βThere is one thing,β she said.
βWhat?β His eyebrows shot up, and his tone was almost fearful.
βYou werenβt my date, but I didnβt get a goodnight kiss after homecoming. I want it, and not from that jerk Kevin. I want it from the guy who rescued me. After that, Iβll leave you alone.β
He stared at her for a long minute, his violet eyes searching her face as if looking for any crack in her resolve. Finally, he nodded, then leaned forward and kissed her cheek gently.
βOh no. No, sir. That doesnβt work for me. My mother kisses me goodnight like that.β She fumed. βYou think that was a goodnight kiss? I want a real goodnight kiss from my date.β She was furious, but at his calm expression, she wondered if maybe sheβd pushed too far.
He stepped closer to her, one arm going around her waist, the other lifting so he rested a palm at the side of her neck. Tilting his head, he kissed her gently. Warm and soft lips pressed to hers. He didnβt rush the kiss; he let her set the pace. When she opened to him, he pulled her closer against him with the arm at her waist and deepened the kiss. Still, there was nothing frantic about their kiss. He raised his head and looked at her, then brushed an even softer kiss across her lips and stepped back, pulling away from her, an unreadable expression on his face.
βWait a few minutes before you leave,β he whispered. Then he slipped through the banner back into the empty hallways of the school.
From book 'Back in the Spotlight' by author Calliope Parrish
