A Fish Out of Water: A sweet enemies-to-lovers romcom (Love Trippin' Book 2) by Savannah Scott

Author:Savannah Scott [Scott, Savannah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-12T16:00:00+00:00

21

SUMMER

The first kiss can be as terrifying as the last.

~ Daina Chaviano, The Island of Eternal Love

Ben’s face moves toward mine and I draw on every acting class I’ve ever taken, and every ounce of my aspiration to become an accomplished and well-known actress. I am Kailani, the mermaid. And he is Captain Calabran, not Ben, the man who has been carving away at the marble around my heart, gaining access with each pass of his kindness, effortless humor and patience.

“I’m going to kiss you, Kailani,” Ben says in the softest whisper.

I nod so slightly my head barely moves. And I tilt up even more, making his job easy.

Yes, please.

Please kiss me, Ben.

My hand cups his jaw, stubble scraping lightly on the tender skin of my palm when he shifts. His head comes closer, and his lips—oh, those lips—they land on mine with a softness that makes me want to scream. He lingers. Our kiss takes on a life of its own, and I lean into Ben, wanting more of him. Opening to him. A warm hum buzzes through me. I’m lightheaded. I run my hand up his jaw, passing my fingers through the waves of hair above his ear and dragging my nails lightly down his neck until my hand lands on his shoulder and fists his shirt, holding him in place—holding him to me.

“Cut!’ James calls out. “Summer, that last movement is not in the script. It worked, but it’s not in the current blocking.”

I step back from Ben. Dazed, but aware. Reeling, but wanting more.

James pauses, furrowing his brow and looking upward. “Let me think about it. I’m all for improv when it enhances the intent of a scene, but I need to be sure this fits their story and motivation at this point in the play. This is their first kiss, after all. And Kailani is torn between her family expectations, the perceived danger Calabran poses to her, and the unexpected desires of her own heart. Give me a night to sleep on this.”

I nod numbly, resisting the urge to bring my fingers to my lips—or worse—Ben’s.

Ben is quiet. He’s not aloof, but he’s not his usual vivacious self.

I’d give up chocolate to know what he’s thinking right now.

“Okay. Sounds good,” I finally say. “I didn’t mean to go off script.”

What is wrong with me? My goal is to make this play a stepping stone. Kissing Ben like he matters, like I can just freely kiss him without recourse, like he’d kiss me and it would matter to him? I can’t.

“Sorry, James. That was all me. Rookie move,” Ben says.

How was it all him, aside from the fact that his kiss would convince a nun to shun her vows, or a contestant on Survivor to jump into a vat of bees? Not that nuns go around kissing men they aren’t dating—or any men, for that matter. Gah.

That kiss.

Maybe I’m exaggerating how life-shattering our kiss felt because I haven’t been kissed in so long.

Who am I kidding?

It was him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.