Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 93713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“Of course not.” Avery frowned like I was making him think too hard. “But like, they’re taken. Not exactly gonna practice kissing with one of them.”
“I’m sure their partners thank you for that.” I smiled but kept my voice dry.
“I’d do it though.” Avery’s tone was all earnest now. “I’d kiss another guy. Just to see. I wouldn’t chicken out.”
“Avery. Dude. You’re over fifteen. Leave the truth-or-dare theatrics behind. If you want to see what kissing a guy is like, do it. Don’t wait around to play gay chicken.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?” I narrowed my eyes, peering closer at him. He seemed sober enough, and his reflexes sure as hell had been spot-on in the game.
“Like you said, probably everyone’s a little curious. Would you kiss another guy if the opportunity ever came up?”
“Sure. Wouldn’t try to change the settings and cover my eyes.” I gave him a pointed look. “Might be fun.”
“Maybe we should try it.”
I gaped at him. “You want to try kissing?”
Chapter Five
Avery
My pulse roared in my ears like a playoff game crowd with a chance for their team to win. And that’s what this was. A game, no matter what Malik thought. So what if I wanted to play gay chicken? Or truth or dare without the uncomfortable truths part? Why not? You only live once and all that. If he was curious and I was curious, why not try it?
“You want to try kissing?” Malik’s mouth hung so far open it almost touched his broad chest.
“Well, you already wined and dined me.” I tried for a casual laugh, but it came out croaky, and Malik frowned.
“Yeah, but you don’t have to put out. I’m not like that.”
“I know you’re not. I meant more like I’m exactly buzzed enough for an experiment. Or bet.”
“Bet?” Malik cocked his head to the side as he continued to regard me. “Like whoever gets more points for our team next round has to kiss the other?”
“Exactly.” I wasn’t so far tipsy that I couldn’t do basic math. We were kissing at the end of the round, no matter what.
“Okay, but if you change your mind when your wine buzz wears off, no hard feelings.”
“I won’t change my mind.” If anything, I was ridiculously hyped, like pre-mission adrenaline. I was ready to just do this thing already.
And my stupid body couldn’t decide whether I wanted to win or lose more. Winning would mean I was a badass, and I could make the first move, show what a big deal this was not. I started out trying to accumulate hit points fast, but I kept thinking about how fun it had been letting Malik take over the ordering at dinner. I got lazy with my attacks, slower reflexes, lots of stretching and lapses in concentration as we plodded our way to an almost accidental Malik win.
“Oops, you win. Guess you have to kiss me.” I tried to sound totally cool, maybe even bored.
“Guess I do.” He held my gaze so long we might as well have been playing that game of chicken. “You sober enough to drive or load your weapon?”
I waggled my prosthesis. “Both those things are challenging these days, even without amazeballs wine, but yeah, I’m plenty sober.” I think. I forced a bright smile.
“All right. But promise me you’ll stop if you hate it? You don’t have to prove anything to me, Avery. I mean it.” He placed his right hand over my left.
“And that right there is why I want to do this with you. You’re a good guy.” And Malik was. He wouldn’t take advantage. Hell, he wouldn’t even let me take advantage of my own damn self. He was sweet and nice, and he’d make some chick the absolutely perfect date, and I had no freaking clue why the thought of his next girlfriend made my back all sweaty.
Or maybe that was the prospect of this kiss. That he was taking forever to get on with, moving his thumb softly back and forth on my wrist. Heat gathered in my stomach. That wasn’t supposed to happen. And my toes definitely weren’t supposed to be curling against his rug before his lips even met mine, but he kept petting my wrist. His other hand moved to my neck, a slow, gentle massage that was utter torture.
“Are you gonna?” I demanded.
“Would you like me to explain why you probably run through dates so quickly?” Malik shook his head like he felt sorry for my total lack of game. “I’m just warming up. I prefer not to kiss the human equivalent of an antelope waiting for the cheetah to pounce.”
“I’m not that tense.” I decided to show him by leaning into his touch, which felt amazing. His hand was warm and strong and made me forget all about experiments and bets and moving things along. I just wanted more of that. And luckily, he obliged me, rubbing my neck and sweeping his fingers up and down my forearm until I legit had chills racing down my other side, a phantom sensation I usually hated, but here it only served to make me feel that much more alive.