Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“I don’t have to ask, wise guy. I just know.”
“You have an unbelievable ego.”
“Or am I just keepin’ it real? C’mon, it’s not like there’s a suggestion box or even a nice way to give tips.” I counted on my fingers. “Less teeth, no drooling, watch the garlic intake.”
Rafe barked a laugh. “To be honest, it might just be me.”
I widened my eyes playfully. “You’re the bad kisser?”
“No! I mean…I don’t think I’m into him.”
Music to my freaking ears.
Wait. What?
“Oh.”
“Eli’s good-looking and talented, and the idea that someone like him would notice me is flattering. But…he doesn’t do it for me, and I’m positive that works both ways. In fact, I almost wonder if he’s trying to soften me up and mess with my head. We’re on the same team, but we’re competitors. Maybe he wants to sabotage me, and…yes, I hear myself. I’m so mortified.” Rafe closed his eyes, his shoulders slouched in defeat. “He offered to walk me to the door, and I couldn’t get away fast enough. I practically bolted out of his car. I should have left things in the ambiguous pinky-holding stage. I was happy there.”
“No one wants to hold someone’s pinky forever. It’s not sexy.”
“It’s sweet.”
I scoffed. “We have different ideas of a good time, Rafester. If I’m with a guy—which, for the record, hasn’t been for a while—I don’t want sweet. I want hot. Like scorching hot, raging hard-ons, fuck-against-the-wall hot. You know what I’m sayin’?”
Rafe’s mouth fell open. “Uh…yes.”
“Don’t settle for pinky sex and adequate kisses when the real deal can blow your mind.”
He made a funny choking noise. “Right. Good call.”
“I’m serious. Life’s too short. Have fun, try new things, go on adventures, splurge on that meal or the shirt or the concert tickets or whatever makes you happy. ’Cause at the end of the day…happy matters, fun matters.”
Rafe nodded slowly. “You’re good at having fun.”
True dat. “I’ve been told I’m a little too good at it, but we don’t need to go there. The point is…there’s someone out there who’s a great kisser and a freak in the sheets who’s just waiting to meet you.”
“Thanks. That’s nice of you to say.”
“You don’t believe me.” I shot him a faux-menacing glare.
He chuckled. “I’d like to, but if I do meet someone, it’s probably not going to be at Smithton.”
“Why not?”
“I graduate in a couple of months, and I have to ramp up my training if I hope to skate in the Collegiate Championships this summer. I don’t have time for fun because this is it for me. My last hoorah.”
I waved my arms in the air as if directing an incoming plane. “Bad attitude, Johannsen. I’m your wingman. Forget about Eli. Let’s move on. Who else do you like or find attractive enough to want to kiss?”
Rafe averted his gaze. “No one.”
“Oh, please. A kiss is just lip fusion. No biggie. There’s gotta be someone.”
“I…no, there’s no one.” He shook his head manically.
“There’s me.”
That was—I was…kidding. It was playful BS, no big deal.
But we both froze, our eyes wide. And I wasn’t sure who was more surprised.
If I were my normal self, I’d have already laughed this off, and he wouldn’t think twice about my outburst ’cause everyone knew Gus Langley was always joking, always drunk, always high…never serious.
But I was sober, my defenses were low, and no, I wasn’t kidding. I wanted to kiss my roommate. I was dying to taste Rafe, feel his sexy body against mine.
“You?” he croaked.
I swallowed hard and nodded. “Yeah. Kiss me.”
I braced myself for rejection. It would sting, but c’mon, Rafe was out of my league and I knew it. Until recently, I’d been pretty sure he hated me, so… Way to ruin a good conversation, ya fuckin’ moron.
But something in Rafe’s expression sparked to life. “You want to kiss me?”
Hell, yes.
“Yeah,” I choked out.
“Like an experiment.”
Maybe? I wasn’t sure how to answer that.
“You trust me?”
Rafe inclined his head. “Yes.”
“C’mere.” I didn’t hesitate. I hooked my fingers through Rafe’s belt loops, drew him close, and slanted my mouth over his.
I figured it would be quick, platonic, and that we’d laugh and maybe it would be embarrassing, but then we’d revert to our usual roommate mode and agree to never mention this again.
But no…
Rafe’s lips were so soft, so pliant, so fucking perfect. His low, needy groan rumbled through my chest, igniting a spark. And when he licked at the corner of my mouth, I tilted my chin and slid my tongue inside, gently coaxing the flames till we were utterly consumed—nipping, sucking, feasting.
I couldn’t speak for Rafe, but this was heaven to me. I felt like a thirsty man who’d been walking barefoot through a desert for months, and he was an oasis. Every lick, every taste, every kiss lit me up, tingling dormant nerves, and sending a whoosh of pleasure through my body. Rafe was the ultimate buzz.