{"quotes":[{"text":"Let's have a bet, then. If I'm right, you kiss me,' he says.'And if I'm right?'Name it.'It's like taking candy from a baby. Mr. Macho Guy's ego is about to be taken down a notch, and I'm all too happy to be the one to do it. 'If I win you take me and the class project seriously,' I tell him. 'No teasing me, no making ridiculous comments.'Deal. I'd feel terrible if I didn't tell you I have a photographic memory.'Alex, I'd feel terrible if I didn't tell you I copied the info straight from the book.' I look at the research I'd done, then flip open to the corresponding page in my chem book. 'Without looking, what does it need to be cooled at?' I ask.Alex is a guy who thrives on challenges. But this time the tough guy is going to lose. He closes his own book and stares at me, his jaw set. 'Twenty degrees. And it needs to be dissolved at one hundred degrees, not seventy,' he answers confidently.I scan the page, then my notes. Then back at the page again. I can't be wrong. Which page did I- 'Oh, yeah. One hundred degrees.' I look up at him in complete shock. 'You're right.'You gonna kiss me now, or later?'Right now,' I say, which I can tell shocks him because his hands go still. At home, my life is dictated by my mom and dad. At school, it's different. I need to keep it that way, because if I have no control in every aspect of my life I might as well be a mannequin.'Really?' he asks.'Yeah.' I take one of his hands in mine. I'd never be this bold if we had an audience, and am thankful for the privacy of the nonfiction titles surrounding us. His breathing slows as I sit up on my knees and lean into him. I'm ignoring the fact that his fingers are long and rough and that I've never actually touched him before. I'm nervous. I shouldn't be, though. I'm the one in control this time.I can feel him restraining himself. He's letting me make the move, which is a good thing. I'm afraid of what this boy would do if he let loose.I place his hand against my cheek so it cups my face and I hear him groan. I want to smile because his reaction proves I have the power.He's unmoving as our eyes meet.Time stops again.Then I turn my head into his hand and kiss the inside of his palm.'There, I kissed you,' I say, giving him back his hand and ending the game.Mr. Latino with the big ego got bested by a ditzy, blond bimbo.","author":"Simone Elkeles","tags":["alex-fuentes","bet","brittany-ellis","kissed","now","right","tricked"],"id":15021,"author_id":"Simone+Elkeles"},{"text":"Forget about that and kiss me,' I say.I weave my hands in her hair. She wraps her arms around my neck as I trace the valley between her lips with my tongue. Parting her lips, I deepen the kiss. It's like a tango, first moving slow and rhythmic and then, when we're both panting and our tongues collide, the kiss turns into a hot, fast dance I never want to end. Carmen's kisses may have been hot, but Brittany's are more sensual, sexy, and extremely addictive.We're still in the car, but it's cramped and the front seats don't give us enough room. Before I know it, we've moved to the backseat. Still not ideal, but I hardly notice.I'm so getting into her moans and kisses and hands in my hair. And the smell of vanilla cookies. I'm not going to push her too far tonight. But without thinking, my hand slowly moves up her bare thigh.'It feels so good,' she says breathlessly.I lean her back while my hands explore on their own. My lips caress the hollow of her neck as I ease down the strap to her dress and bra. In response, she unbuttons my shirt. When it's open, her fingers roam over my chest and shoulders, searing my skin.'You're . . . Perfect,' she. ","author":"Simone Elkeles","tags":["alex-fuentes","brittany-ellis","intimate","kissing","lips","spanish","tongue","touching"],"id":24289,"author_id":"Simone+Elkeles"},{"text":"You know those giant stuffed-animal prizes at the carnival? The kind practically nobody wins, except the lucky few? I've never won one.'Yeah. I've never won one, either.'Alex was my giant prize. I hated you for taking him away,' she admits.I shrug. 'Yeah, well, stop hating me. I don't have him, either.'I don't hate you anymore,' she says. 'I've moved on.'I swallow and then say, 'Me, too.'Carmen chuckles. Then, just as she walks out of the room, I hear her mumble, 'Alex sure as hell hasn't.","author":"Simone Elkeles","tags":["alex-fuentes","brittany-ellis","carmen-sanchez","hate","moved-on","prize","won"],"id":43493,"author_id":"Simone+Elkeles"},{"text":"You think you've never been wrong before?'-alex'sure I have why just last week I bought bobbi brown sandwash petal lip gloss when the pink blossom color would have looked so much better with my complexion. Needless to say the purchase was a total disaster'- brittney'ill bet'-alex.'havent you ever been wrong before?'-brittany 'absolutely. Last week, when I robbed that bank over by the walgreens, I told the teller to hand over all the fifties he had in the till. What I really should have asked for was the twenties 'cause there were way more twenties than fifties'- alex'what a disaster'- brittany.","author":"Simone Elkeles","tags":["alex-fuentes","brittany-ellis","funny"],"id":57820,"author_id":"Simone+Elkeles"},{"text":"I'm willing to find out what this thing is going on between us. Are you?'If we weren't outside,' he says, 'I'd show you--'I cut him off by grabbing the thick hair at the base of his neck and pulling that gorgeous head of his down. If we can't exactly have privacy right now, I'll settle for being real. Besides, everyone who we need to keep this a secret from is in school.Alex keeps his hands at his side, but when I part my lips, he groans against my mouth and his wrench drops to the ground with a loud clink.His strong hands wrap around me, making me feel protected. His velvet tongue mingles with mine, creating an unfamiliar melting sensation deep within my body. This is more than making out, it's . . . Well, it feels like a lot more.His hands never stop moving; one circles my back while the other plays with my hair.Alex isn't the only one exploring. My hands are roving all over him, feeling his muscles tense beneath my hands and heightening my awareness of him. I touch his jaw and the roughness of a day's growth scratches my skin.","author":"Simone Elkeles","tags":["alex-fuentes","brittany-ellis","kissing","making-out","more","touching"],"id":57965,"author_id":"Simone+Elkeles"},{"text":"I thought we were gonna take this relationship slow.'A back rub is harmless.'My eyes roam over her kick-ass bikini-covered bod. 'I'll have you know I've been intimate with girls wearin' a lot more.","author":"Simone Elkeles","tags":["alex-fuentes","brittany-ellis","relationship","slow"],"id":68389,"author_id":"Simone+Elkeles"},{"text":"Want some?' he asks, pointing to his dinner.Maybe eating will calm my nerves. 'What I.","author":"Simone Elkeles","tags":["alex-fuentes","brittany-ellis","enchiladas","spicy","spicy-food","water"],"id":85216,"author_id":"Simone+Elkeles"},{"text":"Do you think about making love with me?'I lie awake most nights, fantasizing about sleeping next to her ... Loving her. 'Right now, muneca, makin' love to you is the only thing on my mind.","author":"Simone Elkeles","tags":["alex-fuentes","brittany-ellis","fantasize","making-love","spanish","think"],"id":91767,"author_id":"Simone+Elkeles"},{"text":"How was the kiss with Alex?'Nice,' I say, thinking about how sensual it was. 'Actually, Isabel, it was more than nice. It was fucking incredible.'Isabel starts laughing, and I laugh right along with her this time.","author":"Simone Elkeles","tags":["alex-fuentes","brittany-ellis","incredible","isabel","kiss"],"id":95611,"author_id":"Simone+Elkeles"},{"text":"This girl of my dreams, this girl who is more like me than anyone I've ever met, wants to kiss me.I take over control as soon as she tilts her head. Our lips touch for the briefest moment before I lace my fingers in her hair and keep kissing her soft and gentle. I cup her cheek in my palm, feeling her baby-soft skin against my rough fingers. My body urges me to take advantage of the situation, but my brain (the one inside my head) keeps me in check.A satisfied sigh escapes Brittany's mouth, as if she's content to stay in my arms forever.I brush the tip of my tongue against her lips, enticing her to open her mouth. She tentatively meets my tongue with her own. Our mouths and tongues mingle in a slow, erotic dance until the sound of the front door opening makes her jerk.","author":"Simone Elkeles","tags":["alex-fuentes","brittany-ellis","interrupted","kiss","kissing","pissed"],"id":160135,"author_id":"Simone+Elkeles"}],"pagination":{"page":1,"page_size":10,"total":23,"pages":3,"next":"?page=2\u0026page_size=10"}}