Page 97 of Hometown Halftime

His eyes turn mischievous. “I dare you to deflower me, Kinsey. Make me a man.”

“You’re a dork.” I playfully push him away. “Before I say yes, I would need to make a couple of things clear.”

“Okay, lay it on me.”

I hold up one finger between us. “I’m on birth control, but you still have to suit up every time. No accidents.”

“Done,” he says without hesitation.

His hand is warm against my knee, thumb brushing absentmindedly back and forth.

I lift a second finger. “We still sleep in separate beds.”

One of his brows lifts. “You don’t like to cuddle afterwards?”

Heat crawls into my cheeks. “That’s not what I said.”

His grin turns smug.

I point at him in a warning. “Okay, maybe sex nights can have exceptions.”

“Sex nights,” he repeats, teasing.

“And third, we both remember that you’re leaving in January.”

“Understood.”

I then ask another question: “I also need to know whether you want this to be a one-time event or if you want repeat performances. Like, are you simply looking for someone to get the deed done with, to just punch the card?” I shove my hand into the air, making a clicking noise.

Riley’s lips roll with thought. “I don’t know. Hopefully, I’ll get at least a second chance, because I have no clue how the first time will pan out.”

I nod slowly, rubbing my chin. “Okay, understandable.”

His thumb still sweeps across my knee as he says, “Okay.”

Slowly, I toss the throw pillow aside. Riley’s eyes track the movement as I shift closer. The second I swing one leg over his lap, his hands tighten instinctively on my hips. A sharp breath leaves him while my knees settle against the couch cushions on either side of him.

“Okay, Rookie…” The nickname dies on my tongue when realization suddenly hits me. “Wait.”

His mouth twitches. “What?”

“Does that nickname bother you?”

He laughs. “No. It’s actually pretty accurate in this situation.” His fingers pulse on my hips, squeezing the skin there. “So, do you accept the dare?”

I don’t even need to think about my answer.

“Yes, Weston, I’ll deflower you.”

We both laugh, easing some of the tension between us. Then the laughter begins to die as his eyes drop to my mouth so slowly that it makes my heart skip a beat.

Then he kisses me as my smile still lingers against his lips, ruining me because Riley kisses with this unbearable mix of sweetness and restraint, like he’s trying so hard not to get carried away.

My fingers slide into the short hair at the nape of his neck while his hands spread across my back, pulling me closer until I can feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing against my chest.

And God, this kiss feels dangerous now. Maybe because we both know this isn’t just flirting anymore.

The soft whimper that comes from him when I part my lips sends heat spiraling low through my core, and suddenly I understand exactly how people make terrible decisions in situations like this. Because Riley kisses me like he’s savoring something, and the longer it goes on, the harder it becomes to remember why slowing down seemed important five minutes ago.