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My jaw drops in shock. “Are you joking? Kissing is an actual strength of mine. It’s on my résumé. I’m basically a professional at interacting with women.”
A grin tugs up one side of her mouth as she turns to face me, amusement dancing in her eyes. Her arms lift as she moves in jerky mechanical motions. “Why do you act like a virginal robot in front of the camera then?”
I turn to face her head-on, staring at her, agape.
And she laughs in my face.
“A virginal robot?”
“Just calling ’em like I see ’em, Brandt.”
With that, she holds herself rigid, opens her eyes almost comically wide, and leans forward with only her neck while puckering her lips.
She’s laughing. Making an offensive mockery of my kissing abilities.
“Maybe I don’t want to kiss any of these women. And that’s why it looks so ridiculous. Ever think about that?”
She snorts, and it’s completely unladylike. “Well, you better find some motivation because this shit is just getting started.”
Ru
“I kind of assume you already do that, to be honest. It’s your default setting.”
“Well, what am I, a pervert or a virginal robot?”
She brings me up short when she blurts, “You’re trying too hard.”
“Oh?” I step closer, the rush of a challenge flaring inside of me.
“Yeah. You need to loosen up. Act natural.” She reaches up, gripping my shoulders and maneuvering them—as though that will help.
Before I can think better of it, I crowd her and reach for her waist. She sucks in a startled breath and stares down at my palms covering her hip bones.
“Like this?” I ask, quirking my head.
Not feeling the least bit robotic or virginal with my hands on her.
“Getting there.” Her tongue darts out to wet her lips, eyes flicking between mine in question.
But I don’t have any answers for my behavior right now.
“And this?” I lower my head slowly, the tip of my nose grazing her hair. It smells fresh, sweet and herbal all at once.
“Sure. Yeah. Better.”
I’m close enough to hear her throat work as she swallows.
“Hmm,” I hum, considering my next move. I’m close to crossing a line, but I barrel toward it anyway. “I could do something like this…” Lifting one hand, I drag my knuckles up the side of her neck. A ragged sigh racks her body, and for a beat, I swear she leans into my touch.
My heart rate accelerates as I move up, fingers lifting to tip her chin, so she’s forced to meet my gaze.
With a smirk, I drop closer, my lips nearing hers. Just a breath away. “Is this better for you, Julia?”
“Yeah,” she inhales, eyes searching mine as though she’s confused by what’s happening but refuses to back away either. “Something like this would be fine.”
“I’m so glad you approve,” I whisper, gaze dropping to her mouth as my pulse thunders in my ears. “I’ll try to be less virginal for you going forward.”
I rub my thumb across her bottom lip and pull away, watching her take one long blink.
“Later, Jules,” I say casually before I turn and walk away. Leaving so that I can process whatever the fuck just overtook me.
And as I retreat, I blink, too, but it doesn’t lift the spell. Which is fine by me.
I came here to fix the damage I’d done to my cherished Prickle Point memories.
And it worked.