Page 84 of Even Exchange

She laughs nervously. “I mean, it’s already hot as the hinges of hell, but sure, why not.”

I grab her hand, our fingers interlacing, and tug her toward the spot where the CBU boys have taken over. Elijah sits on a bench next to Theo as they laugh like they don’t have a care in the world. But, I suppose, why would they? They’re two of the top dogs on campus. Football captains. No real responsibilities yet. Life must be good.

There’s a free spot next to Elijah, and I sit, patting my leg. Charlotte glances at it, then back to me, and I tug her on my lap before she has a chance to protest.

“Remember,” I whisper in her ear. “You have to pretend you’re not afraid of me.”

She brings her lips to my ear. “I’m not afraid.” Her soft breath fans my skin.PG thoughts, Caruso.She throws an arm around my neck, and I hook mine around her waist, tugging her against me.

The denim shorts she’s wearing give my fingertips direct contact to her smooth skin, and I gently glide my thumb across the top of her leg. Goosebumps appear, pleasing me.

Glancing up, I note Jonathan glaring at us as he takes a seat on the other side of the campfire.Guess he wants a sideline seat to how bad he fumbled.

Charlotte shifts uncomfortably, looking toward me. “Why would he come over here if he’s just gonna stare?”

“Wanna give him something to stare at?” I ask, the need to claim her overwhelming.

“What did you have in mind?” she asks with a cheeky smile.

My heart pounds hard in my chest. “You still okay with the rules we discussed?”

She nods. “I am.”

Gliding my hand in her hair, I tug her to me, our foreheads touching. “Good.”

Don’t think about, don’t touch, and definitely don’t kiss Charlotte.

My eyes fall to her lips. Her pretty, plump pink lips. As if sensing my gaze, she darts her tongue out, wetting them.

Fuck.

A man only has so much willpower.

“Pretend it’s not the first time,” I whisper, more as a reminder for myself, while sliding my hand to her neck.Don’t kiss Charlotte.My thumb grazes her jawbone before swiping over her soft lip. She smiles, eyes fixed on mine like I’m the only man on earth. Like she never wants to look away.The feeling is more than mutual.

“Okay,” she says with an exhale, and I pull her closer, our noses touching.

“Don’t freak out.”Don’t kiss Charlotte.

“I’m not freaking out,” she says, our mouths brushing as she speaks.How is she not freaking out?

“Char—” Her lips crash against mine, and my eyes flutter shut.Cazzo?1.Her hand slides into my hair, gripping it tight. My soul exits my body, zips through the universe at the speed of light, and arrives in one where only we exist. Where Charlotte and I are twin suns, held together by the gravity of our kiss.

I graze my tongue against the seam of her lips, and she entangles hers with mine. She tastes like strawberries and peaches and the sweetest temptation I’ve ever had. Warmth spreads across my chest, as I grip her thigh, desperate to remain in transcendence. She lets out a small whimper, and crackling wood transports me back to Earth.Bonfire.Audience.Fuck.Fighting every cell in my body, I break the kiss.

Her heavy breath hits my swollen, wet lips. Unable to speak, my mouth finds her jaw and I plant a soft kiss before forcing myself to pull away. My dick is hard, and I’m praying by some miracle she doesn’t notice.

“That was…” She huffs a laugh.

“Wow,” I fill in.

She glances across the bonfire, and then her eyes return to mine. “Do you think it was believable?”

Supernova to my heart.

It is for show, after all.

“Yeah.” I smile weakly. “It was believable.”

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