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Absolutely this. But Luz Maria Rodriguez is not a coward.
“We’re going to settle it right now,” I say, sounding a lot more composed than I feel.
“What… are we…”
“Oh, please. Stop playing a fool, Cassiano.”
He takes off his cap, runs a hand through his damp hair, and puts it back on again. All throughout, he blinks like a goldfish. “I’m not playing. I’m really confused right now.”
Can’t believe he’s going to make me say it.
“The bet,” I grit out.
“Oh.” It takes him one more moment to really process. “Oh.”
I push him against a rack packed with helmets, gloves, and pads of all sizes. I leave my hand against his chest. The skin is slick with sweat and so hot to the touch it almost feels like he’s running a fever. Beneath, his heart thumps fast. Could be from the workout or from me. And I hope it’s the latter.
“Ready?” I ask, as if this were a race.
His Adam’s apple bobs. He shakes his head. “I mean, yeah.”
I’m annoyed that he looks skeptical, as if he can’t quite believe I’ll go through with kissing him. I grab his arms and wrap them around my waist. Rising onto my tiptoes, I drape mine around his neck and pull him down.
Cassiano sucks in air the second before his lips crash against mine. Finally, he gets with the program. His hold around me tightens just enough to make my body arch against his. I splay a hand against his nape, threading my fingers through his hair. They push the cap off his head, and I hear it fall to the floor.
His lips are so soft against mine. What a contrast to the rest of his body. I feel one of his hands cradle the back of my head. It helps me angle so I can press closer, so I can close my lips around his bottom one and suck just a little bit. It tears a groan from him that makes his chest vibrate. I do it again, this time running my tongue across right after. Cassiano opens his mouth wide, and I pull him closer. The friction between our tongues sends fire down my body and melts my legs. Only his arm around my waist keeps me from falling.
I run a hand down his neck, across the expanse of his pectoral, until I feel his heart hammering against my hand again. He has to be feeling how hard mine’s racing too.
I’m in way over my head, but I only realize this while I’m kissing him. I should never have accepted this bet. Screw eternal glory and respect. I was safer away from him. I was better off without knowing what kissing Max Cassiano was like.
It takes herculean effort to tear myself away. Our lips make a sucking sound that echoes across the equipment room. Cassiano groans and drops his head against my shoulder.
I blink stars from my eyes, fixing them on the ceiling. It’s as if I just woke up from a dream I shouldn’t even be having.
Pushing myself away from him, I say, “There, I’ve paid my dues.” My voice sounds warped even to my own ears. In fact, everything looks different now.
The Thunder Bolts’ captain sags against the shelf. His hair’s a matted mess from my fingers pulling at it. He lifts his face up enough to glance at me from under his eyebrows. That must be the glare he gives his opponents in the heat of the game. It makes my breath catch.
Slowly, Max pulls himself to stand to his full weight. He towers over me.
“These weren’t the terms of the prize,” he says, his voice rough like gravel against my skin. “I said I would kiss you when I said so.”
“Well.” I stretch myself to my tallest height, as if that could intimidate him. “What matters is the kiss. Now that’s done, and so is the bet.”
“No.” He takes one step forward. It’s enough to push me against the opposite rack. Cassiano braces one arm against it and leans down. “It’s when I say so.”
“Then… say so.”
My eyes are locked on his. Though they’re usually bright with amusement, they’re so very dark right now. I can’t tell if it’s because he’s angry or what. But I’m not scared. He’s braced against the shelf on the side opposite to the door, leaving me room to walk away if I wanted to.
If I wanted to. Running away won’t get him out of my system.
“I’m going to kiss you,” Cassiano says, his voice low like a whisper, “right now.”
I have to bite my lips to keep from screaming sí, por favor.
Somehow, I manage to keep my cool as he lifts me up and wraps my thighs around his waist. And even when he stares at me, as if daring me to crack. I brace against his shoulders and wait.
