I’m gonna do it.

I’m going to kiss the daylights out of Park Sungjin.

And it’s not going to be sweet or romantic, or anywhere near a G rating. We’re not coming out of this with hearts in our eyes and pink blushes on our faces. I’m going to kiss him. With tongue and hands and noises from the backs of our throats. I’m going to kiss him and it’s going to keep him up at night.

I’m gonna do it.

I step forward, determined to strike while I haven’t overanalysed the situation, and nearly walk into the door when it opens and misses my face by half an inch. I flatten myself against the wall as some girl in a tight black dress shuffles down the narrow hallway. I push the door shut with my foot and turn back to Sungjin, barely missing the laugh he’s hidden behind a veiny fist.

Sungjin pulls his face into a neutral expression at the opening and closing of the door on his side. My resolve hasn’t quite fizzled yet, and I close the distance between us before I lose my nerve completely. Before Sungjin decides for the both of us that this isn’t right. Grabbing him by his shirt, I push him back, deeper into the darkened area of the alcove.

“What are you doing?” he asks. But I hear it in his voice. He knows what I’m doing.

“Shut up.”

“How much have you had to drink?”

“Clearly not enough because you’re still talking.”

I press my trembling hands against his firm chest—I knew he’s been hiding something under all those clothes. Sungjin may look soft—no, that’s not it. Sungjin may project a strong aura, but he’s soft on the inside of his shell. He in a breath and breathes out my name. Our gazes lock in a stare-down, he’s waiting for me to change my mind but I won’t let my nerves get the better of me. This time I want to be the one to leave him confused.

But how am I supposed to do that when his dark eyes gleam molten and suddenly there’s heat in his gaze. Heat, and maybe a sense of validation. As if he’s been waiting for this moment as much as I have. My heart races faster, and I feel his do the same.

Sungjin leans into the wall and I step closer. My thigh connects to his knee now, and I’m fully aware of his heat radiating off his jeans and the faint scent of his cool ocean-y cologne. I reach up and touch his cheek. His ears. Sungjin doesn’t stop me, doesn’t do anything but wait. Slowly, I bring my mouth to his.

When our lips meet, it’s nothing like the first time. The strangest thing happens, and waves of heat unfurl inside me like I’m being hit by a sonic aura burst of music. I feel it from my lips, down my body, and tingling to the ends of my hair and the tips of my fingers and toes. If our first kiss was a drizzle, then this one is a hurricane. The intensity collects in a panic in my throat, and I break the kiss.

“Okay…so…” I’m trying to sound in control, but my wobbly voice betrays me.

Sungjin’s eyes are still on me, still nothing like the warm sunlight I’ve come to associate them with. Instead, they’re dark and hooded. “So?”

“I…uh…that was it…actually.”

His big hands wrap around my waist.

I should probably say something. Or maybe leave. I don’t want to leave but it seems like a good idea before I further embarrass