Page 32 of The Love Raffle

Amber hung her legs off the edge of the couch and faced forward. She put her elbows on her knees and held her face.

Levi didn’t understand. “What’s going on?” Why was he getting that vibe that came in movies when someone was about to reveal they were a werewolf?But it’s usually the guy, not the girl.He was being an idiot for even considering that, wasn’t he?I really need to get out more. As in with ordinary people.“You okay there, Amber?” He reached for her shoulder.

“Levi, I have to tell you something.” Amber straightened to look at him again but paused.

“Yeah, just tell me, Amber.” He dug his fingers into the middle of his scalp to scratch his head.

Amber’s nerves ebbed. She tucked some strands of hair behind her ear. “I have to say this.” She inhaled. “At first, I was only happy about dating you because…” She was about to come off as a complete jerk. “Well…” She brushed her fingernails against the pillow in front of her. “My agent said the whole Love Raffle thing would be great to get me out there and that if I won, I needed to make sure that you liked me so I could, um…”

Levi could see where this was going. “Get your foot in the door?”

Amber could hear his disappointment. “Yeah.”

He looked at his lap while thinking back to their date. “Was that why you were so cool and fun? You’re not actually like that? Is that what’s happening now?”

She felt him separate from her, scooting away. “No! No, Levi. After the date when you called me and we talked on the phone and you wanted to meet again, things just kind of…well…they got real, and I’ve been getting sweaty palms and stomach aches and…” She was just rambling now.

Levi wasn’t sure how to take this. “You said yes to this date for more privileges?”

“No! If I wasn’t actually interested in the real you then I would have said no. It was your call that really got me. I mean, I guess I was expecting it and was happy for it because of what Beca said but then I had to push that mentality away because you’re…sweet and I-I think that after ignoring what my agent and friends were saying about getting in your good graces that I began to realize that I-I…I like you.”

Levi looked her up and down, processing what she’d said.

Amber hated the distance and silence, but she wasn’t the kind of person to allow a relationship built on dishonesty. Thishadto be told. “You hate me,” she whispered.

“No.” Levi shook his head and faced forward. “It was a show… Most people who get on there do it for publicity. I mean, I did too. I had no interest in dating anyone and wanted to worm my way out of it. So, I shouldn’t be surprised, but I guess it kind of makes what happened on our first date a little weird since I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Apart from when you got sick, of course.” He felt the tag on the back of his sweater peeping out and scratched the back of his neck.

Amber noticed and folded it back into his clothes. She moved her hand from his back to his shoulder, up his neck, and then to his face. With a tender touch, she pulled it towards hers. “I enjoyed it too. But my mind was crowded with that crappy stuff. Tonight, it’s not.”

Levi got lost in her eyes again.Showbiz,he thought. The fact that Amber would confess this now and risk ruining things with him meant this date was real, right? If she only thought of him as a steppingstone, she wouldn’t have revealed anything.

His silence was unnerving. “Levi,” she breathed.

Levi held the side of her face and pulled her in for a kiss.

Amber shut her eyes when his lips touched hers. They were gentle and warm. The way they fit together was natural, like two lost puzzle pieces connecting after centuries apart. She pictureda blue sky of fluffy clouds when his arm wrapped around her body and pulled her closer.

Lip-locking had been absent from Levi’s intentions for this date tonight, but something just came over him. He’d been thinking of this girl all week and they’d been having such a great time. The mood had been so perfect until she made her confession. Yeah, hearing her true motives during their first date caused unease and insecurity, but he understood. He’d been trying to let her know that, but she hadn’t bought it. His logic was sound. She wouldn’t have revealed such a thing if she intended on using him.

Red was the color that came to mind as their kiss grew more heated. He hadn’t done this in a while, but his lips and tongue moved like they’d been made to connect with Amber’s. There was hardly a word to describe it, but it was happening, and he was transfixed.

Amber lost all concept of time and space as they went on. All she knew was that this felt right, and she wanted more.

After minutes went by, Levi pulled back and searched those deep brown eyes.

Amber had shifted on to his lap, her legs straddling his waist. She panted softly and his breaths whispered against her face, their hair getting tangled in each other’s.

Levi noticed his hand on her upper thigh. “Whoa.”

Amber noticed her position only now. “Whoa indeed.”

Levi snickered and she laughed against his neck, then slid her hands down from his cheeks to his chest. His grip slightly tight against her wrists. “Is it crazy to do this sort of thing on the second date?”

Levi moved both hands to her hips. “Nah, I know people who’ve donewaymore after onlytalkingto someone at the bar.”

Amber flipped her hair to get it out of her face. “Well, that doesn’t sound safe, does it?” She rolled off him and sat at his side.

Levi felt empty without her. “People do whatever they want.” He looked at her. “Hey.”

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