then they were kissing again and she forgot everything but the touch and taste of his lips. She’d never been kissed so completely, so thoroughly, and with so much intent. It was like she could feel every bit of his hunger for her, and it took her breath away.
When they finally separated, she let out a sigh of contentment.
“What now?” Caleb murmured.
“I’m a little sad I don’t get my notes now. I’d like to hear about how beautiful and special I am.”
He laughed, just a little. “I had one a day for twelve days. Twelve days of Christmas. And I was going to do something special each day.”
“Well, now I’m really disappointed,” Amy teased. “We should have held out on the making out for a few days more so I could clean up for Christmas.”
“I can still give you the notes. But this time you’ll know who they’re from . . . and I’m probably going to want kisses for each one.”
“As long as you talk to me, I’m fine with that.” Amy smiled into the darkness. “Just . . . don’t be silent, all right? I don’t mind shy, but when you’re quiet, I feel like you don’t like me.”
He grunted. “Just be patient with me. I’m trying.”
Oh, she would totally be patient. She would be so damn patient they would sing songs about it. “I can do that.”
“Maybe I’ll just grab you and kiss you every time my tongue stops up,” Caleb said.
Okay, she liked that idea. “That sounds good to me.” For a moment, she hesitated, then glanced in the direction of the door. It was all quiet in the classroom, but maybe it was the darkness fooling her. She noticed the Christmas music had turned off, too. “Do you . . . do you think he’s gone? We should probably head out soon. I don’t want to get locked in.”
“If he’s not gone, I’ll deck him. How’s that?”
Oddly enough, that worked for her. “Sounds good to me. Um . . . can I ask you for a ride home?” She grimaced, feeling sheepish. “I know I’ve been a total freeloader, but I swear it’ll end soon.”
His hand brushed against hers. “You know that’s partially my fault, too?”
“What is?”
“Your car. I might have dragged my feet on it so I could be around you.”
She gasped. “You didn’t.”
“I did. I ain’t sorry about it, either.”
Come to think of it, she wasn’t sorry, either. She’d just had no idea all this was going on under her nose. Gosh, she was clueless sometimes. “I’m still going to pay you back.”
He grunted a response that might have been a no, but that didn’t surprise her. He took her hand in his and opened the door to the closet, just a crack. Light played on his handsome face, and it took Amy’s breath away at just how handsome he was.
“Coast is clear,” he said, and then opened the door wider. He looked over at her and then went silent. His face flamed bright red.
Uh-oh. “What? What is it?” She looked down at her chest, but no nipples had escaped the duct-taped band of doom.
“Your face.” He gestured at her jaw.
Amy touched it, then realized it was sensitive when her fingers brushed over it. Oh, she knew what that was. Beard burn. She’d felt it brushing against her skin as they’d kissed, but she just hadn’t cared. “Is it bad?”
“It’s not good,” he admitted, voice strangled.
“Then we’d better get home quickly,” she told him, and hobbled forward on sock-covered feet. Now that he’d stopped the foot massage, the pain was coming back, and she tried to hide her grimace.
“Stop,” he barked at her.
She froze.
He did, too. Then he leaned forward and kissed her, hard. He sucked in a deep breath and closed his eyes. “Easier to talk to you when you’re in the dark.”
Amy giggled, because it was . . . absurd. Cute but absurd. “You want to put a paper bag over my face, then?”
“No.” He gave her a scowl and kissed her again. “Wait here. Boots.” He cleared his throat as he walked away. “I’m getting them.”
Already he was so tongue-tied around her? Her heart squeezed. Poor Caleb. Was she really that scary? She bit her lip and then ran her fingers over her sensitive jaw. No regrets about the kissing in the closet; that was for sure.
Maybe they could just make out in the dark a lot. She was down for that.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
By the time they got out to his