's my list," he states absentmindedly, pressing the paper into my hands.

"O-Okay," I stutter, still a little shell-shocked with the kiss he delivered. He throws me a wink before leaving the tent and me speechless.

I'm still coming to terms with my second kiss of the night, when Carter