I tug my phone from my apron when it vibrates, and my heart sinks when I read the text from the last person I want to talk to. He’s the man I hate and who’s made my life a living hell.
James: You can’t keep ignoring me.
My fingers are close to shaking as I hit the reply button.
Me: I’m not ignoring you.
James: Let me correct myself. You can’t keep avoiding me.
I roll my eyes. He didn’t correct himself. Avoiding and ignoring are the same thing.
Me: Whatever. What do you want?
James: Don’t forget who has the upper hand here.
My jaw hurts as I grit my teeth at his threat, and I wish I were brave enough to do something. Call me weak … a coward … but fighting him on this will lead to serious consequences.
I’ve found there are two ways to appease him:
- Agree.
- Stroke his ego.
My phone beeps again.
James: I want to see you.
Me: I’ve been swamped with work.
James: Yet you had time to fly to Texas.
Me: Are you following me?
I glance around my surroundings in the diner’s kitchen even though there’s no way he’s in here. From now on, I’ll be looking over my shoulder with every move I make. I came home with the thought he’d never make the drive here. Hopefully, I wasn’t wrong.
James: No. I saw your little boyfriend posted it on Instagram.
He’s following Rex?
He hates Rex.
Me.
That’s why he’s following Rex.
To follow me since I blocked him.
Just as I’m about to reply with expletives that’ll piss him off more, I’m saved by a text from Rex.
My Main Man: Going to Down Home tonight. Come with?
Me: Sounds good to me.
My problems slip from my thoughts when I’m with Rex. I also feel safe with him.
My Main Man: You want me to scoop you up?
Me: 9:00?
My Main Man: See you then.
I untie my apron, drop my phone into my purse, and head back to the loft without replying to James’s message. My guess is he’s drinking, in a mood and feeling sorry for himself, or having girl problems. He reaches out whenever one of those problems happens, bugs me for a day, and then disappears for a while … and then the cycle starts over a few weeks later.
Whenever possible, I have Rex pick me up when we go out—because I’m selfish. That way, he can’t bring another woman home with him. Sure, she could always go to his house after, but I tend to invite myself over and hang out with him. Not that he’s ever said no. Not once has he ever brought home a woman when he’s with me.
Rex is seen around town as the rebellious, rich kid.
His reputation always makes me laugh. Hell, I believed it, too, before we became friends.
He’s considered rebellious because he does what he wants, he has never had a serious girlfriend, nor has he been interested in one, and he defies his father with every move.
Rex doesn’t care about that rep and hardly shows anyone who he really is. We’ve learned each other’s secrets, flaws, skeletons, and secret traits.
Which is why we’re in love with each other.
Rex knows this.
I know it.
It’s just easier for us to play pretend.
“Damn, Lina,” Rex says, strolling into my living room. “You look hot.”
I lower my gaze to my white summer dress and strappy brown sandals. Summer dresses are my go-to outfit. They’re comfy, cute, and effortless to pull together—my style. I’ve never been one to keep up with trends, and my parents were strict with what I wore growing up.
My contacts are in, my hair halfway up, halfway down, and I have a hint of makeup on.
I shyly grin.
Rex complimenting me isn’t new.
My dress could be a paper bag, and he’d still flatter me.
Having a best friend who pumps up your ego on the regular is fun.
“Thank you.” I snatch my pink sweater from the edge of the couch and drag it over my shoulders. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
His walnut-colored hair is messy. Envy hits me of how simple his hair routine is. All he does is run gel through it, spiking it up, and he’s all set. A gray moto jacket fits his muscular shoulders perfectly, a thin white tee underneath it, and his black jeans have rips down the front.
He playfully pops the collar of his jacket. “Yeah, I know.”
I snort and smack his stomach on my way to grab my crossbody bag. “Geesh, how has your head not exploded from all that ego you carry in there? Must be because your brain is so puny.”
“Weird.” He chuckles. “You sure have no problem taking compliments that boost your ego.”
“That’s different.”
“Do explain how it’s different.”
“I don’t pop my collar like a 2002 rap song and say, ‘I know.’” I mimic his collar-popping gesture. “I politely say thanks without letting it go to my fat, smug head.”
He’s laughing as he opens the door, and he follows me down the outside stairs to the driveway.
This week was a rough one. A drink will help dim my problems … dim my secrets. I duck into his car after he opens the door for me, and then he goes to his side. The ride to Down Home is short, and the parking lot is packed when we pull in. The pub is the place to go for a good time and to relax. Even when it’s a full house, the setting unwinds you. Sierra remodeled the bar and made it her goal for the customers to feel like they’re at home, sharing drinks with friends.
Music playing from the live band hits us when we walk in, and Rex’s hand finds mine before he leads us to a crowded table in the center of the room. He steals two unoccupied stools from another table and brings them to ours, gesturing for me to sit in one while taking the other. When I sit, he tugs me closer, and I settle back while doing a once-over of our table.
Rex’s brother, Kyle, is across from me with his arm slung over his girlfriend, Chloe’s, shoulders while he sips on a beer. Their history has always fascinated me. They hated each other in high school, became neighbors, and are now in a serious relationship. It’s been a rough ride for them with Chloe being involved in their family drama. I’ll never forget the night Rex called me, ignited with a fury I’d never heard from him before, when he found Chloe’s secret. It was some soap-opera, Jerry Springer drama.
Chloe is chatting it up with Lauren Barnes, who’s sitting next to her. I’ve admired Lauren for years. Her family has never failed to help me with any charity or benefit dinner I bring to them. The Barnes family is one of the kindest families in Blue Beech. Her fiancé and Kyle’s best friend, Gage, is next to her. They were high school sweethearts, and everyone was waiting for their marriage announcement, but instead, Lauren broke his heart. He returned a few years later with no intention of rekindling with Lauren. That didn’t last long, considering they have a baby girl together.
Lately, Rex prefers to hang out with his family and brother’s friends than the people we went to school with. Since they’re chill and always accepting of me, I have no issue with that.
“Hey, Carolina,” Sierra greets from the other side of me, a friendly smirk on her face.
I smile at her. “Hey!” I signal to the crowd. “It’s a full house tonight.”
She nods. “Sure is.”
“No hey for your little bro?” Rex asks her.
Sierra wiggles her fingers in an exaggerated wave. “Hello, my pain-in-the-ass brother.”
“Carolina,” Kyle says, setting his beer down. The resemblance between him and Rex is crazy. “I love when you come with my brother. You tame him.”
“Fake news,” Rex argues. “I tame her.”
Kyle snorts. Sierra scoffs. Gage laughs.
I pat Rex’s head. “I keep him in line like a good little boy.”
The waitress stopping by to take our order interrupts our conversation. Rex and I order two Jack and Cokes, and he adds in an order of nachos supreme for us to share—my favorite.
“You’re not working tonight?” I ask Sierra.
She shakes her head. “Nope. I’ve been overloaded with work, so Maliki hired a part-time bartender to cover for me.”
She shoves a hand through her blonde hair before pulling it into a high ponytail.
Sierra is gorgeous. She was nicknamed the Pageant Queen of Blue Beech, growing up. Okay, the rebellious Pageant Queen of Blue Beech, since she acted out like it was her job. After becoming single, she took a job working at the pub with Maliki before starting her own interior design business.
Her gaze moves past my shoulders, and I shift in my chair, following her attention to Maliki pouring a beer behind the bar. Maliki is hot—there’s no denying that—with his dark hair, muscles, and facial scruff. He’s older, in his thirties, and he was known as a ladies’ man who’d never settle down. Word was, he swore serious relationships weren’t his thing, but Sierra came into his life. He changed for her, going from a ladies’ man to one of the best boyfriends I’ve seen.
I love their love, but it also scares the shit out of me.
It proves people who think they’re not capable of love are.
What happens when Rex finds the woman to change him?
His heart is big enough for commitment, for him to be someone’s everything and make her his everything. That fear just needs to be broken.
“Is it hard for him to relax when he owns the place?” I ask, turning back to Sierra.
“Definitely,” she answers. “It’s better now that we don’t live above the bar anymore. It’s not as easy as running downstairs to check on things.”
She sips on her pink cocktail. Down Home was never big on cocktails. It was more of a beer and hard liquor establishment until Sierra came into the picture.
I nod in understanding. “I get that. It was difficult for my father to separate family and work with us living next door to the church.”
We spent more time there than at home since my father was the preacher and my mother ran the after-school program.
The waitress comes back with our nachos and drinks, and Rex has her start a tab for us. Rex was a huge partier since high school, and it only worsened his first year of college, but now that he’s doing so well with his game, he’s cut down on the drinking. A hungover brain isn’t a productive brain. It’s frustrating that people don’t notice the change in him—the maturity evolution is what I’ve named it, to which he always responds with an eye roll.
One of those people being his father, Michael Lane. He lives his life with the belief that all Rex does is party and waste his life away. Since Rex avoids as much contact with him as possible, he doesn’t bother correcting him. Michael has always been friendly with me, but he’s a jackass to Rex, which pisses me off. I force smiles but never go out of my way to start a conversation with him when I attend dinners at Rex’s house.
Call it rude. Whatever.
Anyone who treats Rex like crap is a sucky person in my book.
Rex takes a swig of his beer before peering at me. “I’mma run to the restroom. Save me some nachos.” His hand brushes along my shoulders as he walks away.
Chloe updates everyone on her and Kyle’s adoption journey and reveals they’re considering becoming foster parents while waiting for approval.
I’m mid-nacho-chomp when Rex is walking back from the restroom, and I nearly choke on the chip when a woman stands in front of him, blocking his way. I pinch my lips together, nausea swirling inside my stomach, and shove the nacho basket up the table.
“Don’t worry about her,” Sierra comments, bumping her shoulder against mine as I painfully gawk at Rex and Blockzilla. “He doesn’t want her.”
My eyes narrow when the girl slides her hand up his arm. “Rex wants any woman who looks in his direction.”
Flirty women are a constant when we go out. They attempt to force themselves onto him while I play indifferent and fake that it doesn’t hurt my heart. Rex never entertains it, but that still doesn’t stop my envy.
“No, babe, he wants you.” Sierra releases a heavy sigh. “He’s scared. Maliki was like that. He just needed a little convincing.”
I transfer my attention to Sierra. “Convincing how?”
I halfway know the answer to my question. She and Maliki played a cat-and-mouse game for years, ever since she was eighteen and snuck into his bar.
She nudges her head toward where Rex is standing, but I stop myself from looking back. “Call him out on his bullshit. Call him a chickenshit until he stops acting like a chickenshit. And if all else fails, date someone else. Scare him into getting his head out of his ass.”
“You and Maliki are different than me and Rex. We’ve been friends for years. Plus, you’re bolder than I am. I’m pretty much a chickenshit, too.”
“You’re a total badass, and my brother is head over heels for you. He’s just too stupid to admit it.”
She throws her arm out, motioning toward Rex, and I brace myself to be upset as I peek over at him. He’s ditched the girl and dodging bodies while heading in our direction.
“See!” she cries out. “Y-O-U!”
Rex takes his place by my side again, interrupting our conversation, and Sierra glances up at Maliki with a grin when he joins us and says hi to everyone. He kisses Sierra, whispering words against her mouth, and they become disgustingly cute.
“Another one of your women?” I question Rex, a frown on my face before I shove a nacho into my mouth.
“Nope,” he replies with a straight face.
I narrow my eyes at him.
“What?” He shrugs. “She asked if I’d buy her a drink. I said no. She then asked if she could buy me a drink. I respectively declined like the gentleman I am and walked away.” He shrugs again. “No biggie.”
“I’m amazed you didn’t take her up on her offer,” I grumble.
“Not interested. I’d never ditch you for another chick.”
“Oh. My. Freaking. God!”
Her shrill voice hits me right before Candy comes into our view. She halts at our table, as if someone hit the brakes on her legs.
I dip my head down and cover half my face with my hand, fully aware she’s about to make a scene.
“If it’s not the happy couple making it official!” she shrieks. She pouts out her lower lip when her green eyes cut to Rex. “It sucks you’re off the market, but I’m happy someone nice like Carolina snagged you!” Her words come out in a slight slur. “She’s a keeper. Don’t you go breaking her heart, or I’ll break your thumbs! And it’s hard to play video games without thumbs.”
This is not happening.
Out of all places, she announces it in front of a crowd of people.
Every muscle in my body stiffens, my heart clamoring against my chest while I struggle not to freak the hell out. Rex’s hand sweeps underneath the table, settling on my thigh, and he tenderly squeezes it.
“What?” nearly everybody at the table asks in their own manner.
It takes me a moment to uncover my face, and my gaze swiftly darts around the table, taking in everyone’s response. Excitement. Happiness. Curiosity. Not one person appears pissed as their attention bounces back and forth from me to Rex.
“Whoa, did I miss something?” Kyle asks. “Is it finally happening?” He gestures between me and Rex. “Did you two finally get your heads out of your asses and admit you’re in love?”
“Sure did!” Candy answers for us with extra pep in her voice. “You should’ve seen them at the diner.” She folds her hands over her chest. “Swoon!”
We were so not swoon.
Sierra eagerly focuses on me. “Tell me everything.”
“Details!” Chloe adds.
“How’d this happen?” Lauren yelps.
I stare at Rex in horror.
Oh my God. Oh my God.
How are we getting out of this?
It’s not only my parents we have to create a breakup story for. It’s now pretty much the entire town. And when it happens, most of them will give Rex hell for it, placing all the blame on him.
Rex’s hand stays on my thigh as he speaks, “This is why we kept it on the down-low.” He motions toward the table. “We didn’t want this shit to happen—you clowns making a big deal about it.” His hand leaves my thigh, and he curves his arm around my shoulders, dragging me closer to him. “Yes, we’re trying something new.”
“I love it.” Sierra beams.
“Kiss!” Candy yells. “Now that the cat is out of the bag, you should totally kiss!”
I want to kill Candy.
No more picking up any extra shifts for her.
Her voice rises as she starts pumping her fist into the air. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”
Kyle joins in on her chanting … then Chloe … then Lauren … and then the rest of the damn bar.
My mind goes blank when Rex cups the back of my head.
“Might as well make the crowd happy.” His mouth crashes against mine.
Screams erupt across the bar, and clapping ensues.
Rex doesn’t give me a quick peck. No, his soft lips part, and his tongue plunges into my mouth, teasingly stroking against mine. He tastes like beer and salt. His hand knots into my hair, and he yanks me closer, his mouth claiming me as his girlfriend.
My cheeks are on fire.
I’m making out with Rex in front of everyone.
And it doesn’t feel pretend.
The. Best. Kiss. Ever.
It’s life-changing.
Friendship-changing.
We’re so screwed.
All the commotion around us is drowned out as he devours my mouth.
I’m clueless as to how much time passes before he tears away from me.
He tenderly kisses the tip of my nose.
I shiver when his cheek touches mine, and he whispers in my ear, “FYI, I’m not ending this. Figure out how you’re going to break my heart.” His tongue runs along the edge of my lobe, and I tighten my thighs. “You taste delicious, by the way.”
This friendship just got a lot more complicated.
Rex doesn’t ask if I want to go home as he drives to his apartment.
He knows me well enough to know the answer.
Hanging out with him is more enjoyable than hanging out in the loft solo.
Tonight was a shitshow, to say the least. I’d expected a simple night out of having drinks, not for every resident of Blue Beech to believe we’re dating.
Rex stuck to water the rest of the night since he was driving. Like at the wedding, he played the boyfriend role perfectly—further confirmation he’s capable of commitment even if he doesn’t believe it himself. It was as if Candy hit a switch in him tonight. His hand never left me after our kiss—whether it was on my hip, my shoulder, or my thigh. He kissed my cheek a few times, but there was no more mouth action.
Thank God.
Had it been like the first one, there would have been a decent chance I’d lose my mind and straddle him in front of everyone because I was so turned on.
I toss my sweater on the back of the couch and kick my sandals off when we walk into his apartment. His three-bedroom place screams total bachelor pad. Rex has the master bedroom with an attached bathroom, Josh has the second bedroom, and the third is empty for a new roommate. Rex is picky about who he rents to.
He tosses his keys onto the coffee table while I run to his bathroom. I glance around his room on the way there. It matches his personality perfectly. One wall is painted a deep red while the other three are black. A black-and-white canvas painting is hung over his bed along with video game and cinema posters. I grin when I pass the picture of us from graduation on his nightstand.
When I leave the bathroom, Rex is in the kitchen, standing in front of the open fridge.
“Yo, drink?” he shouts over his back while snagging a bottle of water.
“H2O, please!” I join him in the kitchen while he grabs another bottle and shuts the fridge.
His jacket is off, his feet bare, and his thin white tee shows off his muscular arms. Just because Rex isn’t built like a bodybuilder with bulging arms doesn’t mean he isn’t fit. He’s tall and lean. I love how he towers over me.
When he comes closer, my pulse races as I remember our kiss, him touching me at the bar, and of him in the shower, stroking himself.
“Are you still worried about your game?” I ask when he hands me the water.
He leans back against the counter, his forehead scrunching. “Every damn day.”
My heart breaks at the stress on his face. “I’m sorry. Anything I can do to help?”
The offer grants me a smile.
“You help me every time we hang out—calming me and shit,” he says.
“I’m your personal Xanax, huh?” My words come out in a laugh.
“Pretty much.” He chugs down half his water.
“Let me check it out.” I stroll into the living room, him lagging behind me, and drop my water onto the floor before grabbing a gaming remote. “It’s been a hot minute since I’ve played, but my amazing skills haven’t been forgotten.” Hopefully. I pop a squat onto the carpeted floor and stretch my legs out in front of me.
Rex powers on the TV and game console.
I beam with pride when the game’s home screen pops up on the TV, displaying the characters, and I point at the TV with the remote. “That princess had still better be me.”
“You think I’d risk you kicking my ass if I changed it?”
“You’d never change it anyway.”
He cocks his head to the side, smirking. “I might when you break up with me.”
I roll my eyes. “You’d better not when you break up with me. You can make the character dudes hotter in case my character wants to date one of them.”
“Hotter character dudes, huh?”
“Damn straight,” I answer with a firm nod.
His hand rests over his heart. “Ouch. You’re already breaking my heart.”
Shock storms through me when he sits behind me, spreading his legs to each side of my body, and he slowly drags me between them until my back hits his solid chest.
I peek back at him, struggling to remain confident. “Nope. I told you I wouldn’t be the heartbreaker. You made it worse with that kiss of yours.” My gaze swings back to the TV. “What was up with that?”
He pushes my hair behind my shoulder and runs his fingers through the strands. “They were fucking chanting for us to. How suspect would it look for a happy couple to be that reluctant to kiss?”
“Why do you care if it’s believable?” I question. “You refused to touch me at the hotel, but now, you’re making out with me in public?” The game beeps when I touch the start button, and I shake my head as my level begins. “Mixed signals alert.”
“Confused best-friend alert,” he grumbles.
Whoa.
“What?” My fingers freeze, causing my character to die. “What are you saying?”
“I struggle daily to protect our friendship, but why do I crave to kiss you now that I’ve had a taste? I want to touch you.” He blows out a ragged breath. “Fuck, Carolina. You have no idea how badly I want to touch you … to tell you I love us playing boyfriend and girlfriend.”
“Then do it,” I dare.
He buries his nose in my hair. “It’s not that simple, Lina.”
Rejection is the third party in this friendship of ours.
Sierra’s advice from the bar zips through my thoughts
I hold the controller in my sweaty palm and am proud of myself for staying composed. “It’s okay. You’re not my type anyway.”
His chest moves behind me as he laughs. “Oh, really? I’m not your type now, huh?”
“Nope. To be honest, you never have been.”
“You begging to share a shower and for me to touch you sure screamed I was your type.”
“Desperation. My vagina gets needy when I drink.”
“Mmhmm. Tell me then, what’s your type?”
“A guy not scared to share showers.” I pause, drawing in a gutsy breath. “A guy who isn’t afraid to touch me.”
His chest presses against my back, and his hand slips from my hair to my thigh, inching underneath the hem of my dress. He does this silently, not a word being muttered out of his mouth.
Tonight, I will be bold.
“Someone who isn’t afraid of taking chances,” I continue around a gulp.
His free hand drops to my other thigh.
“Someone who isn’t afraid to slide their hand higher.”
His voice is raspy when he speaks, “We’re playing with fire, Carolina.”
Yes—a fire that has the capacity to not only incinerate our friendship, but also our hearts.
But I’m done with not taking risks.
Done searching for a guy who’ll never compare to what I feel for Rex.
“If we’re going to fake a relationship, might as well take advantage of the relationship perks.”
A wave of pleasure smacks into me when I rub the bottom of my butt against him, feeling his growing erection. He’s turned on by me.
He steals the remote, hits the start button, and hands it back to me while the game loads. “Play.”
“What?”
I’m offering sex on the table, and he wants me to play a damn video game?
I know he loves it and all, but what the heck?
“Play. The. Game.” His hand eases underneath my dress. “Don’t die, and I won’t stop.”
I clutch the controller in my hands and stare at the screen. How does he expect me to play while he’s doing that?
My fingers shake while he caresses my bare skin. The game hasn’t changed much, and I’m on the first level, so this shouldn’t be so hard. I’m playing at a slow pace and still alive.
I spread my legs wider, a silent plea for more, and he takes the hint—skimming his hand higher while the other stays rested. My eyes are heavy, and I fight not to shut them while he explores me—this time dipping between my thighs but not going where I need him.
I stop when his thumb slips underneath my panties.
A combination of a chuckle and a groan escapes him. “Keep playing, baby.”
I shake my head while reluctantly doing what he demanded. “Are you serious? Not possible.”
“Pass this level. Get an orgasm.”
What a reward … if only it wasn’t freaking impossible.
I spare my character from dying at the last minute. “Pass a level, and you have sex with me?”
His lips brush my ear, and I can feel his heart thumping wildly against my back. “Three levels.”
To give me more incentive to pass the damn level, he slips his hand into my panties and cups me between my legs, the heel of his hand brushing against my clit.
My fingers slam against the remote buttons as I buck my hips forward. “Jesus, you’re making a girl beg and play video games all for the D?”
“Sure am.” He sinks a finger inside me, and my back arches against him. “You’re so wet for me.”
“Don’t get too cocky. It might be for the guy in the game.”
“Keep playing.” He adds another finger.
“There’s no way,” I moan while he slowly strokes me.
“I’ll make you come so hard if you beat the level. I promise.”
I groan in defeat when my character dies and toss the controller to the side.
“Game over,” he says, dragging his fingers out of me.
My hand shoots between my legs to stop him, and I press it tighter against me. I’ve never been so turned on in my life. I jerk my hips forward while using his hand to manipulate how I want it while moaning, and I hope he doesn’t pull away when I release him.
He doesn’t.
He groans in my ear, pressing a palm against my stomach, and roughly drags me into him, thrusting against me.
He balls up my dress in his fist and hoists it up until my butt is showing.
“Holy fuck,” he hisses around a low groan, shoving another finger inside me, and my nails dig into his hand. “Move up.”
I relax my hold on him and moan at the loss of his fingers … and then again when I’m pushed forward on my hands and knees in front of him.
I moan, my head dropping, as he smooths his hand over my ass before massaging it.
“So much for my strong willpower,” he says, sliding my panties to the side before sinking two hard fingers back into my wet core.
I rake my nails against the carpet, and he situates himself behind me.
I’m close.
So close.
I match his every thrust. “Oh my God!” I cry out. “I’m about to come!”
“Yeah,” he says. “I feel you tightening around my fingers.”
The pleasure amplifies when he finds my clit again.
“The motherfucking party is here!”
My heart stops so quick that I don’t know how I’m not dead when Josh barges into the apartment with a flock of people behind him. Rex’s fingers slide out of me in seconds, and he falls down, pulling me onto his lap. The controller is shoved back into my hand, and he starts the game back up.
Our breathing doesn’t match people who were innocently playing video games.
More along the lines of Zumba … or sex.
Josh freezes, taking in the scene. “Oh fuck.” His eyes widen before he turns on his heel to face the group. “Let’s grab some grub. I’m fucking starving.”
“What?” a woman whines. “Order a pizza here or something. I’m not paying for another Uber.”
Josh snaps his fingers and creates a zipping noise before pointing at the kitchen. “Let’s do shots in the kitchen then! I have some grade-A tequila in there, and we can order a pizza.”
Luckily, they follow him into the kitchen, and Rex pulls us up as soon as they disappear. I’m silent when he takes my hand, and we scurry down the hall to his bedroom. He releases me as soon as the door shuts behind us. When I turn around to face him, he’s resting his back against the door, his hand to his chest as he catches his breath.
“I declare myself a winner since we were interrupted,” I comment.
Technically, I died before they showed up, but this argument sounds better for a possible orgasm.
“How about I be the winner as I give you the best orgasm you’ve ever had?” He doesn’t give me time to answer as he stalks forward, his face covered with need, and crushes his mouth against mine.