“Don’t,” she says.

“Too fast?” Their lips hover very close.

“Keith!” Her urgent eyes. “This isn’t as easy as it feels, this isn’t–if you–you can’t. It means too much.”

“All right,” he says. “What about a peck on the cheek?”

“Maybe–”

“Or on the soft place,” he murmurs, “right here behind your jaw…”

“Nnno!” She pulls back. “You’re not playing fair.”

“All right,” he says, a little hurt, reckless. “You tell me what I’m supposed to do, then.”

She holds out her hand.

“Here?”

He takes it.

“Okay.”

“Ready?”

“Okay.”

Then they kiss so hard she splits her lip.