His Naughty Lessons

** Harper ** Harper willed the erratic heartbeat drumming in her ears to slow down. She failed pathetically.

It was no surprise though. That was their first real kiss ... and if she had correctly interpreted everything Eli just told her, he seemed to want it as much as she did. She could still barely wrap her head around this ... Having spent weeks trying to "seduce" him, how could she have never realized that he wanted her the same way? When did it even start? How could this moment straight out of her dreams be real?

Her teenage self would’ve gasped and squeaked in thrill if she knew such a prospect was waiting for her in the future. For a second, she was almost tempted to come clean and tell the guy in front of her everything about her longings for him, but she thought better of it. He was too insecure right now, like a turtle barely brave enough to poke his head out, and she didn’t want to lose the precious progress she’d made by scaring him back into his shell. The full confession could wait ... until he was ready.

As for the present, she had more pressing work to—

The half-formed thought vaporized in her head as Eli’s hand reached up behind her nape, and his lips met hers once more.

It felt different this time. Nothing like the teasing and seductive kisses he had taught her over the past weeks, or the innocent and feathery peck she had just given him. This kiss was soft, tender and a little uncertain, and her heart leaped at the undisguised cherishment in the way he threaded his fingers into her hair, tangling them within her wet locks.

He started slow. A tentative flick of his tongue to part her lips, a gentle stroke to envelope her with his familiar scent and taste. He always reminded her of citrus and sunshine, and at this moment, she could no longer tell if the feel of summer seabreeze kissing her skin was from the ocean or from him. But then it changed. The fresh breeze crackled with a spark of heat as he delved deeper, running a long arc over the roof of her mouth, and the sensation of him swept her under like a tidal wave.

Had it always been so dizzying to kiss him? Had her heart always thrashed so violently against her chest every time he led them into this intimate dance, or was it the carefully hidden yearning surfacing for the first time that turned her breathless? Harper felt her limbs grow weak, both from the sensual bliss of the moment and from the thought of what it implied. Looping her arms behind his neck, she pulled him closer and reciprocated everything he gave, meeting the tip of his tongue with hers and silently saying the same words he had left unspoken in that kiss.

The water under her feet swayed, making a splashing sound that interrupted the heavenly moment. It wasn’t until then that she realized she was almost on her back, cradled in his arms and half lying over the pool tiles. Somehow she had lost track of the entire world to even notice it.

"Do you want me to stop?" A whisper tickled her lips at her pause. The voice was a low rasp.

"Only if it’s for carrying me inside to continue in your bed."