Page 51 of Scoring the Player
“Why? Because you want me to hold out for some big, special moment or because you don’t want your fake girlfriend to kiss someone else at a party?” I remember the speech he gave me last night about not settling for less than I deserve.
“Both.”
“Tell me, was your first kiss some big, special moment?” My voice rises.
His face scrunches up, giving me my answer.
“I don’t understand. I like you. You like me. Everyone thinks we’re together. What’s the big, damn deal?” My stomach rolls with a possibility I hadn’t considered. “Or did you just say that you liked me because you felt sorry for me?”
“What? Of course not. I’m just…” He struggles to finish the sentence. His stare darts to the front of the line then back to me.
“Not the guy for me. Got it.” I take a step as another person gives their ticket to the person at the front of the line collecting them and then walks toward the guy sitting on the stool handing out kisses. Only one more person ahead of me now. The nerves kick in, but I’m not backing down. I just want it to be over with, so guys like Felix don’t look at me like I’m some fragile person they need to handle with care.
“Dahlia. Fuck.” He takes my elbow again and guides me out of the line. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
“Don’t do me any favors.”
“I’m not. I want to, but not here.”
“What are you waiting for? Candlelight and mood music? It’s not that big of a deal to me.” I’m taunting him a little, but I can’t help it. After he rejected me in front of his friends, anything but him kissing me here feels like a consolation prize. And who’s to say he won’t just change his mind again later? No, this is my chance to finally kiss someone. I’m doing it, even if it means giving up my fake boyfriend.
“Next,” the guy taking tickets says.
I hesitate, giving Felix one more chance. His silence tells me everything I need to know.
“Next please.”
I turn from him, disappointment suddenly stronger than the nerves about kissing a total stranger in front of the entire party. I hold out my ticket and take a step, but I’m suddenly being pulled backward. My chest collides with his, but Felix doesn’t give me time to recover before his mouth covers mine. His lips are soft, but they press into mine hard and commanding. His fingers curl around my hip in a bruising hold, like he’s afraid I’m going to pull away. I don’t. I melt into him. The hand at my hip glides around to my back and squeezes me against him at the same time his tongue slips into my mouth.
Any nerves I had about kissing him are doused in the flames his touch ignites. I’m not kissing Felix. I’m being kissed. He is in total control and I’m just along for the ride. A really, amazing ride.
My head spins, my heart races, and a thousand butterflies have taken residence in my stomach. Candlelight and mood music would have been completely wasted because I’m not aware of anything but him. His chest pressing into mine. His hands strong and commanding. The light scruff on his face that scratches in the most erotic way every time he tilts his head. The faint taste of beer and mint on him, and the soft groan he makes as he pulls back.
I’m out of breath and there’s a buzzing in my ears. I’m still leaning against him and super thankful because my legs are weak. My eyelids flutter open and I look into his gray blue eyes.
He doesn’t look away, but one hand comes up to where both of mine rest against his chest and he plucks the ticket from my fingers. “I think that’s mine.”
“What if I bought six for five dollars?”
One side of his mouth lifts. “You’re trouble, hot stuff.”
With that, he links our fingers and tugs me with him, away from the kissing booth.
* * *
I might have been lost in my own world during that kiss, but when we get back to Felix’s circle of friends, it’s obvious they were not. And the circle has grown. All eyes are on us. My face is on fire and my lips tingle.
“Well, damn, Walters,” Brogan says, fanning his face. “I felt that all the way over here.”
Lucas lifts his hands and then mocks bowing down to him. “I’m not worthy.”
Felix shakes his head and chuckles. “I hate you all.”
The rest of the night, I’m glued to his side. Maybe it’s all the hormones raging through me from that kiss, but I feel more like his real, fake girlfriend now. I stand a little taller beside him. And Felix is freer with his touches. In fact, he can’t seem to stop touching me. He’s either holding my hand or has his arm around my waist, but he doesn’t try to kiss me again. Which is too bad because I really, really want to kiss him again.
Sometime around one, the kissing booth is officially done, and not long after, people start trickling out. We’re sitting at a table watching other people play cards. I’m sitting on Felix’s lap, and he has one arm draped around my hip.
I’m covering a yawn, when he asks, “Are you ready to go?”
