Page 81 of My Best Bet

He paused for a second, letting my words sink in. “If we’re gonna…?” His lips threatened to curve up.

My face blushed with embarrassment. “We need to communicate,” I said, pushing a finger at his bare chest.

“I can work on that,” he said eagerly.

“Okay, good.” I went to steal my finger back, but he grasped my hand and pulled, making me yelp and fall into him. “We’re on the stairs, you crazy person.”

“As if I’d ever let you fall,” he said with a chuckle as he carried me into his bedroom before placing me back on my feet. He smoothed my hair behind my ears. “Mer?”

“Yeah?”

“I really want to kiss you.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Sorry, I’m just communicating,” he teased, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“You are such a brat.” I shoved at his chest.

He held his hands up and smoothed a pace away from me. “Okay, I'm sorry, for real. I’ll work on it, I promise.”

“Good.” I nodded. “Me too.”

We stood facing each other like we were in a standoff.

I was the first to move. I whipped off my shirt and then tugged down my leggings, leaving just my bra and underwear. I was usually never quite so brazen, but this was Colt. He’d already seen every inch of me in many different states. And besides, I was proud of my body, of how far I’d come– from a girl who was broken and bruised and barely eating, to feeling strong and capable and healthy.

And the way his eyes glazed over as he watched me gave me more confidence. I forgot how much I enjoyed our games of flirting and teasing.

He came closer, but I smoothed back and held a finger up to stop him. “Nope.”

He blinked in shock.

I had to roll my lips together to keep from laughing. “You’re being punished right now.”

His hands went to the side of his face and then up into his hair. “But…but…” He looked like I just kicked his puppy.

A laugh popped out of me as I pranced toward his bathroom. “Yes?” I asked over my shoulder.

“I am so sorry, baby,” he said in a husky voice, struggling to tamper down his own grin.

I smirked as I turned on the shower, then I turned away from him, dropped my bra, and kicked the door shut behind me.

I heard his groan from behind the door. “What will it take to earn your forgiveness? Please let me back in your good graces,” he begged.

I just laughed at his attempt and hid behind the door before cracking it open an inch to see him.

He came closer and leaned in the doorframe. His dark eyebrow arched up. “You’re just punishing yourself, you know.”

“Ha!” I burst out with a laugh. “How’s that?”

“Because you want me to touch you too,” he said in a low voice. “Don’t you?”

My lower stomach spasmed, yelling at me to let him in, becauseyes, yes I did want him to touch me.

He struggled to tamper down his grin. “How about you let me earn your forgiveness?”

My eyes roamed over him before I quickly backed up and closed the door. I looked at myself in the mirror.Was I really doing this?My limbs went a little jittery with excitement. I bitmy lip. I wanted this. I’d wanted this for longer than I was willing to admit. “Fine,” I called out.

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