“You have to kiss me," I find myself saying. "Yeah." He leans closer. "I do.”

“So now you've met my mother,' I say to Jase that night, leaning back on the roof. 'I sure have. That was awesome. And completely uncomfortable.”

“You can't do this. You have to give me a chance to fix whatever it is I've done. What have I done?”

“We get to the front door and I lean back against it. "Thank you," I repeat."You'd have done the same for me." Jase puts his thumb under my chin and tips it up. "It's nothing.""Well, except that I can't drive, and you never would have gotten yourself into that situation and---""Shhh." He pulls on my lower lip gently with his teeth, then fits his mouth to mine. First so careful, and then so deep and deliberate, that I can't think of anything at all but his smooth back under my hands. My fingers travel to the springy-soft texture of his hair, and I lose myself in the movement of his lips and his tongue. I'm so glad I'm still alive to feel all those things.”

“You okay? This okay?" I nod, pulling his hips more tightly to my own."Now we'll make it better," Jase vows, and begins to kiss me again as he starts to move in a rhythm. My body follows, unwilling to let him go, already glad to have him come back.”

“He instantly covers my fingers with his own, giving me his slow, intoxicating smile. I feel a pang, as though I'm handing over a part of myself I've never offered before.”

“Jase props himself up on an elbow, looking at me for a minute without saying anything. His face gets an unreadable expression, and I wish I could take back walking over.Then he observes, “I’m guessing that’s a uniform.”Crap. I’d forgotten I was still wearing it.”