It was ridiculous to be so affected by a mere kiss. But she could feel her heart pounding a staccato rhythm against her lungs, felt desire coil a warm knot in her abdomen.
Maybe it would be less ridiculous if Alyssa stopped pretending even now that she hadn't been yearning for just this -- just his hands in her hair, his body pressed close to hers, his lips claiming her own. If she would let herself admit, just once, that even an innocent touch from Karl did more for her than anyone else's attempt to seduce -- because it came from him.
And even as that thought flashed through her mind, Alyssa opened her mouth under his, wound her arms more tightly around him, wanting more.