Page 37 of The Way We Score

He brings it up and fills it with water before handing it to me.

“What?” My eyes widen, and I bounce higher on my toes, looking at the ice nuggets filling the cup. “How does Miss Gina have Sonic ice at her house?”

“Look at this place.” He laughs, taking the cup after I finish and drinking a long sip. “She has the best everything.”

“I’m not sure she has the besteverything.” I rest my elbows on the smooth wooden surface, leaning closer to him. “Her floor show can’t top a Thursday Dare Night.”

“Is that so?” He leans down, resting his elbows on the smooth wooden surface across from me and grinning.

It puts our faces on the same level, and I smile, taking the cup from him and sipping some more, crunching a soft piece of ice between my teeth. “And she definitely doesn’t have the best cooter.”

He puffs a laugh, dipping his chin to swallow the water he nearly spit out. My eyes shine, and I love that I make him laugh. He always made me laugh.

We’re close, and a comfortable pause falls between us. Heputs the empty cup aside and reaches across the bar to take my hand.

“Hey, Liv.” His voice turns soft, and I watch as our fingers lace.

“Yeah?” My brow furrows.

He rotates my arm, exposing my pale forearm. He studies my skin as his palm slides higher to my elbow. My bottom lip goes between my teeth, and my chest tightens.

His gaze follows the path of his hand, and my breath stills as he lightly traces his thumb along the crease inside my elbow. It’s the lightest touch, and it sends a shiver through my stomach.

Curious blue eyes flicker to mine. “Still a sensitive spot?”

My lips press together, and I nod, blinking slowly. “You know them all.”

Holding my gaze, he lifts his hand to trace his middle finger from the hollow just behind my left ear, lightly down the side of my neck to my collarbone.

It causes me to drop my chin, and a lock of hair falls across my cheek. My eyes close briefly, and with every heartbeat, energy pulses through my body. Longing squeezes my lungs as I study his large hand holding mine.

“I haven’t felt like this in so long.”

“How do you feel?”

Hesitating, I search for the right word to describe it.Seenisn’t right.Valuedis too strong. It’s something more subtle, more important. It’s how he’s always aware of what I need, like he’s watching me… the way I watch him.

A soft laugh huffs from my lips. “Like you care about me.”

He rounds the bar, coming to stand in front of me. Placing a thumb on my chin, he lifts my eyes to his. “You already knew that.”

Studying his face, dark blue eyes, fine lines, scruffy, square jaw. He’s not a boy anymore. He’s a man now, and I’m a woman.

“I guess I thought it might’ve changed.”

The muscle in his jaw moves, and the pull between us isso strong it aches. “I think when it comes to us, some things never change.”

My throat tightens, and my fingers tremble as I reach out to place my fingers on his waist, hard skin beneath soft cotton. I think about what I want—removing this shirt.

It’s reckless and bold, and I can’t stop myself. “One way to find out.”

Stepping closer, he threads his fingers in the side of my hair forcing me to look up at him. “Don’t say that if you don’t mean it, Liv.” His voice is rough. “Because I won’t lie. I want more than a kiss from you tonight.”

My skin is electric, my nipples tight, and wet heat slips between my thighs.

Placing my hands on his broad shoulders, I curl my fingers as I match his heated gaze. “I want more than a kiss.”

His mouth covers mine before I finish speaking, and a soft whimper slips from my throat. He turns my head, and warm lips part mine, tongues curling together. Another soft noise as I pull him closer. Our teeth bump as our kiss turns hungry, and orgasm spikes in my veins.

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