Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“Here you go.” The bartender slides us our drinks, and Spencer slips her cash before I can even reach for my own.
“Thank you,” I finally say when I can feel his gaze on me. Needing something to do, I turn to look around the bar. There’s a couple in the corner kissing, and from here, it looks as if he’s trying to eat her face. I scoff. “A four at best,” I mumble.
“What’s that?” Spencer asks.
Shit. Shit. Shit. I keep putting my foot in my mouth tonight. This is definitely my last drink. “Nothing.”
He moves closer, which I didn’t think would be possible. “Tell me,” he says softly, and my body, the traitor, stands up and takes notice. I’m going to have to toss these panties when I get back to my room, and that pisses me off. They’re one of my favorites.
I sigh, deciding that telling him is better than sitting here thinking about how the sound of his voice turns me on. It has to be the alcohol. Sure, he’s always been attractive, but this is something altogether different. This… need that I suddenly feel is different.
“See that couple over there.” I nod. “Red skirt. The guy has on a white sleeveless shirt,” I explain.
“Got it. What about them?” He takes a casual drink of his beer, and even that is sexy. Who would have thought drinking a bottle of beer could be sexy?
“Charlie?” He places his hand on my arm. “What about them?” he asks again.
“I do this thing. It’s stupid, but I’ve done it for years. I see two people kissing, and I rate it.”
“Rate it?”
I nod. “Yeah, I mean, it’s easy to see chemistry and desire, and that’s important for a good kiss.”
“Okay, I’m with you so far. So you rated them at a four?”
“Yep,” I say, taking a small sip of my drink.
He nods as his eyes scan the room. “What about them? Back by the pool tables, silver dress.”
I turn and find the couple he’s talking about. “I’d say six.”
“Explain the rating system to me.”
“It’s not really something I can explain. It’s just a feeling I get when I see them together. Take the four couple. He looks like he’s eating her face. That’s not sexy. She’s kind of just standing there, letting it happen.”
“And the six couple?” he asks.
“See the way they’re standing? His body is angled toward hers, and they’re holding hands. They have feelings for each other.”
“Then why not a higher rating?”
“No passion. It’s just a kiss, but I can’t feel their desire.”
“Can you do that? Feel other people’s desire when they kiss?”
I shrug. “Sometimes. It’s more of something I can see. I know I’m weird. Just forget it.”
“No.” He places his beer on the bar, and his eyes bore into mine. “I want you to rate me.”
“W-What? That’s crazy.”
“Not crazy, Charlie.” He leans in close.
“Who are you going to kiss?” I ask. Is that jealousy I feel stirring in my gut?
His hand cradles the side of my face. “You.”
“M-Me? No. No, not me, Spencer.”
“It’s just a kiss, Charlie.”
“Charlotte.”
He grins. “Beautiful Charlotte.” He leans in a little more, our lips a breath apart. “You ready? I want you to have a clear mind for this. I’m about to show you a ten.”
I scoff, and he chuckles. The sound has my heart squeezing in my chest.
“Close your eyes, Charlie.”
“You’re not kissing me.”
“I am.”
“Spencer—”
That’s all I manage to get out before his lips press to mine. His lips are soft, and I can taste the beer on his breath. His hand remains on my cheek, and his thumb traces gently. I lean into him, wanting to be closer. Needing more. I don’t know how long it lasts, but when he pulls back, his eyes are hooded, and I’m breathing heavily.
As far as kisses go, it was pretty PG. There was no tongue involved, but I am still breathing like I’ve run a marathon.
“How was that, sweet Charlotte?” he asks softly.
It takes me a few moments to process what he’s asking me. “Four at best,” I tell him.
He places his hand that was holding my cheek against his chest over his heart. “You wound me, woman.”
I shrug as some of the fog his kiss left behind starts to clear. “Looks like you need to work on your technique,” I tell him, reaching for my drink. I slip off the stool. “Thanks for the drink.” I hold up said drink, then turn on my heel and rush back to the table.
Adeline has her nose buried in her phone, Jasper and Lorelei are standing off to the side of the dance floor talking with serious looks on their faces, and Amara and Tyler are missing. At least no one seemed to notice what just happened at the bar. That’s all I need, to explain to my sister’s friends how I let my rival kiss me, and even worse, I enjoyed it.