AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You kicked a ball into my stomach. I was mad.”
“So if I hadn't done that, you'd have screamed my name too?” I got closer to her, my voice dipping low, and my double entendre creating that pink across her cheeks that I loved so much.
“You were there to make me play more soccer when all I really wanted to do was go home and study. You were at an unfair advantage from day one.”
Her words were breathy, barely able to get them out from the effect our proximity was having on her. I should have stepped back and given her space, but I only drew in closer, taking my fingers to the strands of hair that always seemed to find their way from behind her ear. Gently, I pushed the hair back into place, and suppressed a groan when her breath hitched from my touch.
It would be so easy to kiss her. Everything about her was drawing me in, and with my eyes locked on hers, I was having a hard time remembering why kissing her was a bad idea.
“Just once,” I bargained with myself, even though she could hear me fine. Her eyes moved to my lips and then back up to my eyes–the universal sign that she wanted me to kiss her.
“Just once,” she repeated my words, no doubt telling herself that one kiss wouldn’t hurt. If anything, it would help us move past the tension that had been brewing since she stormed in anger toward me on that field during our first practice.
I moved a hand to her waist with resolve and pulled her toward me so that there wasn’t as much space between our bodies. I was standing at my full height, and our significant size difference made me feel like a king.
“One time,” I reminded us both. Her slight nod was all I needed to bend down and push my lips to hers, gently, barely touching, before I stopped. If I only got one kiss from her, I wanted to go slow, to savor it in all its stages. Just like ouronequestion, I wanted it to be a big one.
Before I could push further, to actually taste her lips and feel how soft they were, a door slammed and she jumped backward. Our eyes were wide, locked again in another stare down. This time in disbelief.
We almost kissed.
We almost caved.
And while I should have been relieved that the noise snapped some sense into one of us, all I felt was hunger and thirst. A tiny brush of her lips was not enough, and I became a man possessed with the urge to pull her back to me and demand we finish thatonekiss.
If it wasn't for the fact that the slam of that door down the hallway meant Cruz was there, I would have. I just hoped she didn’t take my retreat as surrender. Because come hell or high water, my new goal in life was to kiss Ash Keller.
Just once.
ChapterThirteen
Ash
How did we go from talking to almost kissing? It happened so fast that I wasn’t even sure where the transition was. I was going to let him kiss me, just once, like he said, and then try to act like it never happened. I wanted to know what it felt like to kiss him.
The intense moment made Cruz Martin walking in less thrilling than I thought it would be. The world’s best goalie was right there for me to meet in person, and I wanted him to leave. Luckily the door he came through was down a hallway that led to the main part of the locker room, and it gave both Rhys and me a minute to get our shit together. But when Cruz introduced himself, I was still less than focused on anything besides almost kissing Rhys.
“Cruz is here to take pictures.” Rhys’ words were proving that he was less affected than I was, because he was actually able to form thoughts and sentences. I couldn't even manage to ask what the hell he meant bypictures.
Scooping me up into his arms, Rhys made his way down another hallway that had a light at the end. It was the field, and excitement started to course through me again. I was headed onto the Miami Inferno’s field wearing Rhys Peyton’s jersey, with Cruz Martin following us for some unknown reason.
“What the hell are we doing?” I finally asked.
“Is that the big one?” Rhys teased, only I couldn't tell if he thought I was asking about the field, or asking about the kiss.
“No. And why are you carrying me?” I kicked. “I told you I could walk.”
Rhys’ voice was low enough that Cruz couldn't hear him. “I have two good ankles but am still having a hard time keeping my knees locked right now. Be still.”
Goosebumps formed on my skin as he unexpectedly admitted that he was affected just as much as I was. Without thinking, I squeezed his neck, and felt his groan making his chest vibrate. I had never doubted that I was physically attracted to Rhys. Hell, I knew that much before he even showed up at my practice. No girl was immune to Rhys’ good looks and athletic body.
What I didn’t expect was to be so drawn to him as a person. He had charmed me with his funny and caring side. I was in awe of how skilled he was with a ball. Mixed with whatever it was that occasionally haunted him, I was more than intrigued.
As we reached the end of the tunnel, Rhys took a few steps up from the bench area and onto the turf before he set me gently on my feet. Cruz joined us but his head was down, typing on his phone. He was either trying not to notice the tension between Rhys and me, or had something that was drawing his attention far away from whatever Rhys was having him do.
“Here.” Rhys handed Cruz his phone and then took my hand, slowly leading me to the center of the field. “Be sure to get the stadium in the background but try not to get below our waists.”
“Got it,” Cruz laughed.
