Page 18 of Slapshot Summer
“Oh h-hey,” he stammered.
Josh gave him a casual chin lift.“Hey, man.Sorry about that.Didn’t know it was you.”
Lexi suspected Josh wasn’t sorry.His stumble had been deliberate, and a little thrill of triumph swelled inside her.Clinging to Josh, she lazily blinked up at Neil as if she was in some kind of lust-drenched stupor and had no idea who he was.
Josh guided them away—but only so far.His free hand began stroking her back over the gauzy fabric of her dress.She reveled in the caress, craving more.She wanted to pull him closer, feel his hard planes line up against her again.
Her wish began to come true when his palm traveled up and cupped her nape, his warm fingertips feathering over her sensitive skin.He leaned in, his mouth against her ear, and whispered, “Now let’s piss him off.”
Chills of awareness cascaded down her spine, raising goose bumps along her arms and tightening her nipples.Now his fingers tangled in her hair, and he pulled her head back and lowered his mouth to hers, hovering within mere inches.So close.His gaze flicked to hers, seeking permission as he held her captive in his sheltering arms.
With everything inside her, she telegraphed a resounding “Yes!”
His lips descended on hers, and Neil and the noisy dance floor dissolved around her.Lexi was transported into a vibrantly colored world that left her dizzy, breathless.
It was too much, and she broke the kiss.Dazed, she blinked and stared into quicksilver eyes that looked as stunned as she felt.Were they still play-acting to make Neil jealous, or had something else entirely swept in?She felt like a cork bobbing on the water that came crashing on the shore on the crest of a wave.Violent yet natural.Churning and beautiful.
Neil who?
Chapter 8
Jealousy Makes for Stupid
Joshwasgoingtohell.No ifs, ands, or buts about it.He had dragged Lexi onto the dance floor so he could strut his stuff and impress her for reasons that weren’t entirely clear.In the past, when he’d pulled shit like this, it was because dancing opened bedroom doors without him having to try too hard, and he’d taken full advantage.But that wasn’t his aim at the moment.Or was it?
He’d solve that mystery later.Right now his second reason for going to hell stared him in the face.He had “accidentally” bumped into Neil, the grand wizard of douchebaggery.
Wait.Hold on just a second.What the actual fuck?The creep had had his hands all over some chick’s ass—a different one from the woman he’d lit out after, and the sight had raised Josh’s blood to a boiling point.Neil was a manwhore opportunist of epic proportions who needed to stay the hell away from Lexi.Why should Josh feel remorse for outing him?
Except Lexi’s feelings were involved, and he suspected those were fairly tender.And now he was pressuring her to make Neil see green.This hadnothingto do with Neil and everything to do with the emotions ramping up inside Josh, some weird combination of desire and safeguarding.His logical mindknewthis on some level, yet primal instinct was taking control of his mind and body with its caveman grunts, and Josh was about to let it throw its weight around.
Which was why he was going to hell.
Lexi was agoodgirl, the girl next door, the girl you brought home to meet Mom.The girl who listened to you bellyache about not having a contract and didn’t judge you, who made you feel better simply by giving you a safe zone where you could vent.She probably baked apple pies and rescued kittens from storm drains too.Lexi wasthatgirl, which meant she was way out of his league.
She was also the kind of girl Josh never dated—not that he was dating her.Just pretending to.Sort of.
“Now let’s piss him off,” he whispered against the shell of her ear, taking a moment to sniff her skin.Damn, she smelled good.And that tender lobe of hers tempted him to pull it between his teeth and lick.
He sensed a shudder move through her entire body, and her shoulders grew rigid.His heart kicked up a notch.Was the trembling a result of him whispering in her ear?Had the action sent a thrill through her, or was she suddenly leery of him?
Shaking the dude up is what she wants, the little devil seated on his shoulder reasoned.And she was playing her part to aT, letting him hold her close like this, so she was obviously on board with the plan.Oh yeah, this was a terrific idea.
The guy with the horns pumped a fist in the air.
Now the angel on the other shoulder got into the act.Who knew he even had one of those?It’s a terrible idea, you idiot.
No, it’s selfless.I’m doing it for her sake.
The winged one snorted at him, and he told it to shut the fuck up.
And now Josh was looking at her like he wanted to kiss her—because hedidwant to kiss her—and she was staring right back, her orbs dark glimmering pools under the soft lights.Questions danced there.Could she trust him to do right by her?No, she couldn’t.He knew that; she didn’t.But when she spared a nod of secret understanding and her lips parted ever so slightly, the invitation was clear.He didn’t hesitate.The angel lifted off and zoomed away like a slapshot deflecting into the nosebleeds.
His mouth descended on hers in a kiss that started gently but quickly gathered heat.The sweet citrus smell of her engulfed him in an intoxicating cloud that went straight to his headandhis crotch, making him reel inside.Logic and good sense followed on the heels of his conscience.
Her body grew pliant, leaning into his as the kiss accelerated.Her thumbs toyed with the unkempt curls at his nape, sending hot chills racing up and down his spine.
He nudged her mouth with his tongue, and she opened.Licking into all that lushness, he sought out every sweet corner in a possessive claim.He wanted to tasteallof her.Pushing back, her tongue dueled his, sweeping into his mouth as she made an exploration of her own.She sucked his tongue, twirled hers over it, then pulled in his bottom lip and nibbled.
