Free Pieces of Camden (Hole-Hearted #1) by Yessi Smith

howling with laughter.
    While he rocks back and forth on his seat, I take my gun, point it at him, and shoot. Laughter stops. And when he opens his mouth at me, I aim for it.
    His eyes narrow, and he reaches for me in retaliation, and I do what any sane girl would do. I run. But he’s faster than me, and he quickly has me by my waist and is pulling me toward him. Sitting me on his lap, he turns the gun around so that it’s pointing at me. He shoots, and I laugh while trying to block the water with my free hand.
    When our time is up and we both lose with the sudden stop of the water flow, I lean back into his chest, breathless from all the laughter. Camden moves his hands from my waist to my neck, moving my hair to one side. My breathing stops altogether when he presses his warm lips against my neck.
    I slightly turn my head to face him and find his eyes looking back at me with both fear and desire. I try on my best sexy smile—you know, the one I’ve practiced in the mirror but haven’t perfected yet—and he traces his thumb over my bottom lip, making them part at his tender touch.
    His bright blue eyes wash over me, taking in my face, as if it were the first time he’s seeing me. I blush at the intensity of his stare, but when I bow my head, he slightly touches my chin, and I look back at him.
    Licking his lips, he looks down at mine and leans into me. Raw instincts take over, and I curve into him until our lips meet. The bells from the games around us melt away, and all I hear is Camden’s heavy breathing.
    The time for pretend has come to an abrupt end, and I open my heart to love. The tender moment is driven by a fire that has been burning inside of us since we were kids.
    Camden opens his mouth, and I feel his tongue touch my lips, so I part them for him. Time stands still. The hands of time have forgotten to move as Camden explores my soul. Soft and slow, our kiss deepens, but out of breath, I eventually pull away.
    “Should I apologize?” Camden asks so low that I barely hear him.
    My head snaps back at him in surprise. “Are you sorry you kissed me?”
    Hurt and embarrassment cloak over me, and I get up from his lap while he thinks over my question.
    “No. I mean…” Camden runs his hands through his long hair and sighs in frustration. “I don’t know what I’m doing here.”
    He stands up and paces, his legs pounding on the floor. When he stops and looks at me, I see the uncertainty in his eyes, so I walk to him and put my arms around his waist while he rests his chin on the top of my head.
    “You kissed me,” I murmur into his chest.
    “I kissed you,” he breathes.
    Wanting him to see me when I speak, I pull away from our embrace. “It wasn’t my lips you kissed though, Cam, but my heart.”
    His lips spread into a smile before he leans down and kisses me again. My heart stammers and then picks up pace when I look into his adoring eyes.
    “Let’s go outside,” he says, taking my hand.
    When the doors slide open for us, the hot, humid air hits us. I lift my hair up and put it in a tight bun, hoping that small act will prevent it from frizzing. As soon as I finish, Camden takes my hand again, his large hand immediately swallowing my small one. My eyes follow the length of our arms to where our fingers touch, connecting us, and when I look back at Camden, I find him smiling at me.
    “Like a puzzle piece”—he holds up our hands—“we fit.”
    My cheeks brighten under his gaze, but when I try to turn away, he tips my chin toward him and kisses my forehead.
    “You heal my brokenness. Only you, Yan.”
    Once we get to the pool, we take off our flip-flops and ease our feet into the water as the silence of the night surrounds us. I don’t know what to say, so I find my voice in the stars and look up at them with newfound love blooming in my heart.
    “What are you thinking about?” Camden asks me.
    “I’m not,” I answer honestly. “I’m just looking at the stars and enjoying what we