Page 33 of The Dating Dare

What he actually wanted to say wasto hell with discreet. He wanted to throw her over his shoulder, run to Lola’s like Flash on a sugar high, and make love to her until neither of them could walk. At times like these, it would’ve been nice to really be a bad-boy player.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Last evening, Tara was blessed with a maximum-capacity bar so she didn’t have a minute to spare for her thoughts. Otherwise, she would’ve obsessed over her alleyway kiss with Seth all night. But this morning, there was nothing stopping her from obsessing while walking through the aisles of the drugstore.

Even though it had still smelled like cinnamon and vanilla from Comfort Zone, the narrow alley had felt far away and a little… dangerous. It was hot as hell. She’d forgotten everything but the feel of Seth’s lips against hers. Her body had cried for more, and if he hadn’t pulled back, she might’ve had him right then and there.

She had never felt this all-consuming, physical need for someone before. Not even with Jason. Her memory of sex with him felt like a watery silhouette compared to what happened when she and Seth kissed. But even the lukewarm desire she’d felt for Jason had given him too much control over her.

She wanted to run. This was precisely the kind of situation she’d been avoiding since she left Jason. Relationships were a trap, confining and stifling. She treasured having her space and a life of her own separate from anyone else. When she was with Jason, she couldn’t even study on her own or with her friends. He insisted she study inhis room even when he wasn’t doing schoolwork himself. He acted as though he had the right to micromanage everything she did… everything she was. She was constantly watched and measured, but she always fell far short of expectations.

If she gave into her attraction for Seth, would he begin demanding more of her? More of her time? More of her affection? If she fell for him, she would do anything to make him happy. Nausea churned in her stomach. She would be lost. But what if she was so badly broken thatsheturned into the one to confine him within her expectations—the one to constantly demand more until he believed he wasn’t good enough. For a moment, terror swept through her. Then she remembered he was leaving in less than a month.

Seth moving away was the best thing about dating him. It was insurance against the relationship trap. She was safe with him. She could handle a playboy out for a fun time, especially since that was exactly what she wanted, too.

Tara tore her mind away from Seth. For something that was supposed to be uncomplicated, she sure thought about it a lot. She looked around the store where she’d come for a reason. What was it again? Oh, yes. Her favorite citrus-scented shampoo. How did she end up in the diaper section anyway?

She wound her way down the aisles until she reached the shampoo section and stopped short. Her mind’s constant companion was perusing the shelves. She was getting really good at conjuring him up. Her heart took off on a sprint, and she resisted the urge to fly into his arms. Was this how it was going to be every time she saw him?

As though sensing her presence, Seth lifted his head, and a slow, happy smile spread across his face. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Run out of your athlete’s foot medicine, did you?” She arched her eyebrow, stamping down her answering smile.

Seth burst out laughing. He genuinely seemed to enjoy her sharp tongue. Was he a glutton for insults or something? “Actually, I ran out of shaving cream a couple days ago.”

“I can tell. I thought you had a five o’clock shadow yesterday, but you have the beginnings of a beard now.” Without thinking, Tara reached out and ran her hand down his rough cheek. “I kind of like it.”

“You do?” His eyebrows shot up. “Do you want me to grow it out?”

“It’s your face.” She backtracked, chiding herself for acting way too familiar. It didn’t matter what she liked. “Do what you want. It doesn’t affect me.”

“Well, it actually does.” He stepped toward her and spoke close to her ear, “Think about how it would feel against your thighs when I taste you.”

She gasped, and her hand fluttered to her chest. She actually freaking did that. Like some Victorian maiden.What the fuck. She cleared her throat loudly, planning to give him her best comeback. What came out was, “Um… abba… wha?”

“You don’t have to decide now.” He laughed quietly, his hot breath tickling her cheek. “I’ll grow it out for a couple more days while you mull over it.”

“I can’t believe… you don’t think… ugh.” She backed away from him so she could think and breathe. “The Ego.”

Seth shrugged happily and peeked at her basket. “Dark chocolate? Is that what you came in for?”

“No, I need some shampoo.” If she was honest with herself, the shampoo really was an excuse to come in for the chocolate.

Seth cocked his head to the side, intensely interested. “Which shampoo do you use?”

“Um, nothing fancy. Just a drugstore brand.” She glanced sideways and pointed to it. “This one.”

He promptly reached for a bottle, popped open the cap, and inhaled deeply. Then he glanced down at the shampoo with disappointment. “No, this isn’t it.”

“What are you talking about? I should know what brand of shampoo I use.”

“Your hair smells similar to it, but there’s something more.” He reached out to wrap a piece of her hair around his fingers and sniffed. “It’s been driving me wild, trying to figure out what it was.”

“My conditioner is the same fragrance. I don’t put anything else on.” Something about knowing that Seth spent his free time thinking of how her hair smelled was quite gratifying.

“There’s this sweetness underneath the citrus.” He absently rubbed her hair between his fingers, effectively holding her in place.

“Sweet?” There was an erotic undertone to his musing. Or maybe it was just her. She was getting very, very turned on. “Oh, that must be me.”

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