title: The Science of Kissing: What Our Lips Are Telling Us
author:  Sheril Kirshenbaum 
description: In the vein of Stephen Pinker's The Language Instinct, scientist Kirshenbaum examines one of humanity's fondest pastimes. Divided into three parts, the book covers the evolutionary and cultural history of the kiss, the chemistry of kissing, and the future of kissing. In part one, "The Hunt for Kissing's Origins," Kirshenbaum examines the role kissing played in the Middle Ages--a businesslike kiss was employed as a legal way to seal contracts and business agreements. Many men did not know how to read and write, so their signature X was kissed to make it legal. Part two, "Kissing in the Brain," will appeal to anyone who has ever been curious about the chemical properties of butterflies in the stomach. Kirshenbaum writes just as gracefully about prostitutes in pop culture as she does the myriad of complicated biological and chemical processes that science uses to explain osculation. Part three, "Great Expectations," covers Kirshenbaum's personal attempt to further investigate the kiss and leaves a long list of fascinating questions that demand further research. (Jan.) <br />(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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  JULIAN APPROACHED HER,  
  REACHED OUT FOR HER
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  She immediately struck his hands away hard. He reached again, dodging her
  defenses this time with awful ease and blinding speed and grabbing her around
  her lower jaw with the palms of both hands. Once he had her face cradled and
  firmly trapped within his hands, he jerked her forward into his body, even as
  he swooped to catch her mouth with his.
  
  
  Asia planned just how hard she would bite through his lip. She was even trying
  to decide between upper and lower when the unexpected scorch of his kiss
  slammed into her from all sides at once. In all of an instant, her entire body
  recalled what he had made her feel. Her mind recalled it best of all. The
  memory was vague about “how” it had happened, but the “what” was clear enough.
  Pleasure beyond anything she could have imagined. He had made her feel that.
  He had powered through her rigid, cold body, just as he was doing in that very
  moment, until she had melted and colla