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I turn my panicked gaze to my friends. Bonnie and Sabrina are grinning like fools while Brooke’s eyes are bugging out of her head. Xavier is frantically flicking his hand back and forth across his neck, signaling to Jordan and Ethan to cut it out. But they carry on like the rest, chanting away like warlords.
Oh shit. The act just got real. How do we get out of this one?
I look back at a tense Ryan, expecting him to do something, perhaps a curt word to his friends. But again, this is his karma. Ryan is usually the one who instigates these types of games so he hasn’t got a leg to stand on.
Suddenly he downs his glass, mutters, “Fuck it,” curls his hand around my nape, and crushes his mouth to mine.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Stella
The first time I was kissed was by Danny Rupert in third grade. I blacked his eye. Then it happened again in middle school; that time, I initiated it. Over the following years, I’ve had all sorts. The good, the bad, and the downright disgusting. I like to think I’ve seen it all.
But now, I Stella, self-styled connoisseur of all things male, am being schooled by a simple kiss. Only there’s nothing simple about it.
His mouth descends on mine in what should be an awkward clash of lips and teeth. But, as if we’d done this forever, his lips fit against mine at a perfect angle, then cling.
When I get over the initial surprise at how good he feels, I start to wonder what the man is doing when he gathers me against his hard body and coaxes my lips open.
I expected a quick dry peck that Ryan would be in a hurry to get over with, but I was sorely mistaken.
His hand tightens against my nape while his other hand leaves my waist to cup my jaw. Then he deepens the kiss and sweeps his tongue into my mouth. And like being suddenly hit by an unexpected riptide, I’m powerless against the surge of desire pouring out of him.
The room disappears as I arch into him and run my fingers up his neck and through his hair. I open my mouth wider and let him take what he needs, sliding my tongue against his and reveling in his smell, the taste of scotch and delicious cake, and something uniquely him. Something addictive
I hear a moan rumble in his chest and suddenly, I feel the wall against my back. Still, he doesn’t stop, and I don’t let up either.
“So fucking sweet,” He murmurs against my mouth. I think I moan a response before he takes my mouth again in a drugging kiss.
The next time we come up for air, I’m more than a little dizzy. He takes a step back but braces an arm against the wall beside my head. He continues staring at me like I’m something he’d very much like to finish eating.
And that’s when I remember the room. Their excited shouts float back to me.
Oh my God. That was so not fit for public. I flush scarlet. Thankfully, his shoulder blocks me from the rest of the crowd. I take a few gulps of air.
“Are you okay baby? I’m going to move away now.”
Oh fuck. He knows I’m fighting for composure.
“I’m ah. I’m good.” Except I can’t feel my lips from the tingles. And I can taste you.
He turns us back to our friends, and if anything, they’re even more excited, roaring and fist-pumping.
“Fucking hell Ry boy. You really went in for it there.” Wyatt chortles.
“What can I say? She’s delicious.”
I put a smile on my face, but I can do nothing about my beet-red face. “I’m gonna get some water okay?” I say to Ryan, and before I leave his side, he presses a quick kiss on my cheek. And then pecks me on the lips. Again.
Geez. Can he stop kissing me already?
“Here,” he hands me the saucer of cake. As I leave, I hear the boys already gearing up for another challenge.
I don’t even know where the kitchen is, but I imagine it must be around where Alex and Nora wheeled the cake out from. With my smile still firmly pasted on I move across the room, grinning at hearty congratulations.
I step into the kitchen, considerably large for one on a yacht, then grab one of the plastic cups stacked on the glossy aluminum sink. I fill it with water then take a big gulp trying to steady my shaking hands.
Ryan kissed me.
