Page 29 of One Touch

Heat pooled between my thighs, dampening my underwear. I tried not to squirm under his lazy assessment as I shifted on the blanket.

He let out a soft, grunt-like chuckle, and it filled the space between us. “Those ridiculous socks.”

I looked down and wiggled my toes. The brightly colored toucans against a teal background danced as I moved my feet. “These are adorable.”

“Just deal.”

I placed two cards, face down, in front of each of us. Beckett peeked at the cards but gave nothing away. His eyes flicked from me back to his cards. His middle finger tapped his outer thigh.

“Fold.”

“Ha!” I raised a fist in the air. “Chicken,” I teased.

He pinned me with an unamused glare.

“Hand it over ... that shirt’s mine.” I moved my elbows outward. “Bawk, bawk.”

Beckett huffed out a breath, then pushed his cards in my direction. He reached behind his head, grabbed the collar of his shirt, and pulled it off. In a swift movement, he tossed the shirt in my face, and I caught it with a peal of laughter. The warm, leathery scent of his aftershave surrounded me, and I fought the urge to press the shirt to my nose and inhale. Instead I feigned disgust, but tucked the shirt under my leg.

Up close, his body was even more impressive. Cut abs with a light smattering of chest hair. My fingers itched to see if it felt as soft as it looked. When I glanced up, Beckett was staring at me with a satisfied smirk, having caught me eye fucking him.

I pushed the cards toward him. “You deal.”

He quickly grabbed them and started shuffling. “What’s the bet?”

I clenched my jaw to keep from grinning. “Your boots.” I wrinkled my nose. “Unless your feet stink.”

He nodded and looked at me. “Your tank top’ll do.”

My eyebrows lifted. “Oh, feeling confident now, are we?”

Beckett didn’t answer but dealt two cards to each of us. I swallowed hard and painted on a smile of cool indifference as I looked at them.

Hell yeah.

A pair of fives was a healthy start.

I schooled my face and watched for any tells Beckett might give away. Without breaking eye contact, he dealt out three more cards, face up, between us.Nine. Queen. Nine.

My heart raced.

“I’ll see your T-shirt and raise you ...” My eyes moved lower to his belt buckle. “Those jeans.”

Beckett cleared his throat and checked his cards again. Anticipation hummed under my skin.

“I’ll call.” He dipped his chin in my direction as his gravelly voice lowered. “Your shorts.”

My tongue moved to my cheek as I calmed my breathing. Beckett turned over the next community card between us.

Three.

I lifted my chin and tried to give nothing away. “I’ll check.”

“Nervous?”

I smiled primly at him. “Just hoping you’ll fold.”

He smirked, and nerves sent a tingle down my back. “I’ll raise. Those socks are coming off.”

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