Page 62 of How Sweet It Is

It’s fine. He’s just helping.

But when I turn to face him, I catch him looking at me. It’s not the way a friend looks at a friend. It makes my pulse skyrocket.

We sit side by side at the wheels, a ball of wet clay in front of each of us. “You sure you’re ready for this?” he asks.

I eye the clay. “It looks... slimy.”

“You’ll get used to it.” He leans closer. “Besides, I’ll walk you through it.”

I try to follow the instructor, but Levi’s voice is softer, more personal. His hand hovers over mine as I start the wheel spinning.

“Steady,” he murmurs. “Let your fingers slide over the clay.”

“It’s wobbling.”

“Don’t fight it. Guide it.”

I dip my fingers in the water like the instructor showed then slide them through the soft, slick clay as it spins beneath my hands. Levi comes and stands behind me, his chest brushing my back. He reaches around to adjust my palms, and I swear the air between us gets thicker.

“You’re tense,” he says.

“You’re standingveryclose,” I reply, trying to breathe.

“I know,” he says, his voice rougher now. His fingers slide over mine, and all of a sudden, I hear “Unchained Melody” playing in the back of my mind. I shake off the mental image of Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.

“Relax,” he says, totally unaware of my thoughts.

“Yeah, right,” I say under my breath.

“You’re doing great,” he says as he guides my hands over the clay. Electricity crackles between us, through my fingers, up myarms and through my body, consuming me. Does he feel it too? We shape the clay together, slowly forming the beginnings of a bowl.

The instructor is a distant hum. It’s just me, Levi, and the rhythmic spin of the wheel, his rough hands over mine and my own raw desires rising to the surface.

I risk a glance over my shoulder, and Levi’s gaze is glued to mine. “I told you this would be messy,” he whispers, his grin showing his dimple.

“I didn’t think it would be…” My voice trails off as his hand slides over mine again, sparks zinging through me.

“What?” he asks, voice low.

“This clay is…” I can’t think of the right word. Strong. Sexy. Masculine. None of the words coming to me have to do with the clay. “Pliable,” I finally spit out.

His jaw tightens like he’s trying not to say something. Or do something. “Yeah. It is.”

The wheel slows. I look down at the bowl we made together. It’s not perfect, but it’s not horrible either. I’m really impressed it’s not completely lopsided or unusable.

“It actually turned out nice,” I say softly. “It looks… good.”

Levi looks at me, not the clay. “It’s beautiful.” He breaks eye contact and steps back. “Good job.”

I point at his mound of clay, my heart pounding a zillion times per second. “You’d better work on yours.”

“Right.” Levi sits down at his wheel.

The teacher gets done showing how to take the pottery off the wheel, but I can’t concentrate. The feel of Levi’s hands on mine, the clay forming beneath our fingers, and the way he was pressed up against my back… It’s on repeat in my head.

I need to get myself under control, or I’ll never be able to fall asleep tonight.

CHAPTER 30

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