Page 8 of Bedeviled By The Jock
He looks absolutely spectacular in that devil outfit. Or, well, the lack of one. Because there isn’t a whole lot of fabric going on there. Just a pair of tight black shorts hugging his muscular legs, a tail clipped to the back, and the two pointy devil horns poking out of his dark hair. His pecs flex as he takes a sip from his cup.
All the things I imagined him doing to me earlier flash through my mind, and it takes all my willpower not to let it show.
“Yeah,” I manage. “Guess I had a change of heart.”
“Well, I’m glad you did.” His eyes hold me captive for a second, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Why does it feel like there’s something hidden behind everything he says? Am I imagining it? Or is this just the charmof a guy like him, luring people in, making them feel special and wanted?
Whatever it is, I can’t deny he’s affecting me in a very physical way. My skin tingles, my palms are clammy, and a warmth spreads through my veins. It’s like I’m a candle melting under the heat of his presence.
But I can’t let it show. He can’t know he has this power over me. I have no idea what he’d do with that information. So I have to keep a tight leash on myself. One wrong move, one tiny slip-up, and everyone will see how desperate I am for a piece of him.
Luckily, Ana, completely unaware of my internal meltdown, chooses that moment to interrupt.
“So, Josh, did you sell a lot of pumpkins today?”
“Sold out, actually.”
“No way! That’s amazing.” Her voice jumps to a pitch I didn’t know was possible. I never knew someone could getthatexcited about pumpkins. But right now, I’m thankful she’s keeping the conversation going, because I can’t think of a single thing to say.
While the two of them chat, I pour myself a cup of orange punch and take a big gulp, hoping it’ll cool the heat rising inside me. It’s way too sweet and leaves a weird aftertaste, but at least it helps with the dryness in my throat.
While I finish the cup, I watch Ana and Josh, still deep in conversation about the damn pumpkin stand, and sigh.
They look good together, both attractive and outgoing. They make sense.
Ana keeps batting her lashes. I wonder what it’s like for Josh to have girls throwing themselves at him all the time. Does he ever get tired of it? Doesn’t it get exhausting, being so desired?
Still, I can’t shake the feeling he keeps sneaking glances at me, even with Ana talking his ear off. And every time he does, the corners of his mouth curl into the faintest smile.
I’m probably just being delusional, seeing what I want to see. It’s a little desperate, actually. Now that Ana and Josh are having their moment, I should excuse myself and look for Caroline instead of ogling the guy my best friend wants to hook up with.
But for some reason, I can’t make myself move. I’m glued to the floor, mesmerized by his half-naked body, the big hand holding his cup, the bob of his Adam’s apple as he swallows. My eyes trail the trickle of orange punch sliding from the corner of his mouth before he wipes it away with his muscular arm.
“So what is that on your chest? It looksveryrealistic,” Ana says.
She reaches out and runs a finger over one of the red streaks on his torso. It’s obvious she’s just looking for an excuse to touch him, and I’ve got to admire the boldness. If only I could do something like that without making a fool of myself.
“That’s because it’s real blood,” Josh deadpans.
Ana jerks her hand back with a small yelp. “What?”
He bursts out laughing. “I’m just messing with you. It’s body paint. I mixed in some powder to give it that gritty texture.”
“Oh, Jesus. You really got me there for a second. You looked so serious.” She lets out a relieved breath, her hand still pressed to her chest.
“Wanna feel too, Sebastian?” Josh gestures at his chest.
“I—what?”
“Feel how real it is.”
I stare at him. What kind of game is he playing here? Does he know what his words are doing to me somehow?
My eyes flicker over his broad chest, his defined abs, the trail of dark hair leading down into the waistband of his shorts, then back up again.
“Um, I guess I can, uh…”
