Kiss Like There's Nobody Watching

The glass of water arrived in Aynsley's hands like a peace offering.

She slipped in quietly, silver dress shimmering, and glanced around. "What'd I miss?"

Nobody answered. Nobody even breathed.

Joey took the glass gently and set it on the bedside table. "Thanks," he murmured, his voice too low for most to hear. Juniper didn't touch it. She was looking at him like he'd just stepped out of a dream. Everyone else seemed to be frozen, trying to process what he'd said.

I'm just really special. And because I'm so special, Juniper and I are allowed to be together, just like I am with the rest of you.

Shit.

Joey reached for her hand. "C'mon," he said softly. "Let's go talk privately. In your room."

Juniper blinked, then smiled—a slow, dizzy smile. She followed without question.

The hallway was loud with the din of the party. He could still feel the weight of every pair of eyes back in that bedroom, but now it was just the two of them. Her steps were unsteady but determined. She didn't let go of his hand once.

Her room looked almost exactly the same as when she'd left for college. Tidy, warm, soft. A little lavender candle on the shelf. Posters of old bands. Some photos of their family—older ones, where he still had braces and she had that haircut she hated.

He let go of her hand and turned around. "Okay," he said, "I think we should—"

She stepped into him, bumping her hip into his thigh.

"Heyyy," she whispered, swaying slightly. "You brought me here. Alone. Dangerous move, lil' bro."

"Juniper," he warned gently.

She grinned up at him. "What? We're allowed, right? You said so. You said..." She waved her hand like she was trying to catch the memory. "You said we could."

"I said we were allowed," Joey replied carefully. "That doesn't mean we should rush anything."

"Rush?" She leaned in closer. "Joey. Baby. I'm crushing on you something fierce. I think I've been waiting for this my whole life..." Her brow furrowed like she was doing math. "I dunno. Can't think straight."

He tried to step back, but she caught his shirt with one hand.

"You're cute," she whispered. "You always were, but I didn't wanna see it. You were, like... smaller than me. Annoying. Like a ferret."

"Okay—"

"But now..." Her fingers ran up his chest, clumsy but affectionate. "You're so... special. Like, obviously. I feel dumb for not noticing. I shoulda noticed. I shoulda—"

She kissed him.

It was sudden and messy, her lips warm and wet, the scent of **** strong and sweet. Joey froze. Her hands went to his hair, his jaw, and then she was pressing against him, sighing into his mouth like his lips were an oasis after a long walk in the desert.

He pulled back. "Juniper—"

"Shhh," she slurred, and shoved him backward.

He stumbled, falling backward onto her bed. Before he could stand again, she climbed on top of him, straddling his lap. Her weight was soft, her balance unsteady, her eyes glassy and wild with devotion.

"Lemme just," she said, fumbling with the hem of her shirt. "I just wanna feel you. Like, just for a minute. We don't gotta... I mean, not unless..."

"Stop," Joey said, hands on her waist, trying to steady both her and himself.

But she just giggled, leaning forward to kiss his neck. "You smell so good. How do you smell so good? God, Joey... you don't even know what you do to me. I wanna crawl inside your skin."

Her voice cracked, then dropped to a whisper. "I love you so much."

Joey's heart hammered. "You're drunk."

"Mhm. Totally." Her nose bumped his. "Still love you."

"This isn't how we—"

"I don't care how," she whispered. "I just care that you're mine."

She kissed him again. Slower this time. Almost reverent.

He should've stopped her.

But he didn't.