Page 23 of The Kissing Challenge
"Hmm?" he asked.
"What are you doing?"
"I don't know," he said. "Want me to stop?"
I was just about to tell him,Never. Please don't stop. But before I could get the words to form, there was a knock at my door. It opened a second later.
"Hey, hello? Anne?" Lady stuck her head in. Her eyes widened as they traveled from me to Captain. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't aware you had company."
"That's okay," I said, trying to regain my cool as Captain took a step back.
"I really should've waited to be let in. That was rude of me."
"No, it's fine," I repeated. "We were almost done anyway."
Captain's brow furrowed, and I threw him a self-depreciating smile.
"Lady, this is my best friend, Captain," I said. "I can't remember if you've met."
Lady gave a brief nod. "Though you talk about him constantly, I believe this is the first time we've set eyes on each other."
Captain leaned forward and held out his hand.
"It's nice to meet you," he said.
"Charmed." Lady hummed, but I noticed she didn't take his hand. Instead her eyes simply moved over him as Cap's arm returned to his side. "Do you always look so pale, or is this Anne's doing?"
"It was me," I said, giving a mental sigh. That explained why she was looking at him so funny. Captain still had on the vampire makeup. "He doesn't usually look so corpse-like."
"Anne," she huffed. "Please."
I laughed as Captain threw an arm around my shoulders.
"Yeah, I let Anne use my face as a canvas whenever she wants," Captain said.
"Isn't that nice." Lady smiled and then turned her attention back to me. "Your father needs you downstairs, Anne. That's why I came up to get you."
I blinked. "Really?"
My father never needed me for anything. He'd talk to Lady or Beth about the latest fashions. It was a passion they all shared. I could've cared less who was wearing what or dating who.
"Yes," she said. "It's an urgent matter. Sorry, young man, but I'm going to have to steal your friend away."
Captain gave a slow nod. "That's fine. Thanks again, Anne, for letting me come over."
"Of course," I said, pushing some wipes into his hand. "Here, take these. Make sure you get all the makeup off, or it will clog your pours. Drive safe, Captain."
"I will." His lips turned up, and he gestured to his face. "Wouldn't want to get stopped looking like this."
The smile turned a bit stiff as he looked at Lady.
"Nice to meet you, ma'am."
"Likewise," she said.
"Bye, Anne," he said.
"Thanks for being the best non-sparkly vampire ever," I called, and he threw a wave over his shoulder, chuckling as he left the room. Part of me was glad Lady had interrupted us. I didn't know what I would've done if she hadn't. And the more I thought about it, the less certain I was that Captain had kissed my neck at all. The brush of his lips had been so soft, barely there, like butterfly's wings. There was a good chance I had dreamed it.
