Page 55 of Going for Gold (Sweet Cravings 3)

Alina

He won! I was running down the stands and toward the medalist podium before I even realized my feet were moving.

"Alina, wait up!" Kristen yelled from somewhere behind me.

I didn't know why I was running. I didn't know what I was going to do once I reached him. I just wanted him to know how amazing he was. And sweet, and funny, and sexy, and perfect. He was so perfect. I needed to tell him.

His eyes locked with mine as he hopped off the podium. He pushed his way through the crowd easily.

As soon as I reached him I jumped into his arms. Or maybe I tackled him. But he gracefully caught me as I wrapped my legs around his waist and clasped my hands behind his neck. "Bryce, I..."

He silenced me with a kiss. But not just any kiss. A kiss that seemed to reverberate in every nerve in my body. The kind of kiss you read about in stories. The kind that stops time. Where nothing else in the world matters but this moment. I ran my fingers through his hair as his tongue explored mine. I loved the taste of him. I loved how his strong shoulders felt under my hands. I was in so deep that it felt like my head was spinning.

His hands slid to my ass and I moaned into his mouth, tangling my fingers in his hair. My whole body felt alive. I wanted him. All of him.

When he pulled back, his chest was rising and falling fast. And I knew I was panting so loudly that he could probably hear me.

"That kiss was better than gold." His voice sounded husky with desire.

"I doubt that, but I love that you said it." Love. There I go again. "I mean..."

He kissed me again. Softer. Slower. More passionate. Even more mind blowing. I grabbed the back of his neck, deepening the kiss.

I was very aware that his hands were sill on my ass. He seemed to pull me even closer to him, holding me firmly against him. Oh God. I moaned again.

He pulled back again. His smile made my skin tingle. The way he was staring into my eyes made me blush.

"You were amazing, Bryce. You're so amazing."

His hands slid up my back as he set me back down on my feet. Luckily he was still holding onto me, because my knees felt weak.

"I wasn't lying," he said. "So much better than gold."

I wanted to stay in this moment forever. This was what every athlete dreamed of. Gold. And he had ran to me. He wanted to share this moment with me. His moment. His victory. I pressed the side of my face against his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. It suddenly felt like I already had what I wanted. Bryce's arms around me. I hadn't felt this happy in such a long time. Maybe he was right about the kiss being better than gold. His arms around me surely had to feel better than a medal around my neck.

"I got a bronze," Alex said from behind me. "Where's my kiss?"

Bryce's kept his hand firmly planted on my back. "Don't look at me," he said to Alex.

Alex laughed. "I was talking to Alina."

"You should ask Tim for one instead."

"Ew," Tim said. "But surely a silver deserves a kiss, m'lady?"

I turned around to see Kristen peck him on the cheek.

Tim fanned himself. I feel like he didn't mean for it to be funny. He just liked acting like every woman from every black and white movie ever.

"Okay, let me get another picture of the two of you together," Kristen said.

"Another?" Had Kristen seriously taken a picture of us making out?

"You think I didn't capture you tackling him earlier? You don't know me very well. Pics or it didn't happen, remember? That's what you said."

"I thought you were very graceful," Bryce whispered in my ear as he smiled for the camera. His hand was still wrapped around my waist. I hoped he'd never let go.

"It's time to celebrate!" Alex said. "Who's ready to not remember the rest of the night?"

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