“Then what?” My voice hitched. “What can I do?”
A sardonic grin played on Griffin’s lips as he eyed me. Then he lifted his chin and challenged. “Kiss me.”
My stomach fluttered. “Wh—what?”
Griffin’s eyes twinkled. “You heard me.”
I stared at him. He had to be kidding. Had to be. Only he didn’t look like he was kidding or sound like he was kidding. He looked and sounded amused, teasing, but still, serious. Like it was all funny to him—getting Aiden Hank’s girlfriend all worked up and sweating—but he’d let Aiden off the hook if I did what he said. Those were his terms. He had offered me a deal. Only … it was weird.
“You,” I swallowed, feeling slightly dizzy, like maybe this moment wasn’t really real. Like maybe I had fainted from fright when I first started talking to The Griff and now I was hallucinating or daydreaming or something. “You—you want me to kiss you?”
He set his jaw, but he was still smiling. “Yeah. Kiss me and I won’t kill your boyfriend.”
A strange feeling washed over me—a tingling combination of excitement and horror. I backed away and leaned against the lockers behind me for support. I was all wobbly and sweaty and shaking as I tried to get my brain to actually work—to think. “Um…”
Really? That was all I had to do? Kiss him and Aiden was off the hook? It didn’t seem possible. Or right. There had to be more to it than that. After all, I wasn’t exactly Miss Sexy; far from it. Boys didn’t even usually notice me. Not that I was ugly, I guess. Aiden said I was “beautiful.” But then, Aiden was my boyfriend. And sweet. The Griff wasn’t either of those.
“I don’t understand.”
Griffin shot me this adorable lopsided grin. It got my heart all confused and fluttery. “Yes you do.”
Mmmmm.
My pulse convulsed into a wild frenzy, my mind too. I bit my lip, trying to figure out the catch. There had to be one. Had to. Though Griffin was known as a troublemaker at our school, he was cute; adorable even. There was a certain “type” of girls that were always hanging on him—a type that was not at all like me. They were loud and forward and experienced with boys. I wasn’t like that. At all. And I wasn’t the type of girl that boys pined after. I was “nice” and “caring” and sure, maybe on a good hair-day, “pretty.” But that was about it. No way were boys lining up to kiss me. I doubted they even thought about me. So no, I didn’t get it. What was going on?
It had to be something slimy.
“That’s all I have to do?” I said skeptically. “Kiss you—nothing more?”
Griffin raised his eyebrows, his lips curling into a grin. “You can do more if you want.”
Jerk! Humiliated, I started to slink away.
But Griffin grabbed my arm, gently pulling me back to him. “Geez, I was just messing with you, Grange.”
Grange? He knew my last name?
His eyes danced as he leaned in close, close enough his warm breath tickled my neck as he asked, “So, we have a deal?”
I backed away from him, trying to think. It would get Aiden out of trouble and it was just one little kiss. But … it was with a delinquent.
Then again, my best friend, Jazz, was always saying I needed to loosen up and walk on the wild side. Of course, Griffin Piper was way more wild than what Jazz had meant. Jazz had meant wear bright purple rather than pastels. She didn’t mean date the school’s bad boy.
But …
But nothing! Aiden would get his sweet little face smashed to bits by The Griff if I didn’t do this. I couldn’t let that happen.
I took a deep breath, terrified. What would The Grief Master’s kiss be like? I was a little bit curious, but mostly scared. I’d only kissed two boys in my entire life. I wasn’t experienced by a long shot and I was still slightly nervous that I couldn’t trust The Griff—that it wasn’t really just a kiss he wanted, though it did seem he had only made the deal to make me squirm. I mean, he just seemed entertained—like it would be fun either way: to bash Aiden’s face in or make his girlfriend freak out.
I nodded that we had a deal, then I gulped—big.
Griffin noticed and grinned. “Don’t look so scared, Grange. I’m a good kisser.”
That in no way calmed my nerves. It only made my face burn and my cheeks turn a million shades of red, but somehow I was pretty sure that’s what he wanted.
His eyes twinkled as he watched me prepare for the kiss, eyeing me wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans and pump my fists a couple times, trying to psyche myself up. Finally, I puckered my lips and leaned in for the kiss.
Griffin watched me with quirked eyebrows, looking amused. Finally, he gave a soft laugh. “Not here.”
His eyes danced as I blinked up at him in confusion. What was he talking about? Not here? Where? Panic rushed through me. What exactly had I agreed to?
Griffin gave another soft laugh. “In room 204. At three.” He leaned in close again, playing with a tendril of my hair. “You’ll survive. I promise.”
***
End of Peek
Hope you enjoyed it
HIS KISS is available now and only costs a dollar.
http://www.amazon.com/His-Kiss-Young-Adult-Romance-ebook/dp/B00631JXEO
Other books in the HIS KISS series by Melanie Marks:
High School Boys:
The book contains the story, More Of His Kisses, which goes on with Griffin and Ally’s story right after they start dating. (The book also contains a standalone novel about best friends, Nicole and Matt in high school, and their first kiss.)
Summary of the standalone novel
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS:
Nicole and Matt have been best friends forever. Sure Nicole has always fantasized about being more than friends, but Matt goes through girlfriends like lightning. So, Nicole figures her heart is safer if they just stay buds. But then—gasp!—one night Matt kisses her. And it’s everything Nicole dreamed it would be—everything—hot, tender, perfect, everything … except now it seems their friendship is ruined. Nicole desperately wants things to go back to the way they were. But the kiss changed everything.
http://www.amazon.com/High-School-Boys-Plus-More-ebook/dp/B00AT4BH0Y
HER Kiss (Griffin)
(The book is Griffin’s version of Melanie Marks’ book, HIS KISS)
Back in middle school, she gave me a cookie. No other girl had given me a cookie before. Hickeys, phone numbers, semi-dirty messages—those were the kinds of things I was used to getting from girls. It intrigued me. The home-baked cookie thing.
We’re not in middle school anymore … but she still gives me cookies. (“Anonymously” … she thinks.) I had to trick her into kissing me. But she wanted to do it, I could tell. Pretty much. She just didn’t “want” to want to do it. Maybe because she had a boyfriend … and I was known at our school as a “heartbreaker.” Or so I heard. But I had no plans to break that girl’s heart. I planned to give her mine.
This is my story.
Who am I? I’m hockey playing, Ally lovin’, high school bad boy (what???), Griffin Piper.
(HER Kiss is available now.)
http://www.amazon.com/Her-Kiss-Griffin-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B00KR0UHW4
Note: The book “GRIFFIN” is also available now, but read His Kiss, HER Kiss, and High School Boys first. (Well, you don’t have to, but it’s suggested.) (Note: Griffin #2 is available now as well. But read the other books first.)
Note: There is no swearing in any of the books.
BOOKS By Melanie Marks
Jane’s Air
Even When I Sleep
Smokin’ Hot (Accidental) Kiss
Heartbreaker Hanson
Love Liam
Kissing Kade
Ex-Boyfriend
The Player
The New Boy
My Brother’s Best Friend
Dearest (Hot) Enemy
Want to Hate You … Too Bad I Love You
The Tough Boy’s Tender Kiss
My Forbidden Heartthrob
Beck Bait
My Stepbrother’s Kiss
His Best Friend
The Player (plus: Ally Has Amnesia)
Little Dancer
Louder Than Words
The Dating Deal
Slumber Party Wars
The Stranger Inside
When Kyle Came Back
I Remember You
Fall For Me
Griffin
His Kiss
HER Kiss
High School Boys
(It has book #2 of His Kiss; plus Nicole and Matt in high school—their first kiss)
http://www.amazon.com/High-School-Boys-Plus-More-ebook/dp/B00AT4BH0Y
Newest novel:
HER Kiss (Griffin)
(It’s Griffin’s version of the book, His Kiss)
(It’s available now)
http://www.amazon.com/Her-Kiss-Griffin-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B00KR0UHW4
For a full list of Melanie’s books visit her website:
http://www.byMelanieMarks.com
Check often for updates as she’s always writing new books.
To contact Melanie or if you would like to receive email notifications of her newest books email her at:
[email protected]
Books that are only a dollar right now:
His Kiss
http://www.amazon.com/His-Kiss-Young-Adult-Romance-ebook/dp/B00631JXEO
Fall For Me
http://www.amazon.com/Fall-For-Young-Adult-Romance-ebook/dp/B005GYEF4M
Slumber Party Wars
http://www.amazon.com/Slumber-Party-Wars-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B005FCVU02
Even When I Sleep
https://www.amazon.com/Even-When-Sleep-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B01KLW5K1U
Smokin’ Hot (Accidental) Kiss
http://www.amazon.com/Smokin-Accidental-Kiss-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B01F4YB4I8
Heartbreaker Hanson
https://www.amazon.com/Heartbreaker-Hanson-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B01GFNFKK0
Jane’s Air
https://www.amazon.com/Janes-Air-Young-Adult-Romance-ebook/dp/B01LX3ZDBC
Melanie Marks’ newest book is:
EVEN WHEN I SLEEP
Summary:
I stood fixated, watching her play the drums—the drums I taught her to play. Maaan. I stepped back, feeling like I was falling. Falling right back in love with her, like I never left. I didn’t want that. I needed to keep my distance from her. I had to.
But I didn’t want to. ***Darius
CAMMY: my best friend, Darius, stopped talking to me four years ago. No explanation. No goodbye. He just changed schools and never talked to me again. But suddenly the beautiful boy is back in my life. Can I trust him with my heart? Four years ago he broke it. Now I have the perfect boyfriend, and I’ve heard all the rumors about Darius’s many, MANY girlfriends. Only secretly I’ve always loved Darius. Even now. Even in my sleep.
https://www.amazon.com/Even-When-Sleep-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B01KLW5K1U
For a full list of Melanie’s books visit her website:
http://www.byMelanieMarks.com
Check often for updates as she’s always writing new books.
To contact Melanie or if you would like to receive email notifications of her newest books email her at:
[email protected]
Author Bio:
Melanie Marks was born and raised in California. She is married to a naval nuclear submarine officer and blessed with three amazingly terrific kids.
Melanie has had over sixty stories published in magazines such as Highlights and Teen Magazine as well as in various anthologies, many being Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She’s had nine children’s books published and fourteen teen novels, THE DATING DEAL; Ex-BOYFRIEND; I REMEMBER YOU; THE PLAYER; HIGH SCHOOL BOYS; DEAREST (HOT) ENEMY; THE STRANGER INSIDE; WHEN KYLE CAME BACK; HIS KISS; HER KISS; GRIFFIN; GRIFFIN #2; FALL FOR ME; FALL FOREVER; FINN’S FALL; LOUDER THAN WORDS; LITTLE DANCER and A DEMON’S KISS. More teen novels are forthcoming this fall, 2016.
Melanie enjoys reading in the bathtub, writing in bed, and living in a house longer than two years. Visit her website at http://www.byMelanieMarks.com or email her: [email protected]
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