Where We Left Off Read Online Free PDF Page B

under my comforter.
    “I bet that’s something.” She giggled, which was followed by a pause. I knew we were both picturing the descriptions we’d given one another. It made me wish she’d given me a little more to work with, but I had a good imagination. Even under all the layers—the thick wool sweaters and jackets and scarves—I could tell Mallory had an incredible body. There were girls that flaunted what they had, even in the dead of winter. She didn’t do that. That made her hot as hell.
    “Oh, it’s something, all right.”
    Silence again, but it wasn’t awkward. Hesitant, maybe. The ceiling fan above me ticked softly with each rotation. The circulating air curled a corner of my Sum 41 poster and it made a papery rustling. Even over those background noises, I could hear her shallow breathing. Could sense the rise and fall of her chest.
    “Mallory.” I hadn’t meant to say her name, to have it escape on a breath.
    “Heath.”
    I swallowed audibly. “When I kiss you, what’s it going to be like?”
    Maybe it was the sound of the heater kicking on, but I swore I heard a little gasp through the phone. “When?”
    “Yes.” Some of my confidence returned. I smiled to myself. “When I kiss you. Because it’s a when.”
    “I don’t know what it will be like.” Her voice was small. “I’ve never been kissed before.”
    Of course she hadn’t. I wanted to laugh, not at all to make fun of her, but just from the fact that all the pieces of Mallory fit together so completely. Everything made sense, which was unexpected, even though it shouldn’t be.
    “I’ll tell you how it will go, then.”
    “Okay.”
    She liked this, I could sense it. If she hadn’t, she’d let me know, because Mallory wasn’t one to shy away from her feelings. She’d say for me to knock it off or that I was making her uncomfortable. I appreciated that about her, that she didn’t let anyone get away with doing something she didn’t want them to. So I assumed that meant she wanted to kiss me, too. I went with it.
    “First, I’m going to make sure I’ve put on a lot of ChapStick ahead of time because this awful weather is terrible on the lips. No one wants to kiss that.”
    “I might want to kiss that.”
    I stuttered, not expecting her to interject. “Maybe, but only because you don’t know any better. Sandpaper lips are no fun. Trust me.”
    “All right.” She laughed. “I do.”
    And she did trust me, so I kept going. “I’m going to look you right in those light green eyes of yours. You’ll recognize how it feels because it’s the same look I give you every time I’m with you. That look where I’m wondering how on earth a girl like you literally fell into my life, and why you ’ve let me stay around. My stomach is going to feel like it’s both on fire and not even there at all, and yours will too.” My breath quickened and I made sure that my words didn’t try to match the pace. I deliberately slowed everything down. “I’ll move a little closer …”
    “Uh, huh.”
    “Not all the way, just enough where I can still look at you. You’ll be able to feel my breath on your mouth. It will be warm and minty because I’ll have brushed my teeth before coming over.”
    “I don’t think I would care if you didn’t.”
    “Still,” I teased. “I will. Only the best for you.”
    “Aquafresh, then.”
    “Okay.” I chuckled at her suggestion. “Okay. I can arrange that. Anyway, I’ll move in and lift my palm to the back of your neck. My hand will probably be shaking, but you won’t mind. My other hand will cradle your jaw and I’ll pull you a little closer. Then I’ll close my eyes.” I couldn’t believe I was doing this, and how turned on I was getting in just describing a kiss. I knew there were plenty of websites I could visit or things I could look up to get the job done a little quicker, but this was doing enough for me. As much as I should do with Mallory, I figured. “You’ll take that as