It had been a week since Jer had offhandedly mentioned making out and Steph was going crazy. Will hadn't even been gone six months yet, but she had told him she wasn't going to put her life on hold for him. Even if she was still sure she wanted to marry him, she wouldn't be staying true to her plan if she avoided every guy she was attracted to. She was only 20. As sure as she thought she was, it would be dumb not to test the waters. 

It wasn't like Will was going to be back in a few months or something. If she had lasted that long before being attracted to someone else, then it would be reasonable to ignore these feelings. 

There was just something about Jer that captured her attention and Steph did not know what it was. He had dark, almost black, hair, like she liked. He even had that salt and pepper thing going on already. He had the ability to grow a full beard, which was a must for Steph, even though she did not actually like beards themselves. He had strong eyebrows and pretty green eyes framed in thick, dark, long lashes. 

But he was not tall or muscular. He was average height and skinny. He even had much skinnier legs than Steph. He had a small mouth with thin lips. And, the weirdest thing about being attracted to him, he was a very hairy man. If anyone were to ask her if Jer was her type, she would immediately say no. Yet she couldn't stop thinking about him and what it would feel like to kiss him.

---

Steph had her legs over Jer's lap again. She was going to get him to kiss her. She had her rules. The guy must always kiss first. So far in life, she hadn't failed at getting a guy she wanted to kiss her to do it. Jer was proving to be a challenge. It didn't matter how many hints she threw his way, he didn't do anything!

Steph was running out of moves. OK, time to be even more obvious. Steph scooted so she was practically sitting on Jer and nuzzled her head into the side of his neck. Jer looked down at her quizzically. Success! Steph reached up and brushed Jer nose with her nose and smiled softly. Jer blinked at her a few times and looked at the TV again.

Are the X-Men more appealing than me?! Steph secretly fumed. Sure, Jer knew about Will, but he also knew that she was adamantly single right now. Why wasn't he taking this chance?! She was like 99 percent sure Jer liked her.

---

Steph and Jer were watching X-Men again. It had been a couple of days and there had been no progress on Project Get Jer to Kiss Me. Steph had wracked her brain and come up with a foolproof plan!

Jer had once told Steph about a friend of his in high school who would straddle him and lick his face. Steph had promptly told him that his friend had had a crush on him. He was very against that idea. However, over winter break, this friend had confessed to him that she had had a huge crush on him in high school.

I've never licked someone's face before, but even Jer can't be thick enough not to get it after that conversation. Steph grinned to herself. She was going to get Jer to kiss her today. Project Jer Will Kiss me was a go! Without warning, Steph straddled Jer.

"Um, what are you doing?" Jer asked.

Steph shrugged and smiled. She wanted to see if he would get it without her licking his face.

"Do you want me to pause the show?" 

"Hmm. If you want to." Steph laid on the flirt thick.

Jer did not pause the show and instead looked around Steph with a shake of his head. 

I think Jer is too used to me doing weird things around him. Steph bit her lip. I guess it's time for phase two.

Steph gave Jer a mischievous grin then quickly licked his cheek. Even though he had shaved that morning, it was bristly. She felt like she'd just licked sandpaper, but Jer's expression was totally worth it.

"Gah!" Jer jumped, wiping off his cheek with the back of his hand. Steph laughed so hard, she fell back onto the couch. Jer looked at her like she was crazy. 

Steph smirked back and winked.

"That's it," Jer said.

Score! Steph braced herself for retaliation. Retaliation that would hopefully lead to a hot make out session.

Jer dove at her. He tackled her into the worn cushions of the couch and proceeded to attack her sides with his fingers. Steph wrestled him off and pinned his hands behind his head. She smirked.

"I win. What are you going to do about it," Steph taunted, being sure to give him the biggest "bedroom eyes" he would ever see.

Jer shrugged.

"You're no fun." Steph flopped back and crossed her arms. This was too hard.