he moment our lips meet, my body rushes with adrenaline. I slip my hands around his neck and pull him closer. He responds to my touch, lifting me off the floor by my waist. I'd briefly wondered what it would feel like to kiss him; it's better than the fantasy.

Briefly, his lips leave mine. My arms drop to his shoulders and my dress slides to the top of my thighs. When he glances down, he lets out a rough breath that sets my body on fire.

We are both breathing heavily. I press my cleavage against his chest, and his eyes grow dark. His fingertips grip my thighs harder. I shiver when he presses against me.

I can't remember the last time I was kissed like this. I can't remember the last time my heart pounded. His mouth is on mine again, and I part my lips to make room for his tongue. I don't know how I expected him to taste, but it's a mix of mint and something sweet; my whole body trembles.

His teeth catch my bottom lip, and goosebumps spread across my arms. My chest tightens. In my urgency, I accidentally catch his lip with my teeth, but he doesn't seem to notice. He's too busy kissing me, and I'm kissing him; nothing else matters.

I'm struggling to catch my breath. Everything about him is hard and solid. His overuse of the gym means every muscle is carved to perfection, tensing under my weight. I hold onto him tighter, tilting my head back as he kisses my neck. My stomach pools with warmth.

Ever since I met him, it's felt as though Max is this forbidden fruit I'm not allowed to have. He's not from here, and he's the exact type of boy my parents would warn me to stay away from. It makes his kiss, his touch, all the more thrilling. I'm not supposed to like him–he's not supposed to like me, yet neither of us can stop.

In one quick move, he turns us around and sits me on the countertop. I wrap my legs around him, pulling him in by his waist. His fingers snake across the back of my neck and tangle themselves in my hair. I let out a breath, a kind of soft moan that makes him tense.

His hands slowly move up my thighs. I wrap my calves around his waist, pulling him closer than humanly possible. His hands are smooth, warm, and every brush of his fingertips sends jolts through my stomach. He's watching me as he does it, his eyes dark and careful as he takes in my face.

My mouth falls to his neck at the same time I run my hands over his chest. Our tongues tangle together, each of us demanding to dominate the other. He goes to move his hand to my face, but I grab it mid-air and move it down to my breast. He freezes, then lightly pinches the thin material of my dress. I pull him in by his neck and gently suck the sensitive skin near his ear.

"Shit." He suddenly steps back and runs a hand down his face before forcing himself to look at me. "You're dangerous, you know that?"

I smirk as he studies me. His gaze lowers, and I glance down to see my dress has ridden up my thighs, just short of exposing my underwear. When I look back at him, his eyes are on mine, dark and hooded.

My chest is rising and falling as fast as his. I can tell from the way he's looking at me that he doesn't want to stop. I don't want to, either. I push myself off the countertop and walk toward him, stopping just short of his chest.

"Alyssa," he warns.

I look at him innocently. "What?"

"Don't do that again."

"Why?"

"Why?" He takes his lip between his teeth like he's trying to regain control. "Because you have a boyfriend. Because you're in high school. Because my brother is in love with you. Take your pick."

My lust is briefly replaced with confusion. "Wait, Kino is in love with me? Since when?"

"Since always." He takes a step back. "Listen, I need to go. I'll see you around." He goes to leave, but I grab his hand, forcing him to turn around. He gives me a warning look. "Alyssa."

"I know," I say. "High school, boyfriend, etcetera, etcetera. I'm just saying goodbye." I take a step closer until there's no more space left between us. He lowers his head, his lips so close, I'm about a millimeter away from kissing him again. "Bye," I whisper.

"Bye." His voice comes out low and husky, sending shivers down my arms.

A second passes. Then another. "This is the part where you leave," I remind him.

Neither of us moves. He gives me a look like he both hates me and wants to pin me against the wall. "You're a smart mouth, you know that?"

I smile, and it's enough to force him to take a deep breath. "It's that big rectangle thing in the hallway," I say. "Opens with a handle. You need some help?"

He scowls and pulls me in by my waist, pulling me into his chest. I can feel him–all of him–through his sweatpants. "You talk too much."

I'm about to keep going when his lips land on mine again. His other hand snakes around the back of my head, and he pushes me back until I'm pressed against the wall, trapped by his body. My heart pounds, and I can barely get a breath in, but I don't seem to care. Oxygen seems like nothing compared to his touch.

"Why is it," he says in a low voice against my ear, "that all of my principles go out of the window when I'm around you?"

I move my head to meet his gaze. The way he's looking at me does something crazy to my insides. I bite my lip, and he groans before pressing his mouth on mine, parting my lips with his tongue.

It's like every time he kisses me, my brain turns to mush. I forget about my problems and the rest of the world; all I can think about is him.

Then suddenly, it's over. He pulls away, unraveling his hands from my waist before stepping back. "Alright, I'm going," he says, breathing hard.

"Fine," I say, and he gives me one last look before leaving.

I continue to lean against the wall, my chest rising and falling, my lips still burning from his kiss. I don't know what the hell just happened, but I do know something.

Max knows how to kiss.