“Never mind. I get it. Why would you want to even pretend to kiss me?” Her cheeks were blazing.

“That’s not what I meant. I mean are you sure? I’d be your first kiss kind of in a way. I know that’s kind of a big deal to some chicks.”

I needed her to understand what I was taking away from her—what I was taking away from Stephen if he’d even thought about. More than anything, I needed her permission just once more. I didn’t want her to regret me later. That would kill me.

“Yes.”

Her voice sounded different. It was thick with what I could only describe as passion. I didn’t think she was capable of such an emotion, but when I took a better look at her, I could see that her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were lazy and glazed over.

I tucked a stray piece of chocolate hair behind her ear. Her big brown eyes collided with mine, and for a brief moment, I felt a hint of panic at her being able to see right through me. She was staring at my memories and my thought process, and it scared the shit out of me.

I licked at my lips and her eyes dipped to my mouth. She was so innocent. Had another girl looked at my mouth that way, I’d know they wanted me to kiss them. Not with Faith, though. She did it without realizing her eyes were saying, “Kiss me, Finn.”

The soft scent of fresh powder and roses swarmed around me when I moved in closer. I wanted to kiss her. I deserved just that one innocent moment of showing her how to kiss—of being her first anything. I’d been a decent human being since the moment she bumped into my life. I’d earned a tiny kiss.

I moved in a bit more and her gaze was broken when her eyes fluttered closed. She lifted her chin and bit softly at her bottom lip. She was ready for it and she looked so damn sweet. It was like a kick to the face. I might have deserved a brief kiss, but she didn’t do anything bad to deserve me.

I moved back and her eyebrows pinched in confusion before she opened her eyes and looked back at me. I took a deep breath and pressed my forehead to hers. She was all around me, pulling and pushing at every emotion I held deep within, but I couldn’t do this to her. I couldn’t take away such a special moment.

“Your first kiss should be special. I don’t want to take that away from you.”

Before stepping away completely, I took the opportunity to feel her skin once more. I used my thumb to caress her check and it felt as soft as it looked. Being this close to her was amazing. She was amazing, and some guy was going to be one lucky son of a bitch when she fell for him. Hopefully it wouldn’t be that punk Stephen. She deserved a real man.

I closed my eyes and swallowed hard. Stepping away from her was the smartest and dumbest thing I’d ever done, but she was worth it.

And then her lips brushed mine and it was as if fireworks went off in my stomach. I opened my eyes and was met with her closed lids. Her long dark lashes fluttered and her eyes opened briefly, searing me deep before she closed them again and sighed against my mouth.

I lost it. I pulled her closer to me and wrapped my arm around her waist. Deepening the kiss, I lost my other hand in her long, wavy hair. I didn’t want to push her so I kept my lips sealed, but even without all the hot tongue action, it was probably the best kiss I’d ever had.

I lost track of time. I lost all rational thought, but I gained so much in that moment. I gained insight into something that was real. Not just a quickie in some chick’s bed, no sloppy wet kisses that would lead to more, just a moment that was genuine. She was branding herself on my memory, and I knew no matter where the world took me, my first kiss from an angel would never leave me.

I wasn’t sure who started it. Probably me since she was innocent, but my tongue met hers and the taste of her invaded my mouth. She was sweet—so damn sweet. I pressed against her more and I felt her fingers dig desperately into my arms. A tiny noise slipped from her mouth and ran down my spine before dissolving into a hot sensation in my thighs and pelvis.

Her soft breath bathed my cheek. She was kissing me just as hard as I was kissing her. Tongue and teeth collided in something more passionate than I’d ever known. And then it was over and I was left trying to catch my breath.

She’d broken the kiss, her warm breath cooling against my moist lips. I took a deeper breath and the taste of her rolled over my tongue, making me want more. Opening my eyes, I found her standing there looking back at me in expectation. She looked almost unaffected by the kiss, but then I noticed her dilated pupils and the tiny shiver that quaked through her. She smiled innocently at me.

“What do you think?” she asked.

Her voice sounded forced and heavy.