THE KISSING BOOTH

ADONIS’ POINT OF VIEW.

Silence was both a blessing and a curse to me. Ever since the incident that rendered me this way, I’ve been nothing short of grateful for it. Being unable to speak does its wonders in intimidating people, especially when all I want to do is stay in my mind.

Until today…and it's all because of her.

Charlotte fucking Venus. Who the hell names their kid Venus anyway? My younger brother’s girlfriend was everything pain could be. I fucking loathe the five-foot-three woman who always finds a reason to glare at me in the span of a few minutes of us meeting for the first time. I never go home, so all I could hear about the wonderful woman Lucas was dating were stories.

Everyone believed she was a saint, everyone except for me. And now, the same woman is about to ruin my entire plans with her stupid idea. A kissing booth? Really?

I wished so badly for the first time that I could speak, that the barrier in my mind would let up even once, so I could roar out a no, until grandmother reminded me of the stakes at hand…. As much as I want to say no to this idea to spite Charlotte, I have no choice but to agree.

However, there’s no way I'm going to be tormented alone….she’s going in with me.

“Oh, and I should add that the booth has to be secluded. People should be able to feel the mystery of it all, speculating if he did kiss anyone or not… if there are no cameras in there, it’s perfect.”

They all echoed their agreement, nodding like fucking lizards to her. The slacks of my pants still felt wet with the stain of coffee all over them. I leaned back in my chair, watching as they picked out colors and discussed how to put out the news. I stared at her through narrowed eyes, pushing my glasses up. 

She was beautiful…and I hated that I could fucking think that way. Anyone dating a guy like Lucas couldn’t, should not be beautiful. 

Grandma leaned over, whispering in my ear. “This will be good for you and the company.” She smiled at me, but her eyes were sad. I gave her a forced smile, letting Richards pull me away and out of there. Just before we were past the door, I caught Charlotte’s surprised gaze, her eyes on the high wheelchair and my legs.

--

Yet again, they're leaving me all alone with her. I hate the fact that I can smell her deliciously addictive coconut scent or see the fullness of her body. She’s dressed in an absolute weapon of a black skirt and a simple red shirt, her dark hair falling all over her back in wild curls, hands clasped together but still shaking.

“You know you can quit staring at me like I’m a fucking soap opera.”  I narrowed my eyes at her, my fingers twitching against the small tablet attached to my chair. She dared to be nervous? As if she isn’t the one who’d turned my life into a fucking spectacle for a bunch of women I didn’t know to kiss away at.

In a matter of seconds, she’d turned me into a side-show attraction for every crazy fan of mine in all of Vegas, and apparently, a couple of women flew in this morning to get a chance to kiss me in the spirit of Valentine’s Day.

I tapped the screen of my tablet, letting the automated voice machine created specifically to read my mind speak. I could talk….i just don’t want to. “I’m not staring at you, Miss Venus; at least not in the way you think I am.” The voice droned on, although I, for the first time, wished it could convey the appropriate feeling in my voice. “I am simply waiting for your supposed genius master plan to fail, and render both of us in the gutter so I can fire you. She turns to me, a sharp gasp on her lips. Her eyes become as sharp as knives, glaring into me viciously. Then, Charlotte lets out a sharp, breathy gasp that sounds both like a laugh and a scoff at the same time. To my horror, she steps forward, no longer clasping her hands but now approaching me in my chair. 

“Or you could just trust my vision? I mean, no one else came up with the idea.”

“Please, anyone could have come up with it, Miss Venus.”

“So why didn’t they?” She retorts, leaning low so we are at eye level. Just before I could tap on my tablet screen again, I was attacked by the scent of coconut. It’s in her hair, her neck, her breath…and for the first time, I want to choke on it… for the first time, I wouldn't mind dying as long as it is her coconut scent that’s the cause of my asphyxiation.

“Tell me, Mr. Thornewood, why do you hate me so much?” Her warm, minty breath fans my face. I didn’t answer…..Well, I couldn't. Not in the way I wanted. Staring at the beat of the pulse in her throat, I tapped on my screen, letting the automated voice convey my thoughts.

“I do not hate you, Miss Venus. You are not so worthy of such attention from me. I am simply waiting for you to fail, so I can get rid of you. Anyone dating Lucas is not welcome in my company.” At the mention of his name, she blanches, almost pulling back, but stopping at the last moment. 

“So that’s it….? You hate me because of Lucas?”

“I do. Not hate you.” 

“Oh….is it jealousy then?” she chuckled, leaning even lower. It felt like she could see how badly I struggled with the urge to bring her closer, to bask in that addictive scent she had on. : You’re jealous of Lucas, of the fact that he’s had his hands all over my body? At night, in the morning,….every single time.” She’s now whispering in my ears. For the first time in my life, I’m stuck. I cannot fucking move……it’s as if she'd placed my entire body on lockdown.

My eyes find her cleavage, the way her body feels against mine, even though she isn’t even touching me properly. Just then, she pulls away…almost. “Well, since you aren’t going to say anything, I’ll only assume I am right….you are jealous of Lucas.” 

I don’t let her get far. Before I can think about it, my hand finds hers, pulling her onto my lap, my grip on her waist and hips tight while I crash my lips to hers in a brutal, harsh kiss. For a moment, we’re stuck that way, waiting for the other to make the next move. Then after some time, she pulls back, her eyes wide with shock, staring at me with her red lipstick smeared lips.

Just when I think she's going to pull away, she’s crashing her lips back to mine as well, in an equally ferocious, hungry kiss I made sure to return.

……

CHARLOTTE’S POINT OF VIEW.

The world doesn’t exist, not anymore. I barely recognize who I am right now. My hands rake in his hair, tugging on it with each clash of our lips against each other. My legs are draped over his, his hands gripping onto my hips, and tugging my hair back. Even though we’re seated, he is still very much taller than me.

“Hmm.” I moaned, biting and tugging on his lower lip, before he thrust his tongue into my mouth. Maybe it’s the hurt I still hadn't addressed from what Lucas did to me, or the fact that he still called and texted, but it was not an apology, or that my parents ghosted me….But I couldn’t help but bury myself in him.

I did it all for Lucas, saved myself for him, let him take my virginity; he was the son of a first-generation billionaire, but I still spent as much of my money on him whenever he asked, especially after his family cut him off, and he came to live with me in my small apartment off campus.

Then, I learned he gave all of my money to my best friend, the other person he cheated on me with. Iris was now halfway across the world on some vacation with all my savings. I needed an out. So I goaded him, I poked the bear that is Adonis Thornewood, and now, I’m in his lap, kissing, eating, biting at his lips.

My lungs burn from the lack of oxygen, and he seems not to know it because he pulls back, attacking my neck and jaw with kisses instead. I swear I heard him grunt, pressing his lips against my pulse point and the spot where my heart beat sounds.

Beneath me, I feel a stirring in his cock, as well as a hardness that pokes, nudges, and picks away at me, making me grind softly on it, breathy gasps, and moans rushing from my lips. Just then, the spot on the wall to the left of me lets out a loud, shrill beeping sound, making us pull away in surprise.