Free Louder Than Words (Fall For Me) by Melanie Marks Page B

didn’t actually take mackin’ too seriously. Or seriously at all. Making out was like breathing to
him—just something he did without giving it a second thought.
    So, though in the very, very back
of my mind I remembered what happened the last time I kissed Mason—that
it totally screwed up our relationship—I knew that wouldn’t really be a problem
this time. First of all, Mason and I no longer had much of a relationship
anymore to screw up, and second of all, my high-school-girl hearts-and-candy
kiss would in no way make a blip on Mason’s radar or compare to his usual
nightly make-outs.
    So, it seemed the kiss wouldn’t
really mean anything to Mason . It would just be a
whimsical, random event—his usual—but this time, just with a side
of favor.
    I took a deep breath, then put my hands on either side of his whiskery (gorgeous)
face. His eyes twinkled at that, like it was hilarious that I was so nervous,
and it seemed he didn’t really think I would go through with it—kissing
him in front of the whole school, practically … just to prove a point to a
stupid boy that I didn’t even care about. In all honesty, Mason didn’t seem to
really, truly think I’d really go through with it.
    I swallowed, then whispered, “Here goes.”
    He breathed out another soft laugh.
“Okay.”
    His little puff of laugh warmed my
lips and made me giddy. Was I really going to do this? Kiss Mason again? The last
time had caused such turmoil to my heart … and he hadn’t even kissed me back!
    Still, the thought of him actually
doing it—of putting his big, strong, Mason arms around me and actually kissing me back this time—made my
insides ignite … even if the kiss was just for show. Because really and
truly—I needed it to just be for show. Something casual
and light and breezy. I couldn’t handle a real kiss from Mason. I knew
that. But this would be fun. Exciting. A fake kiss. It
would actually be perfect—it wouldn’t change things between us. It would
just be … awesome.
    With an excited shiver, I realized
this was what I’d been craving—a moment exactly like this. One where I
could kiss Mason but it wouldn’t have to mean anything.
    Trembling, I closed my eyes and
gently, tentatively pressed my lips against Mason’s. Heard him groan softly
against my lips. Mmm .
    Heaven .
    I felt his intake of breath. Then
his large hands tangled in my hair as his hot, tantalizing mouth responded to
mine—first cautiously, then like a tidal wave.
    Purrr!!!
    Oh, man! Our warm, timid,
oh-so-succulent kiss ignited in a flash of sparks—so fast and hot!!!
Growing from delightfully pleasant to all-consuming passion in a matter of
seconds. Growing steamy and fast and powerful, making my pulse skyrocket and my
body melt into a puddle.
    Whoa!!
    This
is MASON kissing me!!!
    The world spun and my heart
yearned.
    I couldn’t get over it— This is Mason’s kiss. Holy smokes!!
    It was blowing my mind.
    Just having him so close, his mouth
on mine, was making
my body shiver with excitement. But his kiss—holy smokes!!! My skin was on fire.
    Yet it went on. Mason’s
fervent kiss—giving me a dizzy, passionate, heart-stopping thrill. I could feel it all the way down my body—even in my knees. Yes, I could feel
his masterful, succulent kiss in my knees! That’s how awesome it was. It made
my knees weak and wobbly. Like if he
wasn’t holding me (so tight!!!) I’d topple to the ground.
    But he was holding me so tight!!!
    That realization had me on fire,
and I still couldn’t fully believe it was really happening—Mason was
kissing me— really kissing me—so hungry and possessive. It was like my dreams—exactly
like them. Just as steamy and seductive and … perfect.
    But, sigh … it was all for show.
    As I breathlessly
(reluctantly) started to pull away from him, Mason seemed to think we should
give stupid, smirking Ian a bigger, better production .
Apparently. ‘Cause—shock! ! — instead of letting me go as I’d