Lazy Book Lovers: Thirsty Thursdays #12: Steamiest Almost Kiss

"Thirsty Thursdays" is an original weekly feature where we highlight all that makes our mouth water in the world of books. Join us each week where we will pick either a quote, book cover, book boyfriend or kiss from our favorite books, that makes us all swoony. Please link back to us each week, we'd love for you to share what wets your whistle, as well!

Things get steamy when there is a kiss between our favorite characters. But sometimes they fog up the windows when it is that moment of almost getting there.

Book: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Characters: Echo and Noah

Swoon Quality: UST

(Almost)

"No way. I stalked over to Echo, feeling like a tiger after its prey. She backed up against the wall, but I kept up my approach. I pressed against her, feeling each sensual curve. I wanted to touch every inch of her body. Her sweet smell intoxicated me.

Her eyes kept their laughter, but her smile faded as she bit her lower lip. Damn, did she have any idea what she was doing? For a girl hell-bent on keeping me away, she sure did everything to turn me on.

“You were saying?” I lowered my head and inhaled the warm cinnamon scent at the nape of her neck, allowing my nose to skim along her inviting skin.

Her chest rose and fell at a faster pace. My hand melted on the curve of her stomach, centimeters from her hip. I reeled with the decision of moving up or down, both areas I’d dreamed of touching.

“Noah,” she breathed out, unknowingly fulfilling one of my many fantasies involving Echo. If I played my cards right, maybe she’d fulfill a couple more. I barely brushed my lips down her cheek as I moved toward her mouth. Her nails tickled my chest, driving me insane. Kissing her became my single reason for breathing.

Her hands applied pressure to my chest and her lips moved against mine. “I can’t.”

She pushed me away. “I...I...can’t.” Any traces of humor were gone, her eyes wide. “I’m on a date with Luke and this—” she motioned with her hand between us “—cannot happen. You’re Noah Hutchins and I’m not the girl that does ‘it’ with...with...”

I closed my eyes to regain some control over my body. I finished for her. “Me.”"

They both wanted it. We knew they both wanted it. I WANTED IT. Sexual tension always keeps me invested and I think McGarry got it right in this book.

Book: Make It Count by Megan Erickson

Characters: Alec and Kat

Swoon Quality: Dancing and Neck Kisses

(Almost)

He leaned down so his lips were at her ear and whispered, “Show me what you got.”
Now that, she could do. The deep bass of the song was a thudding pulse down her spine and each horn blast was like a shot of adrenaline right into her veins. She’d loved dancing ever since her mom had given Kat her first tutu before ballet class.
She closed her eyes and let the beat of the song tap into her bones. She bent her knees and rolled her hips and shoulders, her fingers tangling into Alec’s hair, like she’d imagined many times, while he kept his face pressed into her neck. He let her lead at first, and then his hips began to churn. He followed her movement, anticipating every shift of her body.
And she was lost. She was lost to the music, lost to the lust roaring through her veins and most of all lost to Alec - to the feel of the muscles in his arms and shoulders rippling under her hands, a strong thigh pressed between her legs and his hips grinding into hers.
He lifted his head and when they locked gazes, she couldn’t look away. Something shifted behind his eyes, and his pupils dilated. Kat saw the desire in them- the red-blooded male look that she wanted to rip her clothes off. His hands, which had migrated to her ass, squeezed, and she wondered if her look echoed his.
He blinked and jerked his gaze away before gripping her waist and spinning her around roughly so her back was to his front. She took a step back in her heels until they were locked in an embrace and she continued to follow the beat, grinding her butt back into him.
Alec held her tightly with a strong grip on her hips. She’d thought she’d felt his arousal before, but now she was definitely sure, the thick ridge pressing against her. His breath rushed hit along her temple, and she reached back with one hand, curling a finger into a belt-loop on his jeans, pressing him closer. Her entire body felt slick from sweat, from the press of bodies on the dance floor and most of all, because of the roaring attraction between her and Alec.
A hand brushed her hair over one shoulder and a gust of cool breath wafted over the damp skin at the back of her neck. Closing her eyes, she groaned low in her throat, and Alec rumbled a groan in response before he pressed his hot lips to the spot he had cooled. The contact sent a jolt straight down her spice, and she stiffened in surprise, shock and lust.Alec’s movements stopped behind her and this his lips returned to her ear, and he whispered in a low, raspy voice, “Kat, we need to stop.”

I feel like I don’t have to really explain why I picked this. It is steamy and lustful and all too perfect. I love Alec and Kat individually but together, it is an explosion of rightness and sexiness.