“Really?” I asked because it seemed too good to be true that she’d understand or forgive me so easily.
“Really. And just so you know, you did do the right thing. Telling Beth was noble,” she said, sounding proud of me, and I hadn’t felt proud about that moment one time since it happened. “And your summer coach was a dick. That whole way of thinking is just wrong.”
“It made me really confused, to be honest,” I admitted because I’d been raised by Cassie Carter. And that woman was all about owning up to your mistakes, being honest, and telling the truth, no matter what. Having it blow back on me in such an extreme way had puzzled me and made me question myself. I also felt like I’d done something really wrong, so I never talked to anyone about it.
“It makes sense. Why you wouldn’t know what to do. Why you took me being gone as a sign not to tell me.” She stared at her hands. “But for the record, I always want to know things. Okay?”
“What kinds of things?” I asked for clarification of my own.
“All of it. I don’t want you to keep stuff from me. You have to let me in. You have to tell me the truth. You can’t keep quiet to protect me or because you think you might get in trouble. Always tell me. No matter what.”
I pushed up from my side of the bed and walked over to where she sat. Kneeling in front of her, I reached for her hands and held them, looking deep into her hazel eyes so she knew I meant the words that were coming next. “I’ll never lie to you or keep anything from you again. I never meant to hurt you. And I’m so sorry that I did. I didn’t know any better, and this is all new to me.”
“I know,” she said before leaning closer toward me, her lips daring me to claim them, practically begging me to.
Talking is Overrated
Danika
Seeing Chance Carter in front of me, on his knees, was a sight to behold. This guy was something else. And my heart ached for him after I’d heard what he’d gone through last summer. No wonder he’d been so twisted up about telling me or not. Everything that I’d assumed about why he hadn’t was wrong. I’d been so far off-base.
“Thank you for telling me all that.” I pulled my hand from his and ran it down the side of his face, the stubble on his cheek prickling my fingers but I welcomed it. I’d never been able to touch him like this before. I wanted more of him. Hell, I wanted all of him.
“Danika,” he breathed out before grabbing the back of my neck and pulling me to him.
Our lips crashed against each other’s, our mouths opening before his tongue found mine, and I swore I moaned, my body radiating with desire. Chance continued kissing me, his fingers splayed at the back of my head, and it felt like I was drowning in lust. The feel of his lips and the taste of his tongue sent me reeling.
“I’ve wanted this for so long,” his breath was hot against me, his tongue swiping across my bottom lip before he nibbled at it, and the room spun.
People talked about chemistry and fireworks and that kind of stuff all the time, but I’d never believed in it before this moment. My skin felt like it was alive, tingling with awareness wherever he touched me. And that kiss … that was the kind of kiss that set rooms on fire; it was so electric.
Pulling away, I palmed his cheeks with my hands, trying to steady my breath as I looked into his green eyes. They were so beautiful, so alive with passion, and it was all for me. That knowledge alone was more than exhilarating.
“I want this. I want you. But I want to clear the air about everything before we cross that line,” I said, and he bit down on his lip, his head cocking to one side as he stared at my lips. He was lost in them, as I was in his eyes. “Chance? Did you hear me?” I asked with a grin.
“I heard you,” he said before hopping up on the bed and sitting next to me. “Here, let’s move back.” He scooted to the wall, propping up pillows for us to lean against. “But I have to say something first.” He wiped the corners of his mouth. “That was one hell of a first kiss.”
“There are no words,” I said in agreement, and his solo dimple appeared. “And put that dimple away,” I teased, and it only deepened.
“This dimple?” He poked his finger there.
“Yes, that dimple.” I leaned toward him and pressed my lips there, my eyes closing with the contact.
“Don’t start something you can’t finish, Danika,” he said in a whisper, sounding out of control, and I loved the thrill that rushed through me.
“Oh, I can finish it all right,” I whispered against his ear before biting it gently and sucking it into my mouth. “And I plan to,” I added, and his whole body tensed under my touch. Glancing down, I noticed the bulge coming from his shorts, and I resisted the urge to reach out and wrap my fingers around it.
“You’re testing my self-control. I have very little when it comes to you as it is, but you’re pushing it right now.” His chest rose up and down as his breathing escalated, and I knew that he had seen me looking.
“Maybe I should go get us some water.” I started to move, and he reached for my wrist and held me firm.
“Don’t you dare leave this bed,” he growled, and I knew I’d never been more turned on before in my life. “Whatever we need to talk about, let’s get it over with. Quickly.”
I broke all contact and scooted away from his heat. I couldn’t concentrate with Chance touching me or being that close. I was trying to start our relationship off on the right foot, but he made the idea of talking seem extremely overrated. Who wanted to talk with words when we could be talking with our bodies?
Shaking my head, I tried to focus. “I know you have questions about me and Jared.”
His expression soured for a second. “I did an hour ago. Now, I just want to know what you look like naked. The sounds you make when you come. The way your body moves when I’m inside you. And how you taste when I’m eating you.”
“Jesus, Chance,” I breathed out, resisting the urge to reach down and touch myself at his dirty mouth.
“Sorry. I was not thinking about Jared right now.”
His admission broke the trance, reminding me how important it was that we discuss this and get it all out in the open so that nothing lingered between us.
“I know, and I promise this will be the one and only time he’s in the bedroom with us,” I said before wincing because that sentence was awful. “Where should I start?”
Chance blew out a long, cleansing breath. I could tell he was trying to refocus and calm himself down. He needed the blood to flow from his pants back up to his brain even though I liked it where it was.
He cleared his throat and said, “I guess at the beginning. When did you guys break up?”
“About a week after you and I went to The Bar,” I said and watched as Chance looked a little shocked.
“Seriously? That long ago? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I know,” I began to explain as I searched for the words. “I just wanted to make sure that the breakup would stick,” I said before shaking my head. “No, that doesn’t sound right. That isn’t what I mean. I just wanted to make sure that I was doing the right thing.”