Page 41 of Forbidden Puck
“Why?”
I shrugged. “Because it always works.”
“I doubt that. Try me. See what happens.”
“What? No way.”
“Why not?”
“Because you're a cool chick and I like you. And I'm nottrying to sleep with you. Remember? Teammate's little sister, and all that?”
She let out a piercing laugh. “Is your ego really thatbig? You truly believe that if you start flirting with me,poof,we'll magically end up in bed together?”
I liked hearing her say that. I liked the image she put in my head, too: the two of us trying to quietly bone in my bed—but miserably failing at the whole 'being quiet' part. We're naked and sweaty and our faces are wrought with this twisted, guilty pleasure—like we both knew that what we were doing was so insanely bad and wrong, but we just couldn't help ourselves. It was wrong as hell just to imagine it, but that didn't make the thought any less appealing, nor did it make the sudden lengthening in my crotch any less pleasurable.
But she wanted me to be a dick to her, so I wasn't going to let her know any of that.
“Who said I wanted to sleep with you?” I asked, and I knew exactly what was coming when I saw her fist clench. “You're not my type, remember?”
Her jaw came unhinged and then suddenly,bam,there it was, her fist smashing right into my abdomen. But I was ready and waiting for it, and instead of knocking the wind out of me, her fist futilely deflected off a flexed and armored set of abs.
“Yeah,Idoremember you saying that,” she said with a fire still smoldering in her eyes.
“You said it first,” I reminded her.
“So?”
“Don't feel bad.” I tried to pull her closer, but she resisted with an indignant squeal and pushed me away. “Just 'cause you're not my type doesn't mean I don't think you're cute anyway.”
She raised a still-angry and now skeptical eyebrow. “Oh, so after insulting me, this is the part where you butter me up so you can try to get in my pants, right?”
“I already told you, nothing can happen between us. I'm just telling you the truth: yeah, when I first saw you, I didn't think you were my type. But the more time I spend with you? The more I start to think you're kinda insanely cute. You're growing on me, that's all I'm saying.”
She softened, only slightly, but her nostrils remained upturned in disgust. “WellIstill think you're gross.”
“Too bad. We could've had something. Imagine how fun it'd be, running around in secret behind Lance's back for the rest of your trip?”
“That doesn't sound fun at all. Butyousound drunk right now, and you're acting like a creep.”
I raised my hands in defeat. “Damn. Alright, Ella, you win. I gave it my best.”
“Wait, that was you being a dick?” she giggled. “And that's it? That'sall?You're surrendering already?”
“Yeah. I got nothin'. You're player-proof.”
She rolled her eyes. “Too easy. I can't believe girls fall for that 'negative asshole' shtick.”
“Me neither. But they do.” I pulled her closer again, and this time, she didn't resist. “You really think I'm gross, though?”
“I think you're handsome as hell,” she said, her hands flat on my chest, “but if you talked tomelike that? I'd never let you kiss me in a million years, let aloneanythingelse.”
“Damn!” I yelped. I wasn't used to girls talking to me like that.
“Surprised?” she giggled.
She hadn't just resisted me, she'd straight up won this round. I didn't know what to say or do, and I wondered if this was how Lance felt growing up with this girl—stunned to find yourself suddenly on the losing end of a verbal or physical battle.
“Yeah, actually,” I muttered.
