ARIEL'S POV

I hated that my lips couldn't resist. My hands flew to his neck for support, every nerve inside me awakening so fast. I kissed him back—too hard, too desperately—for a little more than a few seconds before I came to my senses.

My eyes flew open and I pulled away like he burned. My palm met his face before I could even think, forcing him to stagger back, rubbing the spot.

“Why the hell did you do that?” I snapped, breathless, like I’d just finished a relay race.

His tongue swiped his lower lip, as if he was consciously trying to savor the lingering taste of mine. His...