He smiled. "You certainly seem like you're in a better mood."
"There is one thing that would put me in an even better mood." My fingers stopped at the knot in his towel. But he didn't look like he wanted to stop me at all. His Adam's apple rose and fell. It was almost like he was daring me to keep going.
Tim cleared his throat. "That's quite enough, you two. No sex until after we win gold tomorrow."
"But we're not even performing," Bryce said.
He wants me right now just as much as I want him.
"I don't care. Get your hands off her, Bryce. Now."
Bryce sighed and let go of my waist. It took every ounce of restraint to not jump on top of him.
"Are you sure that sex ban should apply to us?" I asked.
Bryce was smiling down at me. God he was so sexy. We were only a few inches away from each other and his cologne had completely engulfed me.
"Understudies are essential for the success of a show. You two will not jeopardize the integrity of everything we've worked for. Do you know how hard it's been to arrange this whole thing?"
"Tim's right," Bryce said.
What?
He leaned in closer to me. "Besides, the longer we wait, the more explosive it's going to be," he whispered in my ear. "I promise it'll be worth the wait." He lightly bit my earlobe.
Oh my God. I pressed my thighs together. I wished I was still wearing underwear.
"Now, ladies, please make your way to room 17 for your spray tans," Tim said.
"Fine." Kristen linked her arm in mine. "Later, boys." As soon as we were out of their earshot, she said, "What did he say to you? Your face is so red."
I smiled. "That it would be worth the wait."
"Swoon worthy much?"
I pressed my lips together. Definitely swoon worthy. I looked over my shoulder before we entered the room. Bryce was staring so intently at me that it made me gulp. Tomorrow night was certainly going to be explosive.
The lady at the spray tan counter greeted us and described how everything worked. Before I knew it, I was putting on goggles and a little thing that pinched my nose. I got in and closed my eyes. After a few minutes a buzzer went off and I stepped back out. My body didn't seem to look any different.
"Is it supposed to show up right away?" I asked Kristen.
"I think it might take a few hours or something," she called from behind her door. "We can ask Tim when we're done."
Of course Tim will know.
***
My back was pressed against the wall outside my room and I was panting embarrassingly loud. Bryce kept his hands on the wall on either side of my face as he caught his breath. That kiss was just...wow. I knew our sexual chemistry was out of this world. But it wasn't just that. He understood me. He respected me.
"I really, really like you, Bryce."
"I really, really like you, Alina." His smile made my knees feel weak.
"Thank you for today. I can't even explain how much that meant to me...you being there."
"There was nowhere else in the world I'd rather be."
I looked up into his blue eyes. We hadn't even known each other for a week. But it felt like I had known him for years. "I want you to come inside."