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I pop my wrists and take my turn. One stripe falls in, then another, and another, until we’re even.
She gasps. “Are you fuckin’ kidding me?”
I shoot her a wink, and she narrows her eyes.
When I only have two balls left on the table, she comes and stands next to me. “Glad we didn’t play strip pool.”
“Mm, now that would’ve been interesting.” I slide my eyes up and down her body, the alcohol giving me too much courage. Being like this with her is just too damn easy. And too damn tempting.
I pull the stick back, and the white ball strikes against the yellow solid. It doesn’t go in like I’d hoped.
“Yes!” She unapologetically fist pumps.
“You really are competitive at everything, aren’t you?” I ask as she moves around to face me from the other side.
“Absolutely, and trust me when I say…” She straightens up, slowly sliding her eyes up and down my body. “Ialwayswin and get exactly what I want.”
“I don’t even doubt that.” I swallow hard, secretly hoping I’m on that list. From all the signals she’s thrown, I certainly am. I’m not imagining what we have. It’s real as fuck.
“Now, I’m not gonna go easy on you,” she mocks.
I’m realizing quickly that spending time with her like this is dangerous because it makes me crave more of this.
Like she’s a pro, she announces her pocket, and the eight ball drops right in.
“Now, who’d be naked if we were strippin’?”
I smirk. “Hopefully both of us.”
“Oh, I like that idea.” She pops a brow.
We play another round, and she destroys me again.
The party favors are passed out ten minutes before midnight, and we watch the giant digital clock hanging above the bar.
Everleigh moves beside me, grabbing my hand as we countdown with the crowd. As soon as the clock strikes midnight, the band begins to play “Auld Lang Syne.” Sounds of noisemakers fill the room as I pull Everleigh against me.
“Happy New Year, Everleigh,” I whisper as her lips slightly part.
“Happy New Year,” she says, studying my mouth intently.
I know damn well what’s about to happen. The air in the room grows heavy as I slowly brush my thumb across her cheek. She shudders as I carefully tip up her chin and stare into her gorgeous blue eyes. Slowly, they flutter closed.
“Don’t move,” I whisper, doing what I’ve been dreaming about for weeks. Gently, I slide my lips across hers, taking my time to taste her. The kiss deepens, her tongue wrangles with mine, and I lose myself in her. My fingers thread through her hair, and she moans against me as she clings to my waist. I wish this moment could last forever. It takes everything I have to pull away.
“I’m really regretting my promise about keeping my hands off you,” she admits with beautifully swollen lips.
“I’m regrettinga lotof things,” I say hoarsely, wanting andneedingmore of her. Everleigh’s a rip current, pulling me away from the shore, but all I can do is tread water. If I’m not careful, she’ll take me completely under.
“So, why’d you kiss me?” she asks softly.
I brush a piece of hair behind her ear and gaze into her eyes. “The first person you encounter in a new year sets the tone for the rest of the year. I wanted to make sure ours was set.” Then I add, “Turns out I might’ve set us up for blue balls.”
“You mean bluebean.”
“Oh man, I’ve never heard that one before. Sounds painful.”
She lets out an infectious laugh, then leads me back to the dance floor. I have a feeling that neither of us is thinking about anything other than that kiss. An experience I’d like to have again.
