I’m stunned, honestly. Bandit’s really attractive, and his abs are a hot topic of discussion among the girls—and a few guys—of the junior class. In all that talk, I swear I’ve heard rumors of him making out with someone.

My own kissing experience hasn’t exactly been vast, since I don’t date. But there’s been the mashing of lips in the darkened gym during homecoming. Some amateur groping at a party.

“Not for lack of opportunity.” He touches my cheek, one of his fingers lingering on the corner of my mouth. I almost scream. “With the right incentive, I could get over my fear. I just haven’t had the right incentive yet.”

“I don’t blame you,” I babble. An army of ants is trying to push its way out of my skin. The red fire kind, which create a burning sensation when they sting. “I mean, I heard that a person’s mouth is dirtier than a toilet bowl.”

He raises an eyebrow, in that annoyingly superior way of his. It just makes me want to press my lips to his brow.

“Alice.” His voice is stern. Faintly amused. “Are you trying to dissuade me from kissing you?”

“Is it working?” I whisper.

“Nope,” he says. “If you don’t want me to kiss you, you’re going to have to be a little clearer.”

“I want you to kiss me,” I say, so fast it’s almost embarrassing. “With every beat of my heart. With every breath that I take.”

He rewards me with one of his hard-earned smiles. “Now, that’s the right incentive.”

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Bandit doesn’t lower his head, though. He just stands there, hesitating.

Clearly, I need to be more proactive.

I tug him down so our foreheads are pressed together and splay a hand on his chest. Underneath those well-defined muscles, he goes completely rigid.

Great. He’s in shock. Can’t say that I blame him. Because I’m scared, too. Scared my not-so-expert kissing abilities will disappoint him. Scared to open up my heart to this sweet, complicated boy.

Still, I have to try. I brush my lips against his in the lightest contact. A monarch butterfly would exert more pressure. Once… Twice… Three times. His lips are soft. His warmth, enticing.

But obviously, I’m not going to make him do anything he doesn’t want.

I begin to pull back, but his hands wind around my neck, keeping me in place. And then his mouth moves against mine.

Wow. Oh wow. I forget about the weapon in the backpack. I blank on the Voice that’s been appearing in my head. A different kind of electricity shoots through me. So this is what a proper kiss feels like. It’s light-years away from the tongue Marcus stuck down my throat under the gym bleachers.