Page 16 of Chasing Xander
“Stop staring and start dancing. This was your idea, after all,” she said without missing a step.
He watched the combination and then picked it up, moving in sync with her. He stepped right instead of left and accidentally knocked into her just as she was lifting her arms and spinning. She smacked him in the face, hard, right below his eye, seconds before she fell to the floor with athump.
“Ow. Shit.” He cupped his cheek. Pain spread across his face.
“Oh my God! Xander, I’m so sorry.” Her eyes were wide. “Are you okay?”
He extended his hand and helped her to her feet. “Are you?”
She nodded, and then she started to laugh. Slapping her hand over her mouth, she giggled harder. “I’m sorry.” She gasped for breath. “It’s just…I never realized this was a contact sport. I would’ve worn a helmet or something.”
He couldn’t stop from laughing, too, the movement making his cheek hurt even more. He winced.
She reached up and gently pulled his hand from his face and frowned.
“Is it bad?” It hurt like a motherfucker, the sharp sting radiating up to his eye, making it water.
“You need some ice before it swells. Sit.” She pointed at her bed.
He did as instructed, and she went to the mini-fridge in the corner. She returned and sat beside him, placing an ice pack tenderly on his cheek.
“Who keeps ice packs in their mini-fridge?”
“Celeste’s mom insisted we have one, just in case. I’m sure she didn’t intend for it to be used on a guy. Or as a result of a video game injury.” She smirked and moved the ice a bit higher. He flinched slightly, causing her to pull her hand back. “I really am sorry,” she whispered, inching closer and returning the ice to his face.
“Don’t be. It was an accident.”
“It’s because you have no rhythm,” she teased.
Smiling faintly, he dragged his hand up her arm, cupped the side of her face, and caressed her cheek with his thumb. “Did you get hurt when you fell?”
She shook her head. “I’m sure my butt will be sore in the morning, but I’m fine.”
His lips twitched into a smile. “My offer for a massage still stands.”
Ignoring his insinuation, she asked, “How’s the cheek?”
“Can hardly feel anything anymore.” Except for his heart hammering against his ribs and the lust filling him. He removed the ice pack, tossing it to the floor. Then he clutched her hands in his and brought them to his mouth, kissing her knuckles, then each of her wrists. Her pulse was erratic, punching against his lips, outracing his own heartbeat. Grazing his mouth up the inside of her arm, he tugged her closer and swayed forward until their mouths were a breath’s width apart.
She stared at him with those big, bright eyes, so much innocence and longing in her gaze, and she wasn’t pulling away. In fact, she was moving closer, inviting more. Panic suddenly clutched his chest. In the past, he’d kiss a girl because he wanted to get to a second kiss, and then a third. Then more. But he didn’t want that with Kylie—he wanted more than a quick hookup. As badly as he wanted to kiss her, he wasn’t going to rush this and screw things up.
He looked away and straightened, clearing his throat. “It’s getting late. I should probably go.”
Her face fell. “Oh. Yeah. Okay.” She stood and began cleaning up the dirty plates and cups. “Did you want to take the rest of the pizza with you?” She wasn’t looking at him.
He hung his head and combed his fingers through his hair.Fuck. He’d hurt her feelings, which is exactly what he’d been trying to avoid. “Kylie…” He stood.
“No, don’t.” She held up her hand to silence him. “You don’t have to say anything.”
She was wrong. There was a lot to say.
“Thanks for coming over tonight. It was fun,” she said as she disconnected the gaming console and put everything back into the bag.
“It was fun. And thanks for the black eye.”
She whipped around to glare at him. He held his breath, praying his joke would lighten the mood between them. A moment later, her expression relaxed into a smile. “You’re a jerk.” She laughed.
He shrugged. “Clearly, my dance moves are lacking, so I have to fall back on my dazzling wit.”
