Sunkissed, Kasie West [best authors to read TXT] 📗

he tucked some hair behind my ear, then let his fingers trace my jawline all the way to my chin.

I leaned my head back against the door, my eyes fluttering closed. His fingers glided up my chin to my lips. He traced a line around them and then his warm breath touched my mouth. I drew in air, not from surprise but because once again I couldn’t breathe. His hands went to my waist, where they grabbed hold of my flannel. I pushed up on my toes, letting our lips finally meet. His lips were soft.

I pulled him closer, needing him against me. He complied, bringing me into his arms, wrapping me up. With his chest against mine, I could feel the heavy beating of his heart. I let my hands run along his sides, sliding down his ribs. His mouth was warm and perfect. I felt like I could live in this space, this moment, forever.

That is, until he pushed me against the door and the handle dug into my back. I must’ve gasped because he pulled away. “Did I hurt you?”

“No.” I moved away from the door. “Just the handle.” I reached out for him but he took both my hands in his and led me to a couple chairs. He sat in one and pointed to the other.

I lowered myself down into it, already dreading whatever he was about to say. If he apologized for that kiss, I might have to pretend to agree and that wasn’t at all what I wanted to do. But if we were going to be in a band together, even if only for a couple more weeks, we both needed to be comfortable. Had I made him uncomfortable?

“Did I pressure you into that?” he asked.

“What? No. I’m the one who came to your door, remember?”

“I thought maybe you forgot something,” he said.

“I did,” I said.

“What?”

I tilted my head in the universal don’t be dumb fashion.

“Oh, right.” He reached over and I offered him my hand. He pulled me out of my chair and onto his lap. “You forgot this?”

“Yes.” My cheeks went red even though I was the one flirting.

He stretched up and I kissed him, thinking it was going to be a short peck. But then neither of us stopped. His hands went to my back and mine were in his hair, which was so soft and amazing.

I smiled against his mouth, unable to contain the giddiness in my chest any longer.

He pulled away. “What?” he asked with a smile of his own.

“It’s been a good day.”

“It has,” he said.

“Is this how your summers always go?” I asked with a laugh. “Some music, some friends, some sneaking around with guests?”

His brows went down immediately. “You think I make out with all the guests?”

“Not all of them,” I said, still smiling.

“Avery.” He shook his head and I could see the hurt in his eyes and immediately regretted saying it.

“I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant.” I kissed one of his cheeks and then the other.

“What did you mean, then?”

“I just…I don’t do things like this.”

“And you think I do?”

“I was trying to protect myself a bit, by asking a very passive-aggressive question. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to be passive-aggressive,” he said. “Just ask me questions if you have them.”

I nodded. “I know. I always have.” Which was different for me. I normally wasn’t so direct with people.

“Good,” he said.

In that moment, I had the sense that he could break my heart in two if I let him. More than anyone had in the past. But I also knew, as he pulled me close again, that I was willing to take that risk.

A pounding on Brooks’s door had me jumping off his lap and patting my hair down. Brooks stood, straightening his shirt and steadying his breath. I backed up against the wall and he opened the door a crack.

“Have you seen my sister?” Lauren said from beyond the door.

“No,” Brooks said. “Why? What’s up?”

“Is that a real no?” she asked. “Because my parents have been done at the spa since five and they’ve been looking for her. I was able to keep them calm at first but every hour they’ve gotten more worried and now they’re on their way to report her missing to Janelle so that she can enlist the help of the employees. So if you really don’t know where she is, then maybe you can help me find her.”

Brooks cursed under his breath and then met my eyes.

“I’m here, Lauren,” I called out.

She pushed past Brooks and into the cabin. “Avery, jeez, where have you been?” She wrapped her arms around me and I realized she must’ve been worried too.

I hugged her back. “Let’s go stop Mom and Dad before they disrupt the entire camp.”

Brooks squeezed my hand as I walked by and I threw him a smile over my shoulder.

“Good luck,” he said.

“Seriously,” Lauren said as we speed-walked down the trail. “Where have you been all day?”

“I—”

“Don’t lie to me,” she said. “I have a feeling you’ve already done enough of that.”

She was right. I had. But it was for survival. I had barely gotten through the audition today; I couldn’t imagine how much worse it might’ve been with added pressure. “I auditioned with Brooks.”

“What?” Her voice went cold. “You went to Roseville today?”

“I was going to tell you, once I figured out if I could do it. I’m sorry.”

“Are you? Because I don’t think you are!”

I looked around at guests who were walking the path around us in the gray skies of twilight. “Lauren, shhh.”

“No, I’m not going to shhh. You knew I wanted to make a documentary about this! You knew that!”

“You told me that it wasn’t about that.”

She clenched her fists. “You knew I was just saying that so you would do it!”

I did know that. “This isn’t about you.”

“It isn’t about me? I’m the one who went to the first band practice, not you!”

“Lauren, please be quiet,” I said.

She held