Part 6 (2/2)

”Sorry, Tag. Really, I am, but I can't stay in here with you. Um, I'll... I'll see you later,” she hesitantly releases before darting out.

”Yeah, later,” I mumble to the vacant room before flopping back down to the bed.

I have to stop obsessing about this girl. I just begged her to stay and talk. I don't beg - especially to talk.

Get a grip, Tag. She's just a girl. Just a d.a.m.n girl.

I wish I could convince myself of that. The truth is, I enjoyed last night. She snuggled up to me all night long. I've never done that with anyone. I've pa.s.sed out after exhausting myself, and sometimes the girl crashed next to me, but it wasn't like what I did with Ash last night.

I don't know how this happened. Her rich wit and her sa.s.sy finesse keeps me on my toes, and I like it. Her disarming smile makes me dissolve, and when I'm with her, I'm not some d.i.c.k trying to get lucky - well, not the way I usually am. I'm just... me.

It's refres.h.i.+ng.

As.h.i.+ara Oh my d.a.m.n.

I've spent an hour hiding out, and all I've been able to think about is Tag - or his lips on my body, rather. I'm a train wreck on steroids right now.

I have to stay away. Maybe if I go for a swim, it'll clear my head.

I pull on my bikini, and then I slip on a pair of frayed jean shorts and a slinky top. Staring in the mirror, I start questioning my true intentions. Am I hoping to run into him while wearing something as slinky as this?

No. I need to clear my head.

Creeping past his bedroom, I head downstairs, which is silent. Maybe he went back to sleep, or even better, maybe he left.

”Looking for someone?” a playfully seductive voice chimes in to interrupt my thoughts, and I cringe as I slowly turn around.

Drat.

There he is - all of his perfection completely intact. He's smirking as he pops a slice of an apple in his mouth, drawing my eyes to those lips I know feel as incredible as they look. He has on a sleeveless s.h.i.+rt that shows his arms, shoulders, and a bit of his smooth chest.

I can tell those shorts hang low, even though his s.h.i.+rt hangs over the waistband. I pray his s.h.i.+rt stays on so I don't have to see those mouthwatering hip lines again.

”Hungry?” he asks with a mischievous glare as he takes in my gaping, awestruck, ridiculous reaction to seeing him.

Very hungry - for all the wrong things.

Swallowing hard and pus.h.i.+ng my jaw back into a respectable position, I murmur, ”Yeah. A little.”

”I can have Eduardo whip you something up,” he says while moving to the phone in the front kitchen.

Eduardo's kitchen is separate, enormous, and filled with fancy things I don't even know how to turn on. Not to mention, the pantry in his kitchen is stocked with ingredients I've never even heard of. This one is more user friendly for the layperson such as myself.

”That's okay. I'll just have some cereal or something,” I force out while walking far away from him and heading to the cabinets.

”Cereal, huh? I thought you to be more of the m.u.f.fin or bagel type,” he murmurs while watching me too intently.

”Are you saying it looks like I eat too many carbs?” I tease while opening one of the top cabinets.

I feel my s.h.i.+rt sliding up as I stretch to reach the box of bran, and his eyes fall on the smooth skin of my stomach.

”Not at all. You just don't seem like a cereal girl.”

He swallows hard, suddenly not liking the game he started here in the kitchen as I lower my hands back down with the cereal in tow.

I grab the milk, a bowl, and a spoon before being a big girl and going to stand next to where he's sitting at the bar. As I toss together my breakfast, I decide to address his weird comment.

”What does a cereal girl look like?” I mock.

”Just... not like you. Going swimming?” he asks, changing the subject while clearing his throat.

”Huh?” I ask in confusion.

He reaches over and flicks my bikini-top strings that have crept out of the collar of my low-cut s.h.i.+rt.

”Oh,” I murmur softly. ”Thought about it.”

”Me too,” he says while giving me his heart-stopping, carefree grin.

He pulls his s.h.i.+rt up to show the top of his swimming trunks peeking out above his shorts. Sadly, I can't even tell you what color they are, because I'm focused on the skin he just revealed - not the material.

d.a.m.n that s.e.xy V.

He knows exactly what he's doing right now.

”Ah. Well. I guess we think alike.”

Tag She seems timid, unsure of herself, and a little caught off guard, as she drools over the bit of skin I'm showing her. It's absolutely adorable, and I finally let my s.h.i.+rt fall back into place to relieve her of her burden.

I know what I have to do. I'm going to have fun doing it, too.

”How about a game of truth or dare?” I ask while leaning over the counter as she tries to focus her attention on her bowl of cereal.

I hate cereal.

She lets a sweet laugh free while shaking her head.

”I don't think so, Tag. I don't trust the dares you would throw my way. How about a game of just truth instead?” she counters while bringing the spoon up to her delicious lips that are turned up in a s.e.xy smile.

d.a.m.n those lips.

”Truth? That doesn't sound like very much fun,” I say while pursing my lips.

”It is if you raise the stakes.”

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