Page 56 of Counter Bet

“How do you make it look so easy?”

“What? Skating?” She brushes a strand of hair off her brow.

I nod, pushing up on my elbow. At least my panties aren’t on full display this time.

She sits up on her knees and offers me a helping hand up. “Practice. Lots of fucking practice.”

I grab the board, then point to a nearby bench. “I’m taking a breather.”

“Em!” she calls after me.

I half turn and look over my shoulder.

“You’ll catch on in no time.” She drops the board to the ground and skates off.

I take a seat and remove the helmet, shaking my hair out. Who thought I would ever do something like this?

Dallas sits down next to me and removes her own helmet. She’s silent, watching a guy perform a loop in the air. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

Her raven hair is pulled over one shoulder, drawing my eyes to her long neck and dewy skin.

“I am. Thank you for inviting me.”

She shifts on the bench, so she’s facing me and reaches out, caressing my cheek. Her touch is hesitant and soft, just a brush of fingers, but I feel it everywhere.

My skin erupts in goosebumps.

Her blue eyes search mine.

My heart beats wildly in my ribcage as I lean into her touch. I want her to kiss me. I long for it so much that my body aches with need.

Dallas traces her fingers down my cheek until I feel her touch on my tingly lips. She brushes her thumb over my bottom lip, pulls it away from my teeth, and presses down, causing a spark of desire to shoot down my core. “You’re so beautiful.”

I doubt that. My hair is a sweaty, matted mess, and my make-up is smudged. I’m covered in dirt, and I’m bleeding on my knees and elbows, but she still looks at me as if I’m the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen.

She leans in slowly, giving me the option to pull away.

I don’t.

I want her to kiss me more than I need the air I breathe.

She’s so close.

Her hot breath hits my skin a brief second before she presses her plump, soft lips to mine.

I gasp. Dallas takes it as an invitation to deepen the kiss, caressing my tongue with hers.

My body comes alive. I moan into her mouth.

She smiles against my lips, plunging her tongue back in.

I need to touch her, so I bury my hands in her raven hair and fist the silky strands. She smells of coconut shampoo and watermelon lip balm.

She cups my jaw and guides the kiss, tasting me like the finest wine.

So many emotions fight for space inside of me. It’s my first time kissing a girl. It feels right, but I worry about Ben. What will he think?

Does Dallas know what happened between us in the car? I suspect that she does, which confuses me more. I want them both, and I don’t care how greedy that makes me.

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