Page 32 of Counter Bet

His cock hardens beneath me.

I brush my fingers through his dark hair, wondering if Ben’s is just as soft? “Did you miss me?” I tug on the dark strands, imagining what they would look like between my fingers if they were green.

He presses a swift kiss to my lips and strokes his big hands down my sides but pulls back before I have a chance to move in for another kiss. “I should get going. It’s a busy day tomorrow with school and the away game.”

My brows shoot up. This is not how these things usually go.

Rick lifts me off him and climbs off the bed. He grabs his letterman jacket off my desk chair.

“Are we okay?” I blurt when he’s at the door. My clit is still throbbing painfully, and I can’t hide the slight shake in my voice.

He looks over his shoulder, frowning. “Yeah, why wouldn’t we be?”

Maybe because you haven’t fucked me since the night with Dallas.

I hesitate.

Am I paranoid?

I flash a weak smile, running my fingers through my hair. “Ignore me. It’s nothing. See you tomorrow?”

Rick nods once, then leaves the room.

The door clicks shut behind him.

I stare at the closed door, swallowing past the thick lump in my throat. There’s a weight on my chest. I feel I can’t breathe.

I think we’re okay one minute, and then he turns me down the next when I make it clear that I want him.

I shake off the unease. Rick is right—tomorrowisan important day. We’re performing our new cheerleading routine at the pep rally in the morning. Then the boys are going up against our main rivals in the away game after school.

I breathe a heavy sigh as I lie back down on the bed and reach for my phone on the nightstand. I send a quick message to Hailey.

Laughter filters through my open window. My parents have friends over for a late meal in the backyard.

I open Instagram and shoot upright in bed when I see a message from Ben in my inbox. It’s embarrassing how fast I click on it.

Ben: Are u stalking me, princess?

I scoff.

It’s not like I scrolled through his pictures and then tried to seduce my boyfriend.Nope, not at all.

I swipe my tongue over my bottom lip as I try to think of what to write. I contemplate not responding, but I’m too curious.

Me: I thought I did a better job of hiding my obsession with you? I need to improve my game. What gave me away? Was it the creepy binoculars or the collage of pictures taped to the inside of my locker?

It doesn’t take long before my response gets marked as read and the dots appear. I wonder if he’s smiling too or if it’s just me?

Ben: The binoculars, babe. They just don’t make them that big anymore. I can get you a smaller replacement with night vision if you want. I sleep naked. ;)

I burst out laughing, shoulders shaking.

Me: I’ll pass, thank you. I like big binoculars. It makes them easier to grip, less likely to get lost in the shrubbery, and most importantly, they’re all the better to see you with ;)

Am I flirting?

Shit, Iamflirting, and with Shrek…

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