Their kisses were getting more frantic, like Alex thought he’d die if he didn’t have her. Gemma felt ravenous for him in the most primal way. She wanted him, needed him, couldn’t wait to devour him. It surged through her like a fire, and in some dark part of her mind she realized that what she wanted to do with him had nothing to do with passion.

“Ow!” Alex winced and stopped kissing her.

“What?” Gemma asked.

She lay on top of him, both of them gasping for breath. Alex’s eyes were clearer now, no longer fogged with passion. His hand had been gripping her side, pulling her to him, but he let go and touched his lip. It came back with a drop of blood on his fingertip.

“You … bit me?” Alex said uncertainly.

“I bit you?” She sat up, still straddling Alex.

As she ran her tongue over her teeth, they suddenly felt sharper to her. Her incisors were so pointed, she nearly pricked her own tongue on them.

“It’s okay.” Alex rubbed her leg, trying to comfort her. “It was an accident, and I’m fine.”

Her stomach growled, audibly rumbling. Gemma put her hand over it, as if that would silence it.

“I’m starving,” she said, sounding confused by her admission.

He laughed. “I heard that.”

She shook her head and didn’t know how to explain it. Kissing him had somehow made her incredibly hungry. And though she didn’t remember doing it, she wasn’t convinced that biting him had been an accident.

“Harper should be home soon,” Gemma said, looking for an excuse to end their encounter. She climbed off of Alex and sat down on the bed.

“Yeah, of course.” He sat up quickly and shook his head, as if clearing it of something.

Neither of them said anything for a minute. They both just stared down at the floor, confused by their recent actions.

“Listen, I’m … I’m sorry,” Alex said.

“What for?”

“I didn’t mean to come over and … and…” He stumbled over his words. “Make out like that, I guess. I mean, it was nice. But…” He sighed. “I didn’t want to rush you or pressure you, and … That’s not me. I’m not that guy.”

“I know.” Gemma nodded. She smiled at him, hoping her smile didn’t look as pained as it felt. “I’m not that girl, either. But you definitely didn’t pressure me into anything.”

“Okay. Good.” He stood up and touched his lip again, checking for blood, then looked back at her. “I guess, um, I’ll see you when I can.”

“Yeah.” She nodded.

“I am really glad that you’re okay.”

“I know. Thank you.”

He paused, thinking for a second, then bent down and kissed her on the cheek. It was a little long for a kiss on the cheek, but it was still over too quickly. Then Alex was gone.

Of all the kisses they’d shared that afternoon, that one before he left was Gemma’s favorite. It may have been the most chaste, but it was also the one that felt the most genuine.