Page 40 of Those Summer Nights (Sweet Cravings 2)

"You're relentless. I really want to beat you now."

"Well, good luck." He’d need it. The elevator doors opened and we stepped out into a hallway.

"This way," he said and put his hand on the small of my back for a second.

My whole body felt alive even with a slight touch from him. Calm down. We’re buddies.

He took his key out of his pocket and unlocked the door. It was dark inside. "I guess we're alone," he said and switched on the light.

My heart began to race. He invited me back to his apartment and we were all alone. He was definitely coming on to me. Maybe he realized whatever it was between us wasn't worth fighting. I couldn't be the only one who felt this amazing spark between us. I followed him into the main living area. There was a couch, a TV, a pool table, and a ping pong table. The ping pong table had several red cups on it, the remnants of a game of beer pong. The room was open to a small kitchen that was only big enough for one person to cook in. I wondered if his place came with a rolling pin. The only decorations in the living room were a few posters of scantily clad women. Gross.

I turned to him. "I like your decorations."

"Why thank you."

I rolled my eyes at him.

"I actually didn't pick those posters."

"Mhm."

He laughed. "I didn't."

I looked around the room again. There was a bathroom next to the kitchen and two closed doors on either side of the living room. "So, where's your bedroom?"

He leaned against the kitchen counter. "That's rather forward of you, Jellyfish Girl."

"What? Oh, no." I laughed awkwardly. "I didn't mean I wanted to hop into bed with you. Obviously. You know what? You don't even need to show me. I was just curious what it looked like because you mentioned these decorations weren’t yours. So I was wondering what kind of decorations you chose. Bu

t I'm good. Curiosity killed the cat, you know. I'm too young to die." What the hell am I saying?

"Geez, I wish I hadn't left my whistle in the lifeguard shed. It could have doubled as a rape whistle. I feel like I'm going to need it tonight." He smiled at me.

"You won't need your whistle. I’m not rapey. I’m a sophisticated lady.” Yeah, right. “Besides, I heard your friend-speech loud and clear. You're completely off limits." I put my hands up.

"If you say so."

If I say so? I don't want him to be off limits. I thought that's what he wanted. What the hell is going on here?

"My bedroom is over here." He pointed to the closed door on the left of the living room. And then he started walking toward it.

I guessed that was an invitation. I followed him into the small room. There were two beds. My lifeguard’s eyes were on me as I leaned down and looked at some photos on his dresser.

"Is this you?" I asked. I picked up the picture frame. There were two young boys in it. They both had the same captivating blue eyes.

"Yeah, that's me and my brother."

I smiled at him. "You were really cute." I set the photo down and leaned against his bed as I looked around the room. There were more posters of half-naked women in the room but they weren't on his side. Clothes were strewn along the floor, but it was pretty clean. For some reason I had pictured four guys living together being a mess. But I guess I was wrong. I looked back at my lifeguard.

His eyebrows lowered slightly.

I gulped. Why is he looking at me like that? I could feel my face flushing. God, I wanted him. I wanted him to push me against his bed and kiss me again. I wanted his hands on me. I wanted to taste him again.

He pulled off his shirt as he looked at me.

Holy fuck. Is this really happening? Everything below my waistline clenched. His abs looked amazing. I wanted to run my hands down his six pack, tracking every contour of his muscles. I remembered how they felt when I was holding on to him on his motorcycle. But touching them now? I felt like I was going to combust.

He tossed his shirt on the floor. "I'm going to change out of my swimsuit real quick."

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