Page 145 of Counter Bet

Emily.

Dallas trails her fingers over my pebbled nipple.

Scarlett is staying out late with a couple of friends, so we’ve made the most of this rare time alone in my dorm room by exploring each other’s bodies.

I tuck her hair behind her ear. On the radio, a woman is singing about her broken heart. It wasn’t all that long ago I could relate to the lyrics.

Dallas leans down and skims her lips over my jaw. Her breath is falling in heated waves against my neck as I arch it to give her better access.

I slide my hand over her hip and marvel at how soft her skin is. Then dip my hand between her thighs, groaning. She’s still wet from our earlier lovemaking, and my fingers glide through her slick folds with ease. “God, Dallas…”

She drops her head to the crook of my neck and moans softly when I begin circling her still too sensitive clit. Slowly at first and then faster. “Again? You’re insatiable!” She chuckles against my skin.

I nip her bare shoulder with my teeth, then lie back down on the pillow, tracing my fingers over the mark I left behind on her snowy skin. “I love you!”

She trails her eyes over my halo of blonde hair on the pillow. “How did I get this lucky?”

I roll my eyes but secretly love her compliment. “Don’t go soft on me, baby.”

She laughs and rolls off me, staring up at the ceiling. “Tell me a secret.”

I run my eyes over the sharp angle of her nose and her plump kiss-swollen lips smeared with my lipstick. “I’m glad you made that bet with Ben.”

She rolls her head, searching my face. “I hurt you.”

I shift onto my side and trail my fingers over her collarbone, watching her creamy skin erupt in goosebumps. There’s no point in lying. “Yes, you did, but it’s a price worth paying to be with you now!”

I taste myself on her bottom lip when I lean in and snatch it up between my teeth. “If not for the bet”—I put my hand over her racing heart—“this wouldn’t belong to me.” Then, I reach for her hand and place it over my own heart. “And my heart wouldn’t belong to you.”

“Fuck, Em. What are you doing to me?” she groans, pulling me on top of her. I cover her mouth with mine and slide my tongue against hers, pouring my emotions into the kiss. She pulls back on a soft moan, watching me through hooded eyelids. Desire burns in her blue depths.

I trail my eyes over her naked body beneath me. She’s so beautiful with her snowy skin and full breasts. I palm one and squeeze it. Just because I can. I palm the other one and squeeze that one too, groaning. “I can’t get enough of you!” I lean forward and press my lips against the sensitive skin below her ear. My clit is throbbing now like the pulse in her neck.

She shivers. “I caught Ben looking through the photographs last night.”

I pause with my lips on her neck. We usually shy away from talking about Ben, so I’m surprised that she’s broaching the subject now. I place a soft kiss on her jaw before pulling back and searching her eyes.

She runs her fingers along my jaw, and her eyes follow the movement while she weighs up her words. “I walked past his bedroom and saw him lying on his bed, leafing through the photographs.” She traces her fingertips over my tingling bottom lip and continues in a quiet voice, “He was smiling.” Her eyes meet mine. “I haven’t seen him smile like that since you left.”

I hold my breath. Those few words carry so much meaning, and I don’t dare to get my hopes up.

Her gaze flicks back down to my lips. “Don’t give up.”

“Will you help me?” I ask, blushing. “I have a couple more photographs. Jane is planting one tomorrow during class. Maybe you can put one on his pillow?”

Her hand falls away. “He will know it was me.”

I roll off her and shift onto my side, watching her naked chest rise and fall with every breath.

She’s watching me too—a vulnerable look in her eyes.

I trace my fingers between the valley of her full breasts. She’s so beautiful it’s hard to look at her sometimes! I move on the bed and kiss a path down her left rib to her flat belly. I dart my tongue out, tasting her skin.

Her legs fall open.

“Does it matter?” I don’t recognize my own voice. It’s huskier.

When I reach the apex of her thighs, she shudders, watching me nuzzle her wet slit. She shakes her head and wets her lips. “No, it doesn’t.”

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