Chapter 19: You’re Too Good at This
** Harper **
Eli was so visibly caught off guard that he almost stumbled back. But it took him only a moment to recover, and she felt the corner of his lips lift up in a smile.
"I see. So we're picking up where we left off the lessons yesterday?" he murmured against her mouth.
Harper returned him a shy smile. Then she kissed him again.
It felt different to be the one taking the initiative. Harper was never the "physically expressive" type of person, and she was used to simply following the man's lead. But she was feeling bold today ... and at the moment, Eli just seemed too perfectly kissable.
So she braved on, trying to remember the feeling from the night before and mimicking what he had done. Her hands slid down, cupping his cheeks. The light peck turned into playful nibbles as she grazed her teeth along his bottom lip, teasing him. Her tongue probed the seam of his mouth a bit timidly before gliding inside, running a careful circle within.
The taste of him crashed over her. Crisp and refreshing, familiar.
He seemed to approve of her advance. The hand that was playing with her hair slid up, threading into her locks and pressing her into him. Her heartbeat quickened as she took the hint and delved deeper into his mouth. She explored the hidden corners, savoring him—
That was when their teeth clank together in a jarring ding.
"..." Harper froze in mortification. Ugh, that's got to be a common newbie mistake, right?
Under her breath, she felt a light puff of chuckle tickling her lips. "Just relax," Eli's words rolled out softly like a breeze. Without breaking their kiss, he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up gently, placing her on the kitchen counter behind. He reangled himself before brushing the tip of his tongue against hers, easing her into the right rhythm.
The reassurance soothed Harper's nerves. She steadied herself against his hold, relaxing into the warmth of his hands.