Page 60 of Grounded
He laughs and rubs his chin as water droplets fall from his jawline, unsure of what to do or say.
Ha! I knew it.
I double down and stand up, stepping toward him.
"You want to prove me wrong and show me how big you are? Let me see."
I'm provoking him on purpose because I want to see him back down, to confirm I still have the upper hand like I did years ago.
"Amelia," he begins, his voice hoarse and alluring.
I don't think he realizes how turned on I am. All my efforts were for nothing. Trying to keep it casual and innocent while we're practically naked? Not going to happen. I'm secretly begging he whips it out right here and now.
I wait and watch him staring at me.
"Amelia," he repeats, this time with an edge. I hear it all in my name.
Don't do this.
You can't take it back.
You'll regret it.
But I know I'm holding all the cards. I think he knows it, too.
My chest is in his face as I bend down to whisper into his ear, "You're the one who started this. What are you waiting for?"
Regardless of how dangerously close to a line I’m dancing, this excitement is waking me up, reminding me how fun it is to flirt. It feels good. It also feels a bit wrong, but I feel vindicated seeing him fidget beneath me.
But without warning, he grabs both my wrists and pulls me lower to his face.
"If you'd like tofeelhow big I am, by all means, sit on my lap right now and find out."
And this is when I fold.
I can't fucking do it.
He sees it in my eyes the moment I forfeit, and he smiles.
"What's wrong? Can't handle me now that I'm right in front of you? You'd be pleasantly surprised at the size of me right now."
I want to, I want to, God, I want to.
His phone lights up with an alarm, and the sixty minutes have come and gone.
It's a cold bucket of ice water over my head, a realization I took this too far. A test I failed, because Theo has less to lose than I do by playing this silly game.
And even though the fantasy is disrupted, Theo doesn't let the situation end.
I step back as he stands up close to me, very little distance and personal space. Now it's his turn to whisper in my ear.
"Don't fuck around with me or you're going to find out how serious I am."
I'm unable to form a sentence as Theo gets out of the water. He steps onto the concrete, dripping wet.
Don't look down.
Don't look down.
